****
Hawk punched in Zoe’s number on his cell one more time, but it went to voice mail and he didn’t bother leaving another message. She wasn’t going to talk to him.
He hit Langley Marks’ number.
“Marks here.”
“Lang. Do you remember who packed up Cutter’s stuff when we left Iraq?”
“Strong Man and Flash had that detail. Flash and I dropped it at the apartment. The super was going to let him in but Zoe and her mom were there already, so he left his duffle with them.”
Had Zoe unpacked it or her mother? Had there been anything unusual in it? Damn it. If he hadn’t chosen just now to try and--
“What’s up, Hawk?” Lang’s voice in his ear dragged him back to the current situation.
“Someone broke into Cutter’s apartment tonight and attacked Zoe.”
“Jesus.” Lang breathed. “Is she all right?”
“Her leg’s been injured. But she’s ambulatory. She’s gone back to Cutter’s apartment and she’s alone. Bowie lives next door, and the chances that anything else will happen--” He drew a deep breath. “The short of it is, I fucked up, Lang. In a big way. And Zoe won’t let me anywhere near her. Won’t even talk to me.”
“You broke it off.” Lang’s voice sounded flat. He swore beneath his breath. “We’re going wheels up soon, and you broke it off rather than ride it out.”
The accusation and disappointment he heard in Lang’s tone punched him with guilt.
“I suppose I should send Trish, but I won’t. There might be a slim chance of the fucker coming back. I’ll see if I can bring Zoe back here with me. If she’ll let me in.”
“Thanks, man. I owe you.”
“I really thought things would be different this time, Hawk. It isn’t any of my business what you do, but--Zoe deserved better than this.”
Hawk couldn’t think of a thing he could say in his defense. His voice sounded hoarse as he spoke around the knot in his throat. “Will you call me and tell me how she is, let me know where she is?”
Lang fell silent for a moment. “Yeah, sure. Later. I’m going to get her now.”
Breaking Free Page 59