Page 49 of Hawkeye

“Dead bastard had these,” Stryker informed me. “Phone’s unlocked. Last map search is a commercial lockup in Vista, and one key has the unit number stamped on it.”

I kept my arm around Josie’s waist as I rose, bringing her up with me. “Could be their final cache.”

“Or a place they already emptied,” Stryker replied, glancing toward Nomad. “Take Bishop and Skyfall. Secure the building and call before you touch anything that looks like military property.”

Nomad accepted the keys, then left with the two brothers before anyone wasted time discussing possibilities. Cipher came through Stryker’s earpiece seconds later, confirming that the address matched one of the burner’s recent location pings. Whatever remained there was about to belong to the Black Crowns.

Reaper arrived from the annex carrying his field bag and caught the way I was holding Josie. “Let me check her over.”

“But…I’m not injured.” Josie blinked and frowned at me. “You just checked most of me.”

Her adorable blush didn’t stop me from pointing out, “I’m not a doctor.”

Josie sighed, but she didn’t object to the examination.

He was quick and efficient, confirming no serious injury. “Ice the bruises. Call if breathing hurts or the swelling changes.”

“I will.”

“He was talking to me,” Josie reminded me, sliding her hand beneath my shirt at my waist after fixing her dress now that she wasn’t wearing the body armor.

I gave her a droll look and settled my hand at her waist. “He was giving the instructions to the person who’s gonna make sure you follow them, baby doll.”

Reaper packed his supplies without comment, obviously trying to stay out of our argument. He moved toward the loading corridor to check one of the brothers injured during the annex fight, leaving Josie tucked firmly against my side.

Stryker had the surviving men captured by the time we returned to the center of the gallery. The building sweep confirmed that no other crew members remained hidden inside.

Josie spoke to her mother by phone while I listened to the protection team confirm the apartment remained locked down. She assured her she was safe without softening what had happened. The tightness around Josie’s eyes eased only after her mother promised to remain at the clubhouse until her daughter came to her.

Nomad called less than fifteen minutes later. The lockup contained recently stolen medals, watches, framed photographs, and several boxes of service letters, along with older pieces that would need research before anyone could identify the families. No men were waiting inside, and the property was secure.

“Photograph everything where it sits,” I ordered. “Josie reviews the images before anything fragile gets moved.”

“You could just take me there,” she pointed out, looking up at me.

“Nope.” I brushed my thumb along the back of her neck. “You’re gonna stay right here and tell them what they need, because I’m gonna need to keep my hands on you while you do it.”

Her dimple appeared, bringing warmth back into her face. She accepted Stryker’s phone when the first images arrived and began identifying which objects required immediate support, her voice settling into the confident rhythm that had dismantled the entire operation. I stood behind her with one arm around her waist, listening as she protected another family’s history while Chet and the surviving members of his crew were taken away in Black Crowns vehicles.

The bastards had believed Josie’s compassion made her vulnerable. Instead, it had given us every road that led to them, and the final man who tried to use her as a shield was cooling on the gallery floor. I pressed my mouth against her temple while she examined another photograph, already counting the minutes until I could take her home, peel off that red dress, and prove with my hands and mouth that nothing in this world could take her out of my reach.

22

JOSIE

By the time we left the auction house, I was a weird mixture of wired and exhausted. I was so glad it was all over, at least for me…the Black Crowns still had some business to finish with all the bad guys they’d rounded up tonight.

I glanced over at Calder as we turned into the compound. “Thanks for bringing me back.”

“Wasn’t gonna put you in a vehicle with anyone but me.” He squeezed my hand, which he hadn’t let go of during the entire drive. “Not after everything that went down.”

“You kept me safe.”

As he parked the SUV, his gaze slid to my side. “Not fast enough.”

“You heard Reaper. It’s just a bruise.”

He jerked his chin toward the clubhouse door, which was already open. “Tell your mom that.”