Page 11 of Lion’s Den

Skinny stared at David, suspicion in his eyes. “What do I have to pay?”

“Not a penny.” The sheriff propelled him into motion. “All I want is a name.”

“Whose name?”

“Your boss.”

“Don’t do it,” Linebacker snapped. “You’ll wind up dead.”

Skinny’s face lost all color. “I want a lawyer.”

And there were those magic words no law enforcement officer wanted to hear.

The procession from the forest took a while. By the time they reached the police cruisers and Cam’s SUV, Sedona was frozen to the bone and so tired she stumbled the last few feet to Cam’s vehicle.

Cam stopped Linebacker beside the SUV. “David, do you have room for this big guy, too?”

That’s when Sedona noticed Elliot lounging against David’s SUV.

“I can take him. Why?”

“I need to take Sedona to the hospital.”

Elliot and David’s eyes went as cold as ice. “Do I need to add additional charges against the men?” David asked.

“I’ll let you know.”

Elliot came alongside Linebacker and studied his face for a moment. “Looks like you’ve got a black eye. Who laid into you?”

“That crazy kitten can do more than hiss.”

Elliot laughed. “No kidding? What do you think about that, David?”

“I think these jokers got more than they bargained for when they went after Cam’s woman.”

She blinked. That was the second time someone had called her that, and Cam hadn’t denied it. She frowned. But what did that mean?

As soon as the prisoners were sitting in the back of the SUV, David inclined his head toward Cam’s vehicle. “Run hot until you’re close to the hospital. I want a report as soon as you have one.”

“Copy that, sir.”

A minute later, the prisoners were gone, and the silence between Sedona and Cam seemed larger than the universe. Talk about awkward silences.

Cam cupped her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. Those beautiful chocolate-brown eyes locked with hers. “Do I need to ask one of your friends to meet us here?”

She blinked. “Why?”

Cam’s expression went blank. “You may not feel comfortable being in an enclosed space alone with me.”

She tilted her head. “We’ve spent a lot of time alone.”

“That was before.” His voice petered out.

“Before what?”

Pain filled his eyes. “Before those men might have hurt you.”

Hurt? Oh. She finally understood what he was trying so hard not to say. And just like that, her legs gave out. If Cam hadn’t been close enough to catch her, Sedona would have landed in a heap on the ground. Good thing the handsome deputy was fast on his feet.