Page 32 of Lion’s Den

CHAPTER TEN

CAM CAUGHT THE furious mother before she laid her hands on Sedona. “Whoa, there, sister. You don’t want to do that.”

“Let me go. She let my baby fall into a lion enclosure. I will kill her for that.”

“Maria,” he said sharply. “Let me introduce myself. I’m Deputy Cam Sims of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office.”

The woman pointed a finger at Sedona. “You’re a cop? You should arrest her. She tried to kill my baby.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why not? You arrest people, don’t you?”

“Yes, ma’am, but Sedona didn’t try to kill Julio. No one told you what happened, did they?”

She shook her head.

“A man in a hoodie grabbed Julio and threw him into the lion enclosure. Sedona and I tried to stop him, but we were too far away to intervene. Without thought for her own safety, Sedona jumped into the lion enclosure and put herself between the lion and your son. I was right behind her, so I saw everything she did. Sedona pulled Julio to safety while I distracted the lion. If it hadn’t been for her quick thinking and actions, you can just imagine what would have happened to Julio. You owe her an enormous debt, ma’am, not threats.”

Maria’s furious expression morphed into one of amazement as her flushed cheeks slowly returned to normal. “Why would you do that?” she asked Sedona. “Why jump into what was likely certain death?”

“He’s one of my kids,” Sedona said simply. “I love them all, and I wasn’t about to lose one of them to someone’s evil scheme.”

Julio’s mother clamped her hand over her mouth. Seconds later, tears flowed down the woman’s cheeks.

Hoping it was safe to let the weeping woman go, Cam loosened his hold on her. Immediately, she closed in on Sedona and wrapped her in a hug.

“Thank you, Miss Hart. Thank you for saving my son. My children are my entire world.”

Sedona patted her back, a bemused expression on her face. “You’re welcome.”

The exam room door opened again. Anne Marie ignored Cam and Sedona. “Julio is asking for you, Mrs. Ramirez.”

“Of course.” Maria stepped back from Sedona. “Contact me later, and I’ll give you an update about Julio’s condition.”

“Thank you.” After the mother rushed back into the examination room, Sedona turned to Cam. “Well, that was fun. Not. What’s next on our agenda of non-stop fun things to do?”

He knew what he wanted to do. If Cam had any choice in the matter, he’d spirit her away from Maple Valley to a place Sedona had never been, a place he knew was secluded enough that he could control the entrances and exits and the perimeter. If he got her there, he knew she’d be safe.

Since he wasn’t there, and he couldn’t leave the area without permission from his new boss, he’d have to make do with going back to the station for interviews. After that, though, he intended to collect on Sedona’s promise to give him answers. If he failed, David would turn Elliot loose on Sedona.

A cold sweat broke out all over his body. No sane person wanted a run-in with Elliot Montgomery. Although Sedona didn’t get it, Cam knew Elliot’s reputation. When all other avenues failed and critical information was needed, the only name to call was Elliot Montgomery.

Sedona liked the deputy, and Cam would rather not hurt their friendship. Elliot was selective about who he allowed into his circle of friends. Sedona passed all the barriers to the sacred inner circle, and Cam didn’t want to mess with that.

So he did the adult thing. “Station. The sheriff needs to interview us in greater depth. More details mean he finds the men who hurt you and Julio faster.”

Sedona grinned as she fell into step beside him. “How much did saying that hurt?”

“More than I’m willing to admit.” He stopped in front of Wilkens. “Guard them with your life, Wilkens. The kid is my buddy.”

“Yes, sir.” Wilkens moved to take up a watch position directly across from the examination room.

Cam led them down the bustling hallway again, alert in case trouble broke out. His jaw flexed. Too many entrances and exits in a hospital for principals to be secure. This hospital was no different. Just too many ways she could be at risk of retaliation.

Instead of taking Sedona to the elevator, he changed direction and took her to the door marked “Exit”.

She didn’t say a word about the odd tactic. A welcome response, but also a curious one. The more he learned about Sedona Hart, the more questions he needed answered.