Chapter Twenty-One
SEDONA CUPPED CAM’S cheeks and leaned in to press her lips to his, her touch as gentle and light as butterfly wings. “You didn’t fail.”
“How can you say that?” Pain filled his eyes. “He’s not here with you or with his mother.” He closed his eyes for a beat. “I’m not looking forward to telling Maria that Julio slipped through our fingers. Some Special Forces team we are.”
“Are you giving up?”
His eyelids flew up, anger simmering in the depths. “No. Never. We made a promise to find him and bring him home. The Thunderhawks don’t renege on a promise. Our team will bring him home.” Cam watched her for a moment. “If someone took you from me, I’d burn the world down to find you.”
She stared at his beloved face. “Cam.”
“I mean every word, Sedona. You are everything to me.”
Her eyes widened. “I feel the same about you.”
His grip tightened around her arm. “Don’t say that unless you mean it to your soul.”
“You are the beat of my heart,” she whispered. Did he understand what she was telling him? She knew many people would tell her this was too fast, that she couldn’t know in a few weeks. But she knew. Deep in her soul she’d known the truth of what he was to her the first time she’d seen him.
“Sedona.” Cam’s voice dropped until it was just above a growl. “I’m serious. You can’t say such things unless you mean them. To give me paradise, then take it away would shred my soul.”
She rested two fingers against his lips to stop the flood of words, then took a leap into the unknown. “Cam, I love you.”
He stilled. Every muscle seemed made of stone. But those eyes, his beautiful eyes, glimmered with a million stars in their depths. “Say it again,” he demanded, pulling her into his arms.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too, Sedona.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight against his chest. “More than I can express. I know the timing is wrong, that I should have waited, but I was afraid I had royally screwed things up between us. I am sorry, Tiger. All of us are heartbroken that we missed Julio.”
“Stop. You got confirmation that he’s still alive. That’s worth its weight in gold to me. I’ve heard rumors about your team.”
“You have?”
“The Montgomery brothers have been talking about you and The Thunderhawks at family dinners. The hot topic of conversation at the dinner table is how to persuade the rest of your team to come on board as Morgan County’s first Search and Rescue team.”
His mouth curved. “Won’t take much. They’re already planning to apply to the sheriff’s department to work as deputies.”
Thank goodness. At least she didn’t have to worry about Cam moving somewhere else if his teammates were here. Then again, every school system needed teachers, and Sedona was sure her principal would give her a good reference. “You’re not planning to move?”
Cam shook his head. “The day I met you, everything changed. I no longer wanted to be temporary. I’m here to stay, Sedona, and so are my teammates.
If David doesn’t want us as a search and rescue team, we can volunteer with a SAR organization.
We’ll find an opportunity to do what we’re trained to do.
We want to find people and bring them home because every family deserves to be whole. ”
Sedona hugged him tightly. “You’re amazing.”
“I’m contributing my skills to help those who can’t help themselves. If you were trained, you’d do the same.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Well, there aren’t many calls for voluntary high-wire acts.”
“I would hope not.” He shuddered. “I know you’re good at the work, but I really hope no one needs you to risk life and limb to save someone.”
“Unlike jumping into a lion enclosure?” She couldn’t resist teasing him.
“Tiger, don’t tease me about that. I don’t want to go through that again. My hair is turning gray just thinking about it.”
David tapped on the door. “Sorry to interrupt. Interrogation Room One. Five minutes.”
Sedona released Cam. “What does that mean?”
David wants to see us. Something’s happened.”
Her stomach twisted into a knot. “I hope it’s good.”
Cam’s expression was grim. “Around here, the news is rarely good.”
How did any law enforcement officer bear a job with such a dark outlook on life? She couldn’t do his job. She was a kindergarten teacher for a reason. Loving sunshine, kittens and puppies, and young children made Sedona’s job perfect for her. She didn’t want to face such a grim outlook on life.
She glanced at him as he seated her at the scarred wooden table in the interrogation room.
Becoming an officer wasn’t in the future, but becoming an officer’s wife could be on the agenda.
Although dealing with the worst of the citizens of Morgan County wasn’t part of her training, she’d have to help Cam deal with the aftereffects of his job.
“Do you want anything to drink? We have coffee, tea, soft drinks, and water. What would you like?”
“Water. I’ll go for hot tea later.”
He flinched. “If that’s what you want.”
Sedona laughed. “I know you’re not a tea drinker.”
“The cold and sweetened variety is great. The herbal stuff is unpalatable.”
The sheriff strode into the room with his brother, Elliot, a step behind. They sat on the other side of the table. “The Collector knows where Julio lives. We’ve had to move the family into protective custody.”
Cam stiffened. “What happened?”
“Caleb drove them home and found this.” David turned his phone around so they could both see the photos as he scrolled from one picture to the next.
Each photo showed more and more destruction. Holes in the wall, the refrigerator shoved onto its front, food tossed everywhere, and that was just in the kitchen.
As David swiped on, showing more damage in each room than the one before, Sedona grew sick to her stomach. Was she responsible for this? Had something she said or seen caused these people to lash out at Julio and his family?
Frustration filled her. If she had caused this, she didn’t know how. Nothing stood out except Julio talking about the three men who stared at him behind the school building.
But that made little sense. She’d been back there, too, and had seen nothing that should trigger this kind of payback. Sedona felt helpless, and she hated that feeling. She hadn’t experienced that since she joined the circus and didn’t appreciate having her peace and security ripped away again.
“Are they safe?” Cam asked.
“For now,” Elliot replied. “It won’t last long.”
“Why not?” Sedona asked.
“If The Collector is as good as he’s rumored to be, he’s already searching for Maria and Eddie. We can’t let Simpson get to them.”
“How can we help?” Cam asked.
