Rita Herron - Hostage At Hawk's Landing

DANGER BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

Will the truth tear them apart?

Desperate to learn what caused his estranged father’s death, Dexter Hawk finds himself drawn to a woman from his past. Melissa Gentry lost her family years ago. Now a shoot-out at work has put her own life in danger. With Dex suddenly back, asking for her help, Melissa realizes once again she has everything to lose. Because a man like Dex cannot be replaced...or forgotten.

Badge of Justice

USA TODAY bestselling author RITA HERRONwrote her first book when she was twelve but didn’t think real people grew up to be writers. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job. A former kindergarten teacher and workshop leader, she traded storytelling to kids for writing romance, and now she writes romantic comedies and romantic suspense. Rita lives in Georgia with her family. She loves to hear from readers, so please visit her website, ritaherron.com.

Also by Rita Herron

Redemption at Hawk’s Landing

Safe at Hawk’s Landing

Hideaway at Hawk’s Landing

Lock, Stock and McCullen

McCullen’s Secret Son

Roping Ray McCullen

Warrior Son

The Missing McCullen

The Last McCullen

Cold Case at Camden Crossing

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Hostage at Hawk’s Landing

Rita Herron

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09367-5

HOSTAGE AT HAWK’S LANDING

© 2019 Rita B. Herron

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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To my fabulous daughter Elizabeth for always loving and helping others.

Love you, girl.

Mom

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

About the Publisher

“I found your father.”

Dexter Hawk tensed . Detective Frank Lamar’s words echoed over the phone line as if boomeranging off the mountains.

Steven Hawk had left the family ranch and abandoned Dex and his family eighteen years ago, shortly after they’d lost their sister, Chrissy. No one had heard from him since.

Dex had taken advantage of his PI skills to search for him, and asked his friend Detective Lamar to help. Lamar was several years older than him, but had taken Dex under his wing a long time ago, becoming his mentor.

“Dex?” Detective Lamar asked. “You there?”

Dexter released the breath he was holding. He’d waited a long damn time for this phone call. But judging from the tone of Lamar’s voice, the news wasn’t what he wanted to hear.

“Yeah. Where is he?” Dex finally asked.

“Briar Creek,” Lamar said.

Briar Creek? Only thirty miles from Hawk’s Landing. Had he been nearby all this time? Or had he moved around, then decided to finally come home? “Did you talk to him?”

“He’s not talking, Dex.” A tense second passed, filling Dex’s head with dread.

“I’m sorry,” Lamar said gruffly.

Sweat beaded on Dex’s forehead. His father was dead. Lamar didn’t have to say the words. His apology said it all.

Dex heaved a breath, his chest straining for air. “I have to see him.”

“You can do that at the morgue,” Lamar said. “I’ve already called an ambulance.”

“No, don’t move him. I’m coming there.” He snagged his keys from the end table and rushed outside to the SUV he’d bought when he’d donated his pickup to the ranch for the hands.

“What happened?” Dex asked as he climbed in and started the engine.

“Looks like an accident. Pickup truck ran off the road.” A hesitant pause. “Dex, there’s really no reason—”

“I mean it, Lamar. Do not move him,” Dex said between clenched teeth. “I’ll be there ASAP.” He had to see him for himself. Had to know exactly what had happened to the man who he’d once ridden piggyback and who taught him to ride and fish. Had to know why he’d just up and left and never even called. Birthdays and holidays had passed. Years of worry and wondering and...grief.

His phone vibrated from the console. He gave a quick glance. Harrison, his oldest brother. For a brief second he wondered if Lamar had called him, but he’d sworn Lamar to secrecy about his desire to find their father, so he let the call go to voice mail. He wouldn’t destroy the peace and happiness his mother and brothers had recently found until he knew for certain that this dead man was his father.

His family had no idea he’d made it his mission to find him. Not that he had some wild fantasy about a happy reunion with their long-lost patriarch, but Dex’s anger had festered for years. He’d practiced what he’d say to his old man for so long that disappointment swamped him.