Chapter Seven #2
John crossed his arms over his chest. He wasn’t going to lie. “I stole it. I don’t trust the guy so I wasn’t leaving him with a gun while my back was turned.”
Blane bared his teeth at John. “And I don’t trust you.
You’re the guy who is supposed to be dead.
The guy who was supposed to have been shot in the back on that mountain road.
” He holstered his weapon. “You move too fast. Your reflexes are too good. You’re too strong.
You’re some kind of supernatural freak, and I don’t want you anywhere near Shelly. ”
Supernatural freak.
“Blane, stop it.” Shelly’s words were sharp. She strode to stand beside John. “We all need to calm down.”
John slanted a glance at her. She looked small and vulnerable in her robe. And sexy as hell with her tousled hair and her red lips. She looked like a woman who’d just climbed out of bed and—
“Shit,” Blane snarled. “You’re screwing him.”
John lunged forward.
“Stop!” Shelly grabbed him. Held tight. “This is not the way to avoid jail time. You can’t keep attacking the sheriff.”
He stilled, only because she’d asked him to stop. But he didn’t like the furious twist of Blane’s face.
“Shelly!” Blane snapped. “You don’t know this guy! He’s a stranger, and you took him into your bed?”
Her cheeks flushed. John heard the skip of her heartbeat.
She was embarrassed. Immediately, John stepped in front of her. “Watch yourself.” His hands were already fisted as he faced off against the sheriff.
Warily, Blane glanced at John’s hands. After a moment, his gaze rose once more. “Shelly, trusting the wrong man can be a fatal mistake.”
Oh, hell, no. You just—
“Don’t arrest him, Blane. Please.” She was practically begging the guy. Shelly didn’t need to beg anyone for anything. Not on John’s watch. Not on—
“John’s been through a lot, okay? There are things you don’t know about him.” She edged to John’s side. “Things you don’t understand.”
She wasn’t about to tell the sheriff about Lazarus, was she?
“I’m asking you as a friend,” Shelly continued, “don’t do this.”
Blane’s eyes blazed. “Shelly, the man is a threat. How can you not see that?”
John had heard enough. “I’d never be a threat to her.”
“Your ass beat a car back to this cabin. You think that’s normal shit? It’s not. Nothing about you is normal, and I’m taking you in.”
“Blane!” Shelly cried out. “Don’t.”
Blane had cuffs in his hand. “I’m taking him in, Shelly.”
John’s back teeth clenched. “You’d leave her unprotected?” he gritted out the words.
Blane’s face flushed. “Of course, not. I’ve got my deputy on the way out here now.
He’ll keep an eye on her for the rest of the night while you get comfortable in a cell at the station.
” His lips thinned. “You either faked your death in Miami, or you stole that poor guy’s identity.
And you just assaulted an officer. You’re going in.
” His gaze cut to Shelly. “Don’t keep looking at me like that.
I’m doing this because we’re friends. I want you to be safe. ”
While Blane’s cheeks had flushed, Shelly’s had gone pale. “If you do this, you know I’ll just call my family’s lawyer. I’ll have John out by dawn.”
“You do what you have to do.” Blane moved toward John. “And I’ll do what I have to do.”
One punch, and John knew he could knock the guy out. But, then what? Shelly wouldn’t run away with him. Not if he knocked out the sheriff right in front of her. Not if he let his rage out and he attacked.
Shit. Shit. The sheriff had backed him into a corner.
“You gonna fight me?” Blane asked him.
He wanted to but… “You swear you’re gonna keep her safe?”
“You’re the threat. My gut says the shooter is after you, not her. So if I remove you from her life…”
Then the sheriff thought Shelly would be safe. John lifted his hands. He’d play this game, for now. “You’d damn well better make sure a deputy stays with her every moment.”
“I’m coming to the station,” Shelly threw right back. “I’m not going to just stay here while you get tossed in a cell.” Her hand squeezed his arm. “I’ll go get dressed. I’ll be right back just—I’m not going to give up on you.”
She rushed up the stairs. And he watched her, every single step of the way.
“Her heart is too soft,” Blane’s disgusted voice groused. “Always has been. She thinks you need help. She doesn’t see you for what you are.” He grabbed John’s arm and led him to the door.
The snow brushed against John’s face as he stepped outside. He inhaled and…
A bitter, acidic scent burned his nose. Frowning, his head turned toward the sheriff’s vehicle.
“I’m expecting a call from the Miami authorities first thing in the morning. Gonna get some answers. And after your little stunt tonight, there’s no way I’m leaving you out here with her.” Blane pushed John toward the car.
John went forward, but only because he wanted to get closer to that vehicle. And with every step, the acidic odor grew stronger. “Someone messed with your brakes, too.”
“What?”
John lifted his bound hands. “I can smell brake fluid. Bend down, get beneath your car, and you’ll smell it, too. You’ve got brake fluid leaking out.” The same trick that had been used on Shelly. “Bet you wouldn’t make it down to the station before you lost control.”
“You’re talking bullshit!” But John saw that Blane’s nose was twitching. The guy grabbed a flashlight from his vehicle. He shined the light in John’s eyes. “Step your ass back, got it?”
John took a step back.
Blane crouched on the ground, shining the light under the car. “What. The. Fuck?” Not so much a question as an exclamation of fury. Blane jumped back to his feet. The light hit John once more. “How the hell did you know that?”
“I’ve got a good sense of smell.” He paused. “You saw the brake fluid, didn’t you? Spilling out all over the place.”
“The brakes were a little funny on the way to the cabin,” Blane muttered. “I didn’t even think…” He jerked his hand through his hair. “No way is that a coincidence. Shelly’s vehicle and mine?”
Shelly’s feet rushed over the porch. “I don’t want you taking him, Blane!”
John glanced back at her. She’d dressed in jeans and boots, and a big, black sweater.
“Don’t worry.” Blane’s hands were on his hips as he glared at his car. “None of us are leaving in that ride.”
She staggered to a stop at John’s side.
Blane glared at John. “Did you just save my ass?”
John held up the cuffs, and with one hard tug, he broke them apart. “You’re welcome.”