Hideaway At Hawk's Landing

She didn’t know whom to trust.

Brayden leaned across the table and pierced her with those blue eyes, eyes that were ice-cold. “Talk to me, Doc.”

She chose her words carefully. “I wish I could tell you what you want to hear, Mr. Hawk, but I can’t.”

He cleared his throat. “Please call me Brayden. If you’re concerned I’ll tell the FBI, you don’t have to be. As your attorney, I’m bound by attorney-client privilege.”

Maybe she should talk to him. If he understood, he’d send someone to see if Izzy was okay. “He’s your brother. How do I know this isn’t a trap?”

The ice in his eyes hardened. “Because I’m a man of my word. I chose law to help people.” He leaned closer. “And I think you’re scared and that you need a friend right now.”

Emotions swelled inside her at the compassion in his voice.

She opened her mouth to speak, but the door opened and Agent Hawk appeared again. This time another man in an expensive three-piece suit stood beside him. “Excuse me,” Agent Hawk said, “but Mr. Polk, Dr. Manchester’s attorney, is here.”

The suited man strode into the room, his skin pale, his dark glare intimidating. “Dr. Manchester, don’t say another word.”

Mila bit her lip. Brayden Hawk frowned and glanced at the man, then back at her. Suspicion took root in his expression, then a flash of anger.

She gripped the chair edge with sweaty fingers.

“Dr. Manchester, is Mr. Polk your attorney?” Brayden asked.

Mila barely stifled a scream of protest. But the attorney shot her a warning look, and she refrained.

“Is he your attorney?” Agent Hawk asked.

She blinked back tears and nodded. But she couldn’t look at Brayden. She had a bad feeling that Polk worked for DiSanti and Brayden knew it.

Worse, he hadn’t come to help her. He’d come to make sure she kept her mouth shut about DiSanti.

* * *

BRAYDEN STOOD, SHOULDERS RIGID, debating how to handle the situation. Dammit, he’d been making headway with Mila Manchester until this lawyer showed up. He’d seen the agony on her face when she’d looked at those pictures and was inclined to believe Charlotte.

Dr. Manchester had been coerced into performing surgery on DiSanti. That was the only explanation that fit.

And he had no doubt that Polk had been sent by DiSanti to protect DiSanti’s interests.

Mila looked terrified of the man.

He didn’t want to leave her alone with him, but unless she spoke up, he’d have to.

Lucas cleared his throat. “We’ll let you talk.”

He opened the door and gestured for Brayden to leave.

“What the hell?” Brayden said as they walked down the hall.

Lucas ushered him into a small office next to the interrogation room.

“You know that man is not her attorney,” Brayden said. “DiSanti sent him to keep her from talking.”

Lucas ran a hand through his hair. “Probably so. But unless she orders him to get lost or decides to answer our questions, there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.”

He and his brother locked stubborn gazes. “Can’t you charge Polk with being an accomplice or something?”

Lucas gave him a wry look. “Not without probable cause or evidence. And we have nothing on the man.”

“Then find something,” Brayden said. “Because you can’t leave Mila alone with him or release her in his custody. He may be the one threatening her.”

Lucas narrowed his eyes. “Did she tell you that she was threatened?”

Brayden clamped his mouth closed, frustrated. She hadn’t actually said so, but he’d seen the fear in her eyes.

“You know I can’t divulge anything she revealed to me in private.”

“Right.” Their gazes locked again, both at a standstill.

Brayden pasted on his poker face. If he wanted Mila to trust him, he had to prove he was trustworthy.

And that meant honoring Mila’s confidence.

If he’d only had five more minutes with her...

“What are you going to do?” Brayden asked his brother.

Lucas scowled. “Find out everything I can on Polk before tomorrow.”

“What about tonight?” Brayden asked.

“She’ll have to spend the night locked up,” Lucas said. “Maybe some time in a cell will persuade her to talk. If not, and Polk returns tomorrow to bail her out, I’ll have to release her.”

“She’ll face charges?”

Lucas nodded. “Yes. It may be the only leverage we have.”

God, he hated to see Mila Manchester spend the night in jail. But at least she’d be safe from that bastard DiSanti.

Meanwhile, maybe Lucas could dig up some dirt on Polk, hopefully enough to arrest him and keep him away from Mila.

* * *

MILA’S STOMACH KNOTTED as Polk settled into the chair across from her. His tight lips and beady eyes made her want to scream for help from Brayden Hawk.

At least she’d thought Brayden was sincere.

She’d promised to raise Izzy and keep her safe, but she couldn’t do that in prison.