“Kid.” Hawk took a coffee from Sarah. “Choose something.”

Aric ran back to the counter. With his usual thoroughness, he studied the display of pastries, moving ever so slowly.

Kit tensed, then realized she’d let her fears mess with her perceptions.

Even though Hawk totally looked as if he snapped necks for a living and would garrote someone who delayed him, he was sipping his coffee and waiting for her son’s decision with apparent infinite patience.

Her heart melted a bit.

Napkin-wrapped donut acquired, Aric carried it carefully over to the table while Hawk brought a glass of milk, coffee, and his own apple fritter.

He nodded to Caz and her. Seeing her pastry, his lips quirked. But he didn’t speak.

She smiled at him. The PZ men were constantly giving the women orders or lecturing. They’d inflict their opinions on everyone. Hawk’s silence was so refreshing.

It was also tempting to nudge him a bit to get him to talk.

Bad Kit. He might not be nearly as patient with her as he was with Aric.

Only, somehow, despite his deadly appearance, he didn’t frighten her nearly as much as other men did. If anything, she felt safer when he was nearby.

Usually. There had been a few times when he’d move unexpectedly, and her body would take over, swamping her with panic.

“You upsetting her?” Hawk asked Caz as he sat down.

What? Kit blinked at the irritation in Hawk’s voice.

“No, no, not me, ’mano. Life is.” Caz gave her a smile. “She doesn’t enjoy being forced to accept help.”

“Why’s today different?”

Hawk’s question was easy to interpret. After all, she’d been accepting help ever since she’d been beaten into the ground.

His sharp gaze dropped to her coffee and pastry. “Ah. Sucks to be broke.” He’d figured it out in two seconds.

Caz nodded. “Her husband gave his money—and hers—to the PZs.”

“The pissers.” Aric gave a tiny heheheh laugh.

“The what?” She tried to smother her own laugh, but how she’d missed his infectious high giggles.

“Regan renamed the PZers to pissers.” Hawk’s teeth flashed white in a quick grin—and his face went from rather terrifying to compellingly masculine.

She blinked, realizing she’d forgotten to breathe. Until Aric giggled again. Pissers. “Oh, heavens. As a mother, I should disapprove, but…” She could only laugh.

Hawk met her gaze, sharing her amusement at her son. Then he frowned. “Parrish has the PZ money?”

“He’s probably using it to pay his lawyers.” Caz looked as if he’d bitten into something nasty. “What if Nabera has access to the accounts?”

“Wouldn’t be good.” Hawk pushed the glass of milk closer to Aric.

Have access. Kit’s mouth dropped open. “I forgot to tell the Feds about the cash.”

Hawk raised an eyebrow. “Cash?”