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“I’ve never told anyone any of this until now. Until you.”
“You can trust me, baby.”
These last few days had proven that to her. “What about Dylan?”
“Don’t give up on him, sweetheart. Dylan thinks he’s not good enough for you.” Cam kissed her on the cheek. “He’s confused.”
“Just like me. He’s more than good enough. Let’s go find him. I need to explain to him what happened.”
Erica helped Cam pack up the picnic supplies, more hopeful then she’d been in years. With Cam and Dylan by her sides, she knew she could handle anything.
Chapter Twelve
Cam stood at the corner of East and North Streets with Erica, feeling his gut tighten. They’d been looking for Dylan everywhere. His house on MacDavish Lane. Phase Four. Blue’s Diner. Phong’s. Lucy’s Burgers. Even TBK, which was deserted due to the late hour.
No Dylan anywhere.
“Where can he be?” Erica shook her head, clearly frustrated by the lack of results in their search.
He was frustrated, too. “I’m not sure. My brother was always the best at hide-and-seek when we were kids. He probably just needs some space.”
“But I have to tell him that it wasn’t him that had messed with my head and caused me to freak out. It was me. My crap.” Erica pointed to the Swanson County Jailhouse, which had Sheriff Jason Wolfe’s office inside. “The light is on, Cam. Maybe Dylan went back to talk to Jason.”
“I bet you’re right. Let’s go see.” He prayed that his brother was inside. Once Dylan heard Erica’s story, Cam believed things would tilt in the direction they should. Erica belonged with him and Dylan. Cam had no doubt about that. After hearing her horrific story of the creep who had raped her at school, all he wanted to do was hold her and make the rest of her life nothing but happiness. Erica was strong. God, how had she carried such a load for so long? Once Dylan knew the truth, the three of them could begin building a future together.
As he and Erica walked into the office, Shannon Day, Jason’s eccentric dispatcher, greeted them with a broad smile. “Seems like we have a crowd here tonight.”
It was odd to see Shannon here at this hour, but the sixty-year-old woman, like most in Destiny, followed her own rules, and that included her work schedule. The bright blue wig she wore tonight was one of many colored wigs she owned. “Jason isn’t alone?”
“Nope. Go right in. I’m sure he’d be happy to see a friendly face right now.”
Cam didn’t like the sound of that. Not one fucking bit. They opened the door and walked into Jason’s office. Jason wasn’t alone, but his guests didn’t include Dylan.
A bald, heavyset man sat in the chair in front of Jason’s desk. The guy wore a dark suit and had an unlit cigar in his mouth. Cam guessed him to be in his early sixties. Two men stood behind him, also in dark suits. They had tats on the sides of their necks. They looked like some kind of insignia.
“Where’s your brother?” Jason asked Cam, his face tight.
“We thought he might be with you,” Erica blurted. “We don’t know where he is.”
The creepy fellow in the chair rose and reached for Erica’s hand. “Perhaps I can be of service to you, dushka.”
The Russian accent chilled Cam’s bones, causing him to step between the man and the woman of his dreams. “Who are you?”
“Your forgiveness, sir. I did not know this lovely lady was taken.” Slime rolled from every syllable the bastard uttered. “But you are correct. I did not give you my name. That is why I am here with the good sheriff. I am a new resident of Destiny, Colorado. I should mind my manners.” The man held out his hand. “My name is Niklaus Borisovich Mitrofanov. And you are?”
He grabbed the man who was most certainly responsible for Erica’s abduction by the collar. “You fucking sonofabitch. I should kill you.”
The men behind him reached in their jackets for what had to be pistols. Cam didn’t have time to get his Glock from the holster under his coat. Dylan always told him he was too rash and reacted too fast without thinking. This was one of those times. He should’ve pulled out his gun first and aimed it between the motherfucker’s eyeballs.
“Mitrofanov, I’m the law here.” Jason’s gun was drawn. He’d jumped to his feet the second Cam had grabbed the Russian kingpin. “Your two bozos pull out weapons, and you won’t like what happens next.”
“They are a bit overprotective, Sheriff. You must forgive my nephews.” Niklaus held up his hand, motioning for his two thugs to stand down. “I’m not sure why you’re so angry with me, young man. I came to introduce myself to Sheriff Wolfe. That’s all. I’m certain there has been a mix-up of some kind. If you will kindly remove your hands from my coat, we can all sit down and work this out. What do you say?”
Cam glared at Mitrofanov. “Only this, asshole. Keep. Away. From. Erica.” He removed his hands from the man’s collar.
“Who is Erica?” The mocking amusement in the bastard’s eyes could not be missed.
“I am,” she said, coming around Cam. “Do you know where Dylan Strange is, Mr. Mitrofanov?”
