Hawk's Prize by Elaine Barbieri

airs; and because I’m tired of seeing men fall for innocent acts like hers.”
    Simon paused to consider what Angie had said, then responded, “Or is it because you’re just a little jealous of that
innocent
young woman who has a man all to herself?”
    “I’m not jealous of her!”
    Fully dressed, Simon turned toward Angie and said, “Maybe not. Maybe everything you said is true. If so, I’ll pay you for the information like I always do.”
    “It’s true, all right!”
    Simon said as he pulled the door open, “Let me know what you find out.”
    Noting that the hallway was empty, Simon surrendered to libidinous curiosity and moved silently toward the room at the end. A tight smile on his lips,he boldly jerked the door open without knocking and looked inside. To his disappointment, Tricia Shepherd wasn’t there, but an obviously feverish man lay unconscious on the bed.
    Simon entered the room and pulled the door closed behind him. Uncertain, he stared as the man on the bed began mumbling incoherently. He saw the bloody bandage on the fellow’s leg and frowned.
    Who was this man? What was he doing here? Could Angie be right about the beautiful Tricia Lee Shepherd’s reason for spending so much time with him?
    Titillated at the thought, Simon felt his groin harden. If it were true, if Tricia enjoyed the diversity of perversion, she might be the source of endless hours of enjoyment for him . . . hours they could both benefit from before he left Galveston for good.
    He needed to know more.
    Certain there would be no interference from the unconscious man, Simon walked to the dresser where the fellow’s few belongings lay. He muttered under his breath when he found no identification, then picked up the pitifully small money pouch and looked inside.
    A few coins . . . a Confederate military button of some kind . . . an old ring . . .
    Simon drew the ring from the pouch to view it more clearly. The enameled crest was damaged, but the sailing ship was heart-stoppingly familiar, as was the Latin motto that was only partially visible.
    Quattuor mundom do. . . .
To four I give the world.
    Simon stared at the ring incredulously. It couldn’t be! Another Hawk sibling could not possibly have come back to haunt him!
    Simon glanced again at the man in the bed. He was big and dark-haired, not unlike Whit Hawk, but Simon saw no family resemblance. He was certain of only one thing. Fate had provided him the opportunity to dispense with another possible Hawk both swiftly and quietly, and he did not intend to lose it. He’d worry about ascertaining the fellow’s identity later.
    Knowing that the unconscious man would provide little resistance, Simon picked up the loose pillow lying on the bed. There would be no marks on the body when they discovered him dead. Everyone would think he had simply died in his sleep, and a potential problem would be eliminated.
    Simon lowered the pillow over the helpless man’s face.
    “What are you doing?”
    Simon straightened abruptly at the sharply voiced question. With the pillow still in his hands, he turned to see Tricia Shepherd standing in the doorway. He remained silent as she walked toward him and demanded again, “What are you doing?”
    Simon said with a smoothness that belied the pounding of his heart, “I knocked, but no one answered. Angie told me that a customer had collapsed from a fever downstairs earlier today, and that you were taking care of him. I came in to see if I could help. He seemed uncomfortable, and I was attempting to slide another pillow underneath his head.”
    “He doesn’t need another pillow.” Her expression tight, Tricia added, “And he doesn’t need anyone but Dr. Wesley and me to take care of him.”
    “My dear . . .” Simon’s smile was benevolent. “I was only trying to help.”
    Tricia’s replied stiffly, “I should thank you, then . . . before I ask you to leave.”
    “But—”
    “Please leave.”
    Simon took a backward step. “Of course,