Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 138588 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138588 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
“I’ll call for backup if you don’t surrender right now.” It seemed Marshall had chosen the hill he was going to die on. “And I wouldn’t threaten an officer of the law. We tend to take threats seriously around here.” He glared Sabrina’s way. “Maybe you aren’t the woman we thought you were.”
“Damn straight I’m not, and you’re going to find out,” Sabrina challenged.
“Baby, please.” If he didn’t turn the heat down, something was going to explode, and he couldn’t handle the idea of it hitting his family.
This was what it meant to have a real family. Sabrina and Sawyer and Bella were his family now, and he would sacrifice anything for them. He would also trust them. Giving Sabrina a job to do might help her back down. “Baby, call Nate and let him know what’s happening and where they’re taking me. Tell him I’ll be able to prove I didn’t kill anyone.”
He offered his wrists to Marshall.
The deputy turned him around with a rough twist of his forearm, bringing his wrists together behind his back.
“Come on,” Sawyer complained. “You can’t cuff him in front? How scared are you?”
He tightened those cuffs to almost the point of pain. Angry. The deputy was angry, and Wyatt might be able to make use of that. He would have half an hour to try to figure out how much they knew. He would bet not a lot. Maybe the distance from Sabrina would help them think more logically. “It’s fine. Sabrina, I love you.”
She had her cell in hand. Tears shimmered in her eyes. “I love you. I’ll get you out as soon as possible.”
“I’ll follow them.” Sawyer kept his hold on Bella, who was whining now and trying to get to Wyatt.
Marshall put a hand on Wyatt’s shoulder, starting to lead him to the waiting squad car. Wyatt had to be fast to not trip.
Knox followed behind them. “Good luck following us, Sawyer. Looks like someone doesn’t care much for you. You’re down two tires. Noticed it when we came in.”
“What?” Sawyer asked. “You trashed my Jeep?”
Wyatt ducked, avoiding taking a hit as he was pushed into the backseat. His heart rate ticked up. Why would someone slash Sawyer’s tires if the intention was to get him to jail? In a jail cell, they could do whatever they wanted to him. They could arrange for an accident, or they would find him alone and call it suicide.
But the jail scenario couldn’t be countered by Sawyer following them.
“I sure as hell didn’t do it.” Marshall slammed the door. “It was already done. I know you don’t understand this, but I’m a police officer. I follow the damn law. I don’t break it. And we’ll discuss the threats you two have made at another time.”
“Deputy, something’s wrong,” Sawyer insisted. “I’m not joking. You know this is wrong.”
“I know I have a job to do.” Marshall slid into the driver’s side while Knox buckled in beside him.
“Yeah, Harriet this is Deputy Miller,” Knox said into the radio. “We’re on our way back with the suspect, but you should warn the sheriff we might have a problem. I think Sheriff Wright is going to try to make things difficult.”
Wyatt stared out the window as they pulled away and prayed he would see them again.
* * * *
Sabrina felt sick as she watched the squad car pull away. She took a deep breath, hearing Sawyer talking behind her. Minutes passed and she felt completely frozen in place. Every second took Wyatt farther away.
What had happened? She shook her head, trying to bring herself back to reality. “He thought he would be the one to get me in trouble. It’s the other way around. They wouldn’t act like this if they weren’t pissed I rejected them. I can’t believe they took him.”
Sawyer moved in beside her, sliding his cell back in his pocket. “Wyatt knew this could be a problem. He should have talked to us, but we can discuss it later. For now, we need to find transportation. I don’t want to leave him alone for long. Nate’s on his way to Creede. He’s taking Gemma with him to act as Wyatt’s lawyer. He’s sending your sister to pick us up. She’ll drive us there, and hopefully we’ll see him before they take him to Colorado Springs.”
“Will he survive the trip?” A shudder went through her. This was serious, and Wyatt was in real danger. She turned and found herself in his arms. She sank into his strength. “What’s going to happen to him?”
“Nothing.” Sawyer gently tugged on her hair, bringing her head up so she had to look him in the eyes. There was a hard resolve in those dark orbs. “He is going to be fine, and we’re going to make sure of it.”
She held him tight, waiting for her sister to show up. They didn’t go back in the house, simply stood there, holding on to each other.