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His knuckles were busted and slightly swollen. Outside of that, he felt fine. He had declined any treatment at the hospital. It would have been a waste of time. He’d had swollen knuckles before, and there was nothing a bag of frozen vegetables couldn’t heal. He and Ridge had suffered plenty of similar injuries when they were younger.
Draven shrugged, but he knew the answer. It was his military training that he was unauthorized to speak about. He settled back and waited.
“Where were you going at a little after six in the morning?” Deputy Robinson stared at him.
Draven narrowed his eyes on the deputy. These questions were getting quite old. If he wasn’t under arrest, he should be able to leave. If he was under arrest, he had a phone call he needed to make.
“Okay, you aren’t going to answer that question. Where were you coming from?”
Draven remained silent. A few minutes went by before Robinson gave a nod.
“Okay, one