“You can’t.” David slid his phone into his pocket.
Cam’s face lost all expression and color. “You don’t trust me.”
“Don’t be stupid,” Elliot snapped. “This isn’t about our trust in you. If we didn’t trust you, you’d be out of a job.”
David snorted. “Except for the leak we have yet to find.”
“Caleb’s narrowing it down.”
“He needs to work faster, bro.” David refocused on Cam. “Elliot’s right. Don’t be stupid.”
“Somebody write that down,” his brother said. “Doesn’t happen often.”
David turned to look at Elliot.
Elliot held up his hands and mimicked zipping his lips shut.
The sheriff rolled his eyes and turned back to Cam. “You already have a job. You’re Sedona’s bodyguard and, if I’m not mistaken, much more.
“I love her,” Cam admitted. “Don’t bother telling me that’s a conflict of interest. Sedona is everything to me. She will always be my top priority. No one will touch her again.”
“If you can’t focus, I need to know about it yesterday. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
A sigh from the sheriff. “But you won’t tell me to reassign you.”
“Respectfully, no way, sir.”
“Then you better balance your priorities so Sedona is unharmed and your team comes back in one piece.”
“I’ve got this, sir.”
“I hope so, Cam, because The Collector will dice you up into little pieces if you give him a tiny opening. Don’t do it. You’re growing on me.”
“Copy that, sir.”
“Wait a minute,” Sedona said. “What about Julio? You can’t forget him.”
“No one has forgotten him,” David said. “He’s uppermost in all our minds.”
“Who is going after Julio?”
“We are. Cam’s sole focus is you.”
She shook her head. “No way.” Beside her, Cam sat as still as a statue, and his face was as blank as a clean slate.
David studied her a moment. “Are you telling me you don’t want Cam protecting you, Sedona? Do you feel unsafe with him?”
Cam shoved back from the table. “Are you kidding me?”
Elliot, also on his feet, shoved Cam back into the chair. “Don’t move,” he said, gaze locked on Cam.
“You heard what he said.”
“I’ve got ears.” His attention didn’t shift from Cam for one second. “Bro, you have zero diplomacy.”
David ignored all the byplay. “Sedona, answer my question. Do you feel safe with Cam?”
Her man’s growl rumbled deep in his chest.
“Now who’s being stupid?” Sedona glared at the sheriff. “Of course I do. I love Cam Sims. He would never lay a hand on me in anger.”
“Then what did you mean by your statement?”
“Cam and his team have already found Julio once. They’re his best chance, David. Allow them to continue their work. They’re already running down leads as we speak.”
“Say I let him and The Thunderhawks search for Julio. Who will protect you when they go hunting?”
“If I’m not with them, then send Elliot and Levi to watch over me. Deal?”
His eyebrows rose. “You’re going with them to hunt for Julio?”
“I’ll do whatever is necessary to bring that boy back to his mother, even if it means tramping through the woods again.”
Respect filled his eyes. “You are one tough cookie, Sedona Hart. I hope your sisters are as feisty as you are.”
“We’ll find out soon. The first one will arrive in a few days. I’d rather not have a hired assassin after me when she arrives, if you don’t mind.”
He inclined his head in silent agreement, then turned to Cam. “Do you agree with Sedona? Should you and your team have another shot at finding Julio?”
“The military trained us to find people. Sedona is right. We’ve already found him once.
We’ll find him again and free him from The Collector and his cronies.
If you’re asking whether we want the chance to right a wrong, you bet we do.
Julio is a good kid, and he’s ours. We’ll find him, David. You have my word.”
After a long minute of enduring David’s scrutiny, the sheriff gave a slight nod.
“All right. We’ll try it your way for now.
If I don’t like the progress you’re making or any tactic you try, I’m pulling the plug on this mission and sending you back to the original one of only guarding Sedona. We’re clear on that?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Dismissed. I want reports on my personal cell only. If I’m unavailable, report to Elliot on his phone.”
Cam frowned. “Should we have met somewhere besides the station?” He glanced at the camera attached to the ceiling. The indicator light on the camera was red.
“I checked this room myself, so I know there are no unauthorized bugs or small cameras in here. The only thing the traitor will know is that I met with you and your team to discuss the case.”
Cam’s lips curved slightly. “Mighty small team, sir.”
“Ha ha. Talk to the rest of your team. If The Thunderhawks are on board, get moving on this op. We just reset the mission clock, and we probably have twenty-four hours or less to get this done.”
“You said The Collector completes his missions no matter how long it takes.”
“He is not behaving in a manner that is reported to be normal for him.”
“Do you know why?” Sedona asked. This couldn’t be good news for Julio. Why was this man in such a hurry to complete the contract?
David shook his head and glanced at his brother. “What’s your take on it, Elliot?”
“The client is pressuring Simpson for results.”
“But he kidnapped Sedona.”
“Yeah, and lost her. Then he tried to take out Julio with a lion and failed, thanks to Sedona. He finally got his hands on Julio, but I don’t think he’s getting what he wanted.”
“Which is what?” Sedona asked. “A scared little boy? I can guarantee Simpson has accomplished that mission.”
“My assumption is the client wants information. If he’s not receiving what he wants from Julio, he’ll try again with the next most likely candidate.” Elliot stared hard at Sedona.
“Me?” She scoffed. “Got news for you, pal. They tried with me and utterly failed. I might have escaped, but I skipped out on their question-and-answer sessions before they got started. They don’t know that I know nothing. I have holes in my memory after they injected me with Ketamine.
“Keep trying to remember, Sedona.” David stood. “Stay alert, Cam. If your team needs people to trade off night watch, let me know. I’ll contact Personal Security International, Fortress Security’s training arm, and ask for a team almost ready for the field as a black ops unit to give us a hand.”
“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.