Page 84 of Lion’s Den

“All right. Thanks.”

“Sedona, do everything Cam tells you to do without question. If you don’t like or understand an order, wait until the crisis is over, then sit down with him and talk.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Get going. Watch your six, Cam.”

“Copy that, sir.” Cam stood and offered his hand to Sedona. When she was on her feet, he threaded his fingers through hers and led her toward the door. He paused with his hand on the doorknob. “David, Elliot, I apologize for my earlier behavior. I was out of line. It won’t happen again.”

Elliot snorted. “Don’t lie.”

Cam glanced over his shoulder and grinned at his fellow deputy. He opened the door and escorted Sedona to the squad room, where his teammates waited.

When they saw Cam and Sedona, the rest of The Thunderhawks followed them to the lobby. Cam took a step toward the front doors.

Dario wrapped his big hand around Cam’s upper arm. “Let us go first,” he murmured. “We do this by the book.”

The team formed a loose circle around Sedona and Cam and started for the door. Dario reached for the doorknob as Cam wrapped his arm around Sedona’s shoulders. He tucked her close to his body. “Stay with me,” he murmured. “You’ll be safer once we're inside the SUV.”

Safer. Not safe. She shivered and inched closer to Cam. This wasn’t good. Back in her teenage years, she thought walking the high-wire without a net was the most terrifying thing she could do. She’d found something scarier: walking from the relative safety of a building out into the open.

The men moved at a fast clip toward the SUV with Cam almost carrying Sedona. Suited her. The faster she was inside the SUV, the better for her peace of mind.

Dario reached the SUV first and opened the back door for Sedona. Cam lifted her into the vehicle, thrust the seatbelt into her hand, and circled around to the driver’s side and climbed behind the wheel. When Dario dove into the shotgun seat, Cam cranked the engine.

As Cam drove toward the parking exit, the windshield spiderwebbed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

BEFORE CAM COULD give the order, Dario kicked out the windshield. Even though they were more vulnerable without the glass, at least he could see to drive. He glanced over his shoulder, looking for any blood on the woman he loved.

Clean.

Thank God. “Sedona, lie flat on the seat. Don’t sit up until I tell you.”

“Go, go, go,” Dario snapped.

Cam whipped back around and slammed his foot on the accelerator. He and Isaac, who was driving the second SUV, weaved in and out of traffic in a way guaranteed to attract the attention of the closest law enforcement officers. He hoped his fellow deputies ignored the erratic driving.

His phone rang. Dario tapped the talk button on the dashboard screen. “You’re on speaker with Cam, Dario, and Sedona.”

“The deputies are reporting gunfire outside the station. What happened?”

“Ambush. Sniper shot my windshield.”

“Everybody okay?”

“10-4.” He glanced at Dario who had been texting furiously. His friend glanced up and gave a sharp nod. Cam breathed easier. “No injuries.”

David sighed. “Thank God. I was concerned.”

He’d been more than concerned. Cam had been terrified for his friends and especially Sedona. To lose her to a sniper’s bullet was in his top five worst fears. “Same.”

“Anybody get a bead on the shooter?”

Dario said, “Isaac said he was on the courthouse roof, right side.”

“Hold. Elliot, you get that?”