Birds of Prey Read online

  Birds of Prey

  Dahlia Rose

  Kassanna

  Tressie Lockwood

  Birds of Prey

  Copyright © May 2014, Dahlia Rose, Kassanna, and Tressie Lockwood

  Cover art by For the Muse Designs © May 2014

  Formatting by Bob Houston eBook Formatting

  ISBN 978-1-939151-59-9

  This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious or used fictitiously. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.

  Sugar and Spice Press

  North Carolina, USA

  www.sugarnspicepress.com

  Hawke’s Nest

  Dahlia Rose

  Chapter One

  Low clouds hung over the tall peaks of the pine trees in the Appalachian Mountains. They stretched for miles and miles until they seemed to reach the horizon. The sun was slowly coming up, chasing away the darkness of the night and sending the moon to its daytime slumber. The air this high up was fresher, clean and one deep breath could wipe away the pollution from breathing in city air for too long. Hawke took several deep breaths as he looked out to the sunrise. He’d just returned from Los Angeles and a new gallery opening of his work. He hated it with a passion and wished his agent would just leave him out of that end of the business. “They need to see the man behind the art at some point, Hawke,” Robert had said too many times to count. It didn’t mean he had to like it, but before he sent Robert into cardiac arrest he gave in. He would let the public see him four times each year at these events, then he came home to his peace and quiet.

  His fans called him elusive, wondered how he got those amazing aerial photos and wondered about every facet of his life. They’d follow him from the airport, wondering where he lived, but fortunately he always managed to lose them. It wasn’t an act. Hawke frowned for a moment thinking about one article that said he took his persona to a new level of crazy. He just didn’t like people and that was the honest truth. He found them shady and motivated by greed or their own agenda. They wanted to know his secrets even though he wasn’t willing to share. He’d been burned one too many times and being reclusive was a lifestyle he enjoyed. Even so, he had to make money to survive which meant work, which then meant putting on a damn suit and standing around while nosy people talked to him.

  But right now, with only the sounds of the mountains as his friend and the vast skies that was laid out before him, Hawke was happy. He was nude and the air had a chill this high up, but it didn’t bother him in the least. Being perched on one of the tallest trees in the mountains was nothing new to him either. He could balance on the branches as a human or his second nature. That was another reason why he liked being alone—he was free to shift into his second form and soar across the skies. He took the name of his second skin as his human name long ago.

  Hawke—nothing more nothing less, simple and to the point just like him. He’d flown for a few hundred miles to stretch his wings after a week in LA. The gnawing in his gut to shift had become almost unbearable and as soon as he came home he’d taken to the skies. He’d flown the night skies and as the sun came up, landed in this tree to watch the sun rise. Hawke looked around in his flight estimating he was closer to Tennessee than home. His house was smack dab in the middle of the wildlife preserve in North Carolina. With hundreds of acres of land, he would be hard to find and that’s how he liked it. A generous yearly donation to the state conservation society kept them both happy. He was hungry as hell so he decided to head back home to eat and sleep. His career allowed him the money to build his perfect home. A tree house in the mountain peaks—an actual functional home away from everyone. The people who built it never saw his face and his close friend—the only one he ever trusted with his secret—conducted the business and kept an eye on the workers that were limited to five. They never saw him and when it was done they were paid. They also signed a non-disclosure agreement stating they would never reveal where the project was located or built. He was that serious about his privacy.

  Hawk closed his eyes and let his second nature take over. He could tell when the shift began because skin shrank and sprouted feather and he could feel each bone in his body change to turn him into a hawk. In his second form, he was three and a half to four feet tall, which meant he was bigger than most birds that he shared a species with, but that was to be expected. You could only contort a man of six foot three so much, and he still was as sleek and agile as smaller hawks. When his change was complete, he took flight from the branch he was perched on and headed towards home.

  He never got lost in the sky or on land; his sense of direction was always on point. So were his other senses which were always heightened. He heard her way before he saw her by the cursing and then pinpointed her and noticed the way she was moving through the woods like a bear. Silence wasn’t her friend that was for sure. He slowed and clung to a branch and watched her from the trees as she looked at her compass and then looked up at the sky. If she was lost and expected clarity by looking up to the sky through the trees, it would in fact make things worse. She made a sound of frustration and threw her compass down and then proceeded to stomp it to bits. If he could laugh out loud he would have; her fit of anger meant she would now be well and truly lost.

  Hawke assessed her from where he was perched. A definite beauty with warm chocolate eyes and skin a few shades darker than amber. Her lips were full and soft pink, but now she was frowning down at her compass in the dirt. He saw when it finally dawned on her that she just broke the one thing that was to help her find her way.

  She leaned back against a tree and sat down against the rough bark and put her head on her knees. He heard a small sob and flew away from the trees. He could leave her there, call in to the authorities and direct them to exactly where she was. But what if she started walking again and got even more lost? The nights in the mountains were cold even in the warm months. She could suffer from dehydration or disorientation and end up hurting herself worse. Plus, he could smell a storm in the air. In a few hours, there would be a downpour and she would be exposed to the elements.

  Hawke flew home and got dressed. He got on his ATV and headed back in the direction where he had left her and of course she was no longer there. Oh, great! He heard thunder in the distance and frowned. He closed his eyes and listened for any disturbance around him. For a woman so tiny she makes a lot of noise, he thought and shook his head. Hopefully she wasn’t too far away because he’d like to be home before the rain started. He found her in a clearing about a half a mile from her initial position. She turned when she heard the ATV coming her way and instead of relief on her face at being found, he saw alarm and when she picked up the closest tree branch from the ground and brandished it over her head he couldn’t help but smirk.

  “Don’t come any closer. I will hit you with this,” she warned.

  “It’s rotted out and will disintegrate when you hit me with it. It would be like trying to beat me with shredded paper,” he replied. “Listen, I’m not going to hurt you. I heard you while I was riding my ATV and came to see if you were okay and if you are, I can get going. See ya.”

  When he started the engine she rushed forward a few steps only to stand still again. He turned off the engine and gave her a look while saying nothing.

  “I’m kind of lost,” she said. “Do you know how I can get back to my car?”

  “Where are you parked?” he asked.

  “I kind of don’t know. I have a hotel room in Barrow and I think I drove like two hours before I stopped to hike,” she answered.

  “That is three hours east and there is no way to find your car right now. A storm
is coming in fast, so you have two choices. Stay out here and end up with pneumonia or come home with me,” he explained.

  “Where do you live?” she asked.

  “A few miles from here,” Hawke replied

  “You live in the middle of the woods? That’s not creepy at all,” she said.

  “I like my solitude. People bother me,” he answered.

  “I’m people,” she pointed out.

  “My name is Hawke.”

  She looked at him. “Just Hawke?”

  “Yes, and here is where you insert your name.”

  “I’m Tiana Swan. I work in the fashion industry, and I’m on vacation.” She put her hands behind her back. “I’d shake your hand but that would give you the chance to handcuff me and throw me in your basement.”

  He smirked. “I live in a tree house; I don’t have a basement.”

  “Oh, that makes it so much better, a hut in the trees like Tarzan,” she muttered under her breath, but he heard her very well.

  “It’s warm and you won’t be in the rain,” Hawke pointed out. “I’ll even give you a bat for protection. It would work better than the branch you’re still holding over your head that has maggots falling out of it,” Hawke said.

  She screeched and dropped the branch before rubbing her hands vigorously on her jeans. “Oh, so gross. I’m not meant for nature. I should’ve gone to Vegas or something. Eww, creepy crawly things.”

  Hawke looked up when he heard thunder again. “We need to go if you’re going.”

  “Okay, but please do not eat my face or something,” Tiana begged.

  “You’re too skinny and don’t have enough meat on your bones and your face won’t fit my mannequin,” Hawke said as he helped her on to the back of the ATV.

  “That makes me feel so much better,” she said.

  He started the ATV. “Hold on.”

  He felt her arms tighten around his waist and a small squeak of surprise escaped her as he maneuvered the ATV towards his home. It would take an hour if he pushed it and the storm clouds were rolling in quick now. Hawke skillfully drove over the rugged terrain and avoided roots and rocks jutting out of the ground. This was the only way to get around in the mountains.

  On the final leg of the journey, he saw the last of the light coming through the clouds reflect off the windows of his home. As he got closer, he got that feeling of happiness he always did when he saw his sanctuary. It was braced between the massive trunks of four trees that were used at the four corners of the house. The steps that lead up to the door were carved out of half a tree that had fallen over years ago but its roots were still firm in the ground. The way the house was built gave the contractors the perfect way to create steps from it and varnish them and the banister to suit the rustic look of the rest of his house.

  “Well, this is more than a tree house,” she said looking up as Hawke parked under the house.

  “It suits my needs,” he said simply.

  “It’s like a mansion in the trees,” she gasped. “I would want one if I didn’t hate nature.”

  “You really did pick the wrong vacation spot in that case,” Hawke said and pulled a heavy tarp over the ATV. “I like my peace. You just messed with that.”

  “Oh, well, why didn’t you leave me out there lost and cold then?” Tiana retorted.

  “I tried, but my honor wouldn’t let me,” he replied. “Follow me inside. I’m going to ask that you never reveal the location of my home.”

  “I get lost in the mall and who would I tell?” Tiana asked. “Hey, I got lost in the woods and then I met this guy. Here’s where he lives. I’ll draw you a map.”

  He turned and grinned. “Good point. Either way, do me the courtesy of keeping my home private and don’t touch anything without permission.”

  “Well, jeez, I can sit under the house with the ATV if I’m such a problem,” Tiana snapped.

  Hawke sighed. He wasn’t up on social niceties. “I’m sorry. I’m not good with people. I’m sure you’re hungry and you will be warm and dry inside.”

  Tiana gave him a small smile. “Thank you. Remember, I don’t know if you’re a serial killer or not.”

  “Oh, yes, remind me to give you that bat,” Hawke replied.

  “At least you have a sense of humor,” she said.

  He shook his head. “No, I really don’t.”

  Hawke unlocked the front door and stepped aside so she could enter. He watched her as her eyes swept left and right. He heard her gasp and had to admit it gave him pride to see someone admiring his creation. No one beside his friend and the workmen had seen his home. She ran her hand over the varnished walls and he saw appreciation in her eyes.

  “Do you know what this reminds me of?” Tiana turned to him.

  “What?” Hawke closed the door and waited for her response.

  “A library from middle earth.” She laughed. “How the heck do you have a fireplace?”

  “It’s one of those Amish fireplaces that gives heat but doesn’t have the flames. It fits in nicely with the décor,” Hawke explained.

  “It’s cute. How many bedrooms are in this place? How did you get permission to build in the middle of the forest?” Tiana asked.

  “There are three bedrooms and it’s none of your business how I did anything.” Hawke’s voice was cold. Outside, the thunder rolled and he glanced towards the windows. “The storm is coming in and I need to secure the storm windows. You can use that bedroom right there to clean up.”

  She was studying a picture on the wall close to the bedroom he had pointed to and she turned to him with wide eyes. “I know who you are.”

  “Really?” he said softly.

  “You’re that artist, the guy who does photography and, hell, you’re just rude,” Tiana said. “I have never seen an interview where you smiled or didn’t act dismissively to the press.”

  “Which is why I like solitude and silence,” Hawke said unapologetically. “If they didn’t ask stupid questions they wouldn’t get the replies that I give. Don’t think you know me because of some articles you’ve read or an interview you’ve seen.”

  “And from the way you sound, you’re okay with being aloof and not letting anyone in,” Tiana said gently.

  “You’re right. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that.”

  He turned and stepped back out the door and he could feel the first few drops of rain on his face. He should be enjoying this storm in his usual way—alone. Instead, he had an uninvited guest who, as lovely as she was, seemed to be intent on talking to him. He hoped to get her back to civilization soon so he could go back to his life the way he liked it. Being alone, people couldn’t point fingers at him for being rude or dismissive.

  Chapter Two

  I’m in…

  Tiana wrote the quick text on the small SAT phone and then shoved it in her pocket nervously. Hawke seemed to be a very wary man and who knows if he had his house wired with cameras. She didn’t know how she let Joslyn talk her into doing this for her. Joslyn was her best friend who was a reporter for a celebrity news station and was convinced that this could be a big break in her career. When Tiana introduced herself in the woods, she told him she worked for the fashion industry, which was true, but there was more to her being there. She was afraid if she said too much Hawke would see through her. I should’ve said no to Joslyn, Tiana thought miserably. She wasn’t big on deception and lying. Hawke genuinely seemed like he just wanted his privacy and to be left alone, but Joslyn was convinced there was more and if she could just get the scoop she would have the story of the year. All the pleading and begging finally made Tiana agree to it and instead of being on a beach in the Caribbean she was playing snoop or spy in the woods.

  Which am I, a snoop or a spy? she wondered. Definitely snoop, her subconscious said. She was there under pretense in his home. Well, not all of it was a lie. She did get hopelessly lost and God knows where she parked her car. She also really was a fashion designer trying to get her clothing bou
tique started. Those two truths didn’t make her feel any better about being there though. As soon as she could, she’d be calling this off and heading to her car. Joslyn would have to find some other way to get the scoop because she wasn’t it. Feeling better about her decision, Tiana stood and took her coat off before laying it neatly over the chair so that the phone wouldn’t drop out unexpectedly. She stuck her head out the door, but Hawke wasn’t back. The tree house amazed her. It even had a fully functioning bathroom.

  She could only assume the hot water was upstairs and the septic tank was buried. It was such a unique place from the softly varnished wooden walls to the rustic tables. The decorations were impeccable, from the hunter green suede sofas and the dark wine red throw pillows. The beige table lamps with golden tones to the brass accents set it off perfectly. His kitchen had copper pots hanging from hooks and the counter seemed to be a granite type overlay. He’d created a home in the woods away from civilization and Tiana couldn’t help but wonder why. There had to be more to it than just wanting solitude and silence.

  As she looked around, Tiana thought about the man who rescued her. His hair was reddish brown and straight except for the curls at the ends where it was cut. He wore it long and it suited the angular shape of his face. He had a strong jaw line and a nice mouth that he refused to use in a smile. Hawke’s eyes were an exceptional light brown with flecks of green. When he looked at her it felt like he could see into her soul, see the untruth that brought her to his home. She jumped in fright as thunder cracked violently overhead. This was his home, his world, and she felt uneasy, as if nature itself was telling her she was wrong and an interloper. She went into the bathroom and used the facilities before quickly washing her face and hands. Just as she was coming out, Hawke stepped inside. He shook his head and she watched drops of rain fall from his hair.

  “It’s starting to come down,” he said simply and then looked at her curiously. “What’s wrong?”