Page 70 of Protect My Heart

As she stood, package in hand—she heard it. The high-pitched whine of a small engine.

Help! Her eyes scanned the shore for the source. Please let it be an ice fisher. She couldn’t be that lucky. Another man she hadn’t seen before adjusted the choke on an ice auger. What little warmth she had left drained from her body.

“Not yet.” Warden Finden shook his head. “You just can’t get good help these days.”

Maybe if he didn’t shop at Thugs R Us. Liz clamped her mouth shut. No need to piss off the guy who obviously had her funeral arrangements on his daily to-do list.

“Well, are you going to bring the package over here or wait until we all freeze to death?”

Was that an option? Door number three please, Bob.

Romeo poked her with the barrel of the gun.

Guess it’s not an option? She stepped out from beside the vehicle and a gust of wind hit her. She stumbled back. Her teeth chattered so hard she thought her fillings would come loose. She wanted to jump in the car and speed away but no way that would happen.

“Now, Miss Garcia.” The warden’s impatience showed in the scowl he wore.

Carefully, she put one foot in front of the other. Her legs wobbled and her throat went dry with each step. She tried to swallow but nothing happened. “Why are you doing this?”

Silence.

“What did Papi do to you?”

“Your Papi.” He spit on the ground. “I’d be a better daddy than Patty. Oh, sure he blathered on and on about his pretty little wife and kids when we were in the sandbox, but that didn’t stop him from getting a hot, young thing preggers over there.” He laughed. The sharp sound echoed off the metal shipping containers. “She was a looker, I’ll give him that.”

Lies. It had to be. She stopped. She couldn’t comprehend what he was saying.

“My father wasn’t a perfect man, but he loved Mami. He wouldn’t have cheated on her.” That was the scared little girl talking and she knew it. A weight settled in her stomach.

“Always the optimistic child. Of all people, I’d think you’d see the truth. Your father was a pathological liar. He crafted the whole good guy routine. He snowed a lot of people, but you know I’m right. You saw what he was capable of first hand.” A flash of teeth shown from his sadistic smile. He stepped closer. “He buffaloed me, too. Hell, if I’d known then, I would have let that roadside bomb have him.”

He saved her father’s life?

“But he eventually got what he had coming to him.” His eyes narrowed on her. “And now, I’ll get what’s mine. Bring it to me.”

She didn’t have a clue how her father’s old army knife and journal could be the warden’s, but she didn’t really care at this moment.

Apparently, she didn’t move fast enough. His gaze locked with Romeo’s and as quick as lightning, Romeo smacked her upside the head with the gun. Her temple throbbed and her cheek stung.

“Don’t be coy. I know he gave it to you. His silly journal was filled with you.”

“Journal?” She never saw a notebook in her father’s things. Lord, she hoped he didn’t open this box. He was so transfixed on this stupid journal that he’d kill her for sure.

Tigger whined and whimpered as she grew closer. The drugs they’d used to subdue him must be wearing off. She made cooing sounds trying to soothe the dog. No action-packed rescue plans popped in her head. So much for being able to take care of myself. And to think she was worried about dating Jim because of the danger with his job.

She stopped just out of reach. With shaking arms, she extended the package and Finden reached for it. Finden held the knife loosely in his left hand. Could she grab it and stab him?

Romeo coughed behind her.

Her chest fell.

Suddenly, a low growl shredded the silence. The most furious sound she’d ever heard. Tigger dropped low on his haunches and barked.

What is it, boy? Her gaze flew to the dog. Tig’s attention had moved from her and the warden to the shipping containers to the right of them. He was winding up. His barks grew louder and… happier?

“Shut that mutt up.” Warden snapped at the ice-auger man. Finden’s gaze never left Liz. There was no way she could make a move for the knife.

Liz’s heartbeat raced. Don’t look. She struggled to keep his focus on her and his bounty.