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The chief grunted. “Is that so?”
“Yes. First Albert is murdered, and then I’m nearly killed hours after making bail. That can’t be a coincidence. Ruby’s abductor will do whatever is necessary to keep me from working her case.”
“Hold on.” Chief Ramirez rocked back on the heels of his alligator skin cowboy boots. “Y’all are jumping to some pretty outlandish conclusions. While I agree the attack on Sienna is probably connected to Albert’s murder, I doubt it has anything to do with Ruby’s disappearance.”
“Why is that?” Eli asked.
“Because Albert has a set of cousins. Troublemakers, known for breaking the law and taking matters into their own hands. The Greers have a mafia-style mentality. Come after one and you deal with them all.” Boone pegged Sienna with a dark look. “You kicked up a hornet’s nest by killing Albert. His family is out for revenge.”
She leaned forward in the hospital bed, shaking off Eli’s comforting hand, and infused her voice with conviction. “I didn’t kill Albert.”
Boone merely shrugged. “You're innocent until proven guilty under the law, but the Greer clan isn’t known for being patient.”
His expression held no sympathy. Sienna was an alleged killer, but in the chief’s mind, she was already guilty as charged. It was one of the many reasons they didn’t get along. Investigations required a certain flexibility as new evidence was discovered. Unfortunately, once Chief Ramirez decided on a theory, it was impossible to convince him otherwise.
“I’ve got officers looking for Albert’s cousins,” the chief continued. “But Tony and Luis aren’t easy to find on the best day. Given the circumstances, I’m sure they’ve gone underground. We’ll question the rest of the family, of course, but they won’t be much help.”
Sienna’s stomach churned with uncertainty. Could the chief be right? Could Albert’s cousins be responsible for the attack against her? It was possible. She’d heard rumors about the Greer family. They were known for sticking together, although she hadn’t realized that included killing for one another.
The chief’s cell phone buzzed with a notification. He glanced at the screen before focusing back on Eli and Sienna. “If I were you, I’d keep a low profile until the trial.”
Sienna didn’t bother to respond. She had no intention of doing any such thing. Not while Ruby was still missing.
“Chief, the Texas Rangers are available to assist with this investigation.” Eli’s tone was respectful, but Sienna knew him well enough to catch the faint curve of irritation riding his lip. He didn’t like Boone any more than she did. “Your theory about the attack on Sienna could be correct. This may simply be Albert’s family seeking revenge, but it’s also possible the three cases—Ruby’s disappearance, Albert’s murder, and this attack on Sienna—are connected. We should let the evidence guide the investigation.”
Boone smirked. “There’s no need to get the Texas Rangers involved. I’ve got things well in hand.” He tilted his head. “I know you, Eli, and I’m warning you now to be careful. You’re on medical leave. Even if you weren’t, you don’t have the jurisdiction to investigate these cases without my permission. Stand down and stay clear. I’d hate for you to lose your job over this matter.”
Sienna inhaled sharply. She sensed rather than saw Eli’s muscles stiffen with anger, but his expression remained placid. It was deceptive. A storm brewed underneath that easygoing facade, one that shouldn’t be underestimated.
Eli held the chief’s gaze. “Don’t worry about me, Chief Ramirez. I’m well aware of my responsibilities.”
“Good. I’ll keep y’all informed of any progress.”
With those final words, the chief turned on his heel and left the room. Sienna closed her eyes, sagging against the hospital bed, weariness stealing the last of the strength from her muscles. Ruby was missing. Albert was dead. Someone was trying to kill her. And now Eli’s job was on the line if he continued to help. Everything about this case had just become a lot more complicated.
A strong hand brushed curls away from her forehead and then Eli gently tugged the oxygen mask back over her face. Sienna opened her eyes. Her chest clenched at the tenderness in his expression.
“Don’t worry. We’re going to figure everything out.”
She caught his hand. “We can’t. I need to do this on my own, Eli. You heard the chief—”
“Not a chance, Sienna. We’re a team, remember?” He smiled, the faint dimple in his cheek appearing. Soot was smeared along his hairline, evidence of the near-death experience they’d been through only hours ago. “You're stuck with me for the time being. Where you go, I go.”
She wanted to argue. Knew that she should. But Sienna didn’t have any fight left in her. Truth was, deep down, she was scared and there was no one she trusted more to watch her back than Eli. Even after everything they’d been through, she knew with every fiber of her being that he wouldn’t let anyone harm her.
Their gazes met, and for a moment, time stopped. Sienna was temporarily overcome with the desire to close the distance between them and sink into Eli’s embrace. His arms had always been a safe place.
Sheer willpower held her back. It was one thing to have Eli in her corner. It was quite another to reignite their ill-advised romance. Too much pain, too much hurt, and too many unresolved issues lingered between them.
Sienna released his hand, settling back against the bed. “Neither of us has anywhere to go now that my house burned down. There’s a few hotels in Sandalwood, but that’s the first place the killer will look for me, right after my parents’ farm. Obviously we can’t go there—”
“Nonsense.” A booming voice came from the doorway. “The farm is exactly where you’re going, little girl.”
Eli backed away just as Sienna’s father entered the hospital room. Wyatt Evans was fresh off heart surgery, but no one would ever suspect the man had been dangerously close to dying last week. His tall and proud stature was unchanged, his thick hair damp from a shower and curly at the collar. He was dressed in church clothes: corduroys and a button-down.
Wyatt crossed the room and quickly embraced Sienna. She sank into her father’s hug, unbidden tears flooding her eyes as the familiar scents of tobacco and pine surrounded her. She turned thirty next month, but no matter how old she got, her dad’s presence instantly made her feel cared for.
Sienna swiped at the tears on her cheeks as her mother swooped in on the other side to join the embrace. Leila prided herself on doing whatever was necessary for her family’s well-being, from cooking balanced meals to driving a tractor in the field. Her silvery hair was cut in a short bob that was practical and easy. Exhaustion from long nights spent in the hospital at her husband’s side had deepened the lines on her face, but nothing could remove the warmth in her expression as she kissed Sienna’s forehead. “Your father is right. Your place is on the farm.”
