In Texas, the Patriot Zealots had managed to locate and punish one bitch. After seeing one of their own broken and hospitalized, the rest of the cunts should have shut the fuck up. Instead, they’d let the Feds hide them away in safe houses.

Their testimony would land Parrish behind bars for years.

What could Nabera do from here to change that? Would an example made in Alaska be effective in silencing the harlots in Texas?

Perhaps… If the example was shocking enough.

Despite Aric’s late-night visit to Hawk’s place, the kid didn’t seem any the worse for wear.

How many times this morning had the boy snuck into his cabin to reassure himself that Hawk was still around?

The kid had skills.

Grabbing a Coke, Hawk headed outside and settled into a chair on his deck.

The frequent checks weren’t because the boy loved him or anything. It was because Hawk had killed Aric’s abusive stepfather, saved his mother, and carried the boy to safety.

Doc Grayson had said, “Even when she is ready to take him back, she can’t give him the same sense of safety that he gets with Hawk. Not right away.”

From the kid’s point of view, Hawk was strong enough to protect him, and his mother wasn’t.

Before last night, Hawk had planned to resume a full workload. He and his buddy, Bishop, had served together as helicopter pilots in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment—the Night Stalkers—and had recently pooled their money to buy a helicopter. They had a contract with McNally’s Resort to fly tourists to hard-to-reach locations. Bishop usually took the helicopter since Hawk also loved flying his floatplane.

Tourists from the Lower 48 loved floatplanes.

But returning to full time piloting would have to be delayed. It seemed the kid wasn’t ready for Hawk to be gone long hours or overnight.

From the chicken pen came the sound of Regan’s laughter and chatter. Caz’s daughter had drafted Aric to help her gather eggs. With a heart as big as her father’s, Regan had taken the boy under her wing.

Since she was out of school for the summer, everyone at the Hermitage had been taking turns babysitting her. Caz said Kit had volunteered for today.

Speaking of which, Hawk spotted the woman walking a circuit around the courtyard perimeter. Her expression was that of an army recruit gutting through morning PT, determined to get stronger, no matter the pain involved. Guess he knew where Aric’s stubbornness had come from.

He had to respect her willpower.

Unlike Aric, she looked tired today. Shoulders sagging slightly, dark circles under her eyes. Her arm was in a sling, although he’d seen her take it out when trying to do anything. At least the damage from her husband’s fists had healed.