Force of the Falcon. Rita Herron

and needed her.

      The scent of alcohol and hospital odors permeated the air. The rustle of the sheets as she twisted them in her fingers rattled over the blur of voices. Through the fog of drugs, Sheriff Cohen’s accusations registered. She noticed the angry glint in Brack Falcon’s powerful jaw as he’d clenched it. He could be formidable when crossed. Maybe even dangerous.

      But her frail little daughter slid her small hand into his large one in blind trust.

      The sight made her heart twist. Was Katie right to trust this stranger?

      He had been in the woods when she was attacked. She’d heard the rumors about the Falcon men. Had been forewarned by some of the older women in town to stay away from them.

      Could he have attacked her, then come back to rescue her to make himself look like a hero to the town?

      His dark eyes shifted over her, and unease clawed at her chest. He didn’t strike her as the type of man to want a hero’s welcome or attention. Yet what did she know about him?

      She’d certainly been wrong about her former husband.

      But something had definitely transpired between her and Brack Falcon back in the woods, some moment of intense fear that had connected them. That, and another emotion she couldn’t pinpoint at the moment.

      Old insecurities and distrust from her marriage taunted her.

      She couldn’t trust any man. Especially where her daughter was concerned.

      Yet Katie, in her innocence, seemed to like him.

      On the other hand, Katie exhibited a wariness toward the other man, who looked like the sheriff, as if she immediately saw him as an enemy. Or maybe she just didn’t like him belittling her new friend.

      Whatever the reason, it was her job to protect Katie, not Brack Falcon’s. She and Katie were a team and she couldn’t allow anyone into their lives. Couldn’t chance either of them growing too attached and getting hurt.

      The sheriff turned to her then, as if he’d just noticed she was awake. “Ms. Silverstein, you’re awake now?”

      She nodded, although when she tried to speak her lips felt as if they were glued together.

      “I’m Sheriff Cohen. Maybe you can clear this up. Did this man attack you in the woods?”

      Brack Falcon’s dark eyes pierced straight to her soul, and her stomach fluttered. Katie huddled closer to Brack, and Sonya wet her lips, the realization that her daughter was clinging to Brack sending a shiver of trepidation through her.

      Yet hadn’t she wanted to cling to him in the woods herself when she’d been terrified? Hadn’t she begged him for help and felt comforted in his strong arms when he’d carried her and Katie to safety?

      “No,” she managed to whisper.

      “Then what was it?” Sheriff Cohen asked.

      Sonya searched her memory for details, for some way to explain, but she’d only glimpsed the shadow of a creature. She’d been too busy trying to fend off the attack.

      “I’m not sure,” she said in a strained voice. “Some kind of animal, maybe.”

      Cohen jammed his lips together. “I’m calling in someone from the state,” he said. “They’ll track down those damn birds and destroy them.” He turned to Brack. “And if I find out that you and your brothers are raising some mutant attack birds or that you’re responsible for these vicious attacks, I’ll lock you up for attempted murder.”

      He turned back to Sonya. “If I were you, Ms. Silverstein, I’d stay away from this man, and keep your daughter away from him, too.”

      “I tolds you it was a m-monster,” Katie cried. “He wooked wike that picture!”

      Sheriff Cohen’s laugh boomeranged through the room as he cut his eyes over Katie, then Sonya. “Honey, that creature is part animal, part man, just like the Falcon men. They don’t belong in this town.” He fisted his hands on his hips. “Now heed my warning, or I have a feeling next time you won’t be so lucky.”

      Sonya clutched the sheet between her fingers again, the sheriff’s cold tone sending a shiver through her. Brack stiffened and started to release Katie’s hand, but she gripped him tighter as she watched Sheriff Cohen stalk from the room.

      Brack cleared his throat, his voice gruff when he spoke. “I’ll leave if you want, Sonya.”

      The way his deep voice rumbled out her name made a tingle travel down her spine. His stiff posture suggested that he would understand if she said yes. That he was aware of his bad reputation.

      Yet her daughter was smitten with Brack and afraid of the sheriff. Fatigue clawed at her again. She couldn’t keep her eyes open. And she didn’t want Katie to be alone while she waited on Margaret to arrive.

      Still, Brack was big and tough, so intense that he exuded power. And with power came danger.

      She should tell him to leave. She and Katie didn’t need anyone but each other.

      But Katie had been through so much already tonight. And she looked so small and vulnerable beside him….

      “Please stay with Katie until Ms. Margie gets here,” she whispered.

      He shifted on the balls of his feet, looking uncomfortable for a moment. Then he gave a curt nod.

      Uneasiness speared through her. She didn’t want to trust him, didn’t want him in her life.

      And if she was wrong about him and he hurt her daughter in any way, she’d help the sheriff run him out of town and not think twice about it.

      BRACK GRIMACED as Sonya slipped back into sleep. Dammit, she was in pain. And it bothered him on a level he didn’t want to explore. Cohen’s intimidation tactics disturbed him even more. Not because he was afraid of the man, but because Cohen had tried to scare the kid with them.

      He might not want a family, but he wasn’t a monster, either. And he sure as hell didn’t make it a practice to go around terrifying children.

      Katie clung to his hand, and he glanced down to see her yawn. The poor little girl had been through hell tonight and needed some rest. And that babysitter might not be able to drive through the storm for a while.

      Dammit. He needed to get going. Itched to hike into the woods and hunt down the creature who’d attacked Sonya. But he’d promised Sonya he wouldn’t leave Katie alone.

      Katie’s head lolled to the side against the chair arm, and he scooped her up, wrapped the blanket around her, then sat down and cradled her in his lap. Katie snuggled into his chest and fell asleep instantly. She was so teeny she barely weighed anything at all. So frail that the urge to protect her and slay all her demons hit him.

      But he didn’t need any complications right now. He wasn’t Katie’s father and refused to get involved with her or Sonya.

      Sonya whimpered then and rolled to her side, her dark hair falling across her bruised cheek, and he fought his baser instincts. Then, hell, he lost and brushed her hair from her cheek, trying to soothe her. She moaned and jerked her eyes open as if she’d been in the throes of a nightmare, and their gazes locked. She had been reliving the attack—he saw the terror in her expression.

      Then she looked down at her daughter curled against him, and her expression softened. “Thank you for being so kind to Katie tonight,” she whispered.

      “How could anyone not be kind to her?” he asked gruffly.

      Pain tightened her features. “The kids…they tease her, can be mean.” Her voice broke. “And others…they don’t understand.”

      His jaw went rigid, his body taut as tension vibrated between them. It was none of his business, but he had to ask. “Where’s her father?”

      A long second passed, and a chill swept through