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“I see him.”
So did Nicole. The sheriff was rushing to secure the area.
She and her cowboys jumped out of the truck. They ran up to Sheriff Wolfe, who was dragging sawhorses into the road with the help of a few people. She recognized a couple of them. Dylan wore his signature sunglasses, dark suit, and black tie. If anyone looked like a government agent or spy, it was that man. Alexei, the former mob assassin turned good guy, was taking control of the crowd with only gestures and a few simple words. Impressive.
“Jason, we need someone to protect Nicole so we can get to fighting the fire,” Reed said as they approached the sheriff.
“Shit. Yes. You both are the only certified guys on the squad.” The sheriff motioned Dylan and Alexei closer.
“I don’t need bodyguards,” she snapped. “I can be of use here.”
“Not a chance,” Sawyer said. “We know that one Russian came to Destiny and messed with your car. Who knows how many more might be coming?”
“There’s Dylan’s brother, Cam. Erica is with him.” Reed pointed to a large man standing next to his sister about ten feet away from them. Cam’s eyes never left Erica. “He can help, too. He’s an attorney here in Destiny and one of the best shots in the whole state.”
“This is ridiculous. I don’t need an attorney or bodyguards or babysitters.” Nicole felt her heart racing. “Sawyer, you’re not in charge. I have experience in this kind of situation. I can help.”
“Flowers, I am in charge here.” Jason shook his head. “You’ll be most helpful if you cooperate. We don’t know if the Russian we caught was working alone or not. I’m sure you’re very capable, but you don’t know anyone in Destiny besides Reed and Sawyer. It’s too big of a risk.”
“You’re making a mistake, Sheriff. I know how to handle a crowd.”
“I have a pretty good idea you do.” Jason’s steady gaze reminded her of her grandfather. The one thing she and the sheriff had in common was duty. “I would be frustrated, too, if I were in your shoes, but we must be very careful at this point. With all this excitement, you would be an easy target, Nicole.”
She shrugged. “Don’t you need all the volunteers you can get on this? I’m a seasoned officer.”
“We’re not going to lose you now, baby,” Sawyer said. “We just found you.”
Her training disagreed with him, but her heart understood he was right. “Okay. I’ll stay put.”
“It would be best to get your woman into an enclosed space that I can secure. We can take Erica with us, too,” Dylan said.
Nicole shook her head and opened her jacket to reveal her holstered gun underneath. “I’m not helpless.”
“Clearly not,” the sheriff said. “I’ve asked a couple of citizens to keep everyone in the park.” He turned to Dylan. “Use Father Dragon and the big pine tree by his statue as cover. That leaves only a few spaces you’ll have to keep your eyes on. She’ll be safe there.”
“That statue in the park is an additional half block away from the fire. I won’t be able to see a thing from there. By these sawhorses, I can at least see what’s going on, and if I’m needed I can be of some help.” She folded her arms over her chest in defiance. “I let you guys win the war, but I demand to win this battle.”
“Demand?” Reed’s eyebrows shot up.
“We don’t have time for this,” Jason barked. “Either give in or don’t. We’ve got to get to the fire.” The sheriff didn’t wait to find out what they would decide but ran down the street toward the clinic.
“Done. You can stay here, Nicole, but no closer.” Sawyer turned to Dylan, Alexei, and Cam. “Keep your eyes wide open. Your new client is precious to us.”
Then he and Reed bolted the same direction Jason had run—to the fire.
* * * *
Reed and Sawyer finished putting on their firefighting gear. The entire two-story clinic was ablaze. Out of every window on its second floor the blackest smoke Reed had ever seen billowed out. Red and orange flames licked the broken glass of the first floor windows and doors.
The Knight brothers, Eric and Scott, the acting EMTs on the scene, checked the lucky victims’ vitals. The survivors’ words couldn’t be heard over Destiny’s lone fire engine moan, Old Red’s siren.
Jason came up to him and Sawyer. “Eight unaccounted for. Doc Ryder, two nurses, four patients—one of whom was the Russian Flowers wants to question, and Charlie.”
Reed shook his head thinking of Nicole and glad she was safe back at the barricade with the three capable men around her. He wished it could be him, but he and Sawyer were needed here. Then his mind snapped to the last time he’d talked to Charlie Blake, Destiny’s favorite deputy sheriff. Charlie and the others were inside the burning clinic. Reed turned to Sawyer. “Let’s go.”
* * * *
Nicole was a total bundle of nerves. Her eyes hadn’t left Reed and Sawyer since they’d run down the street to the disaster. Even from this distance, she could see them, which made her feel a tiny bit better. Suddenly, she watched them run into the burning building. Her heart stopped.
