Page 77 of Out of Reach

As Prescott backed toward the front door, dragging Jude with him, Jude kept his eyes glued to Hawk’s. In them, Hawk could see myriad emotions—fear, love, regret. Worst of all, he could see Jude telling him goodbye. He tried to convey to Jude to hold on. That he wouldn’t let this happen, but Jude’s eyes had filled with blinding tears.

“You’ll never make it out of the country now,” Hawk yelled at Prescott.

“You think I don’t know that? I’ve been on the run, hiding in the stinkiest holes you can imagine, watching Jude and waiting with only one thought in mind: revenge. Three men helped me follow you here—they’ll get a taste of this one when I’m through with him.” He jabbed viciously at Jude’s temple with his gun. “Believe me, before I finally put a bullet in his head, he’ll regret turning on me. Wish I could make you watch, Frogman, but it isn’t going to work out that way.”

With a desperate yank, Hawk freed his hands just as Prescott turned the gun from Jude’s head to point at Hawk. Jude immediately went limp, his full body weight against Prescott’s arm, forcing Prescott to release him or sink to the floor with him. In three strides, Hawk was launching himself at Prescott, knocking him backward against the front door while grabbing the man’s wrist and slamming it hard against the wall, sending the gun skittering across the floor.

Prescott fought Hawk, managing to overpower him and send them both crashing to the floor, knocking the air out of Hawk’s lungs. Hawk struggled to topple him, but it was no use. Prescott was a good fifty pounds heavier than Hawk and had his fingers wrapped so tightly around Hawk’s throat, the room was growing dark. Then Hawk felt Prescott tense.

“Let him go or I swear I’ll splatter your brains all over the floor.” Jude’s voice shook, and when Prescott moved and Hawk got a look at him, Jude’s hand holding the gun was shaking, too. But he kept it pointed at Prescott’s head as Hawk scrambled out from under him.

“Let me have that, baby,” he said, taking the gun from Jude and training it on Prescott.

Behind them, the front door opened.

“What the hell?” A pie box in his hand, John Sterling stared at the scene in front of him.

“Call the police, Dad,” Hawk said, voice hoarse.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Jude

Six Months Later

“Well, aren’t you just the picture of carefree college life?” Hawk teased, looking around the small apartment. “Where’s Corey?”

“At some keg party,” Jude said, flopping down on the second-hand couch and promptly sinking into the middle. Corey was his roommate and an okay guy, but he saiddudeevery other word and never hung up his clothes or put anything back where it belonged.

“Are you sure you like living in the college apartments?” Hawk asked, looking around at the frayed drapes and scuffed tables.

“I told you, I want to get the whole experience. As a non-traditional student, I can’t stay in the dorms, and this is the next best thing. We’ll see how I feel next term,” he added, shifting on the couch so the spring was no longer digging into the middle of his back.

Hawk gingerly sat beside him. “I’m proud of you. You got stellar grades first term.”

Lifting his head to rest it on Hawk’s thigh, Jude sobered. “Don’t think I don’t miss you, because I do,” he said.

“I miss you, too.” Hawk stroked Jude’s hair. “But look at the bright side. This way, you tell the other college kids about your hot, older boyfriend who takes you out on dates.”

Jude laughed, but his mind was already roaming to the subject never far from his thoughts: how he was going to have to testify against Sam in federal court in January. He couldn’t wait until that was over with, yet he dreaded it as the day approached.

He and Hawk had been back to visit Hawk’s parents three times since that first visit that had ended so terribly. All three times, they’d visited the therapist with them to talk out the experience. It had helped, but at this point Jude really wished he could just put it all out of his mind for good.

Hawk wouldn’t let him do that, though. He’d made sure Jude continued going to the therapist in Redding and had even accompanied him to a few sessions.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Jude said with a sigh. He hadn’t been kidding when he said he missed Hawk. For the past week, Jude had taken final exams. They’d been grueling, and he’d barely seen Hawk during that time.

“I can tell,” Hawk teased, pointedly looking at the prominent bulge in Jude’s jeans.

Covering it with his hand, Hawk kneaded the hardness underneath the material, and Jude groaned at the sensation.

“God, that feels good.” His breathing sped up, and he squirmed. “Touch me all over, Hawk. I need your hands on me.”

Hawk’s eyes heated. “I love it when you beg. What if Corey comes home?”

“Isn’t part of the college experience being walked in on while having sex?” Jude asked, and unexpected tingle running through his groin at the thought.God, why did that sound so damn hot?

“How ‘bout we go in your bedroom and lock the door?” Hawk suggested, standing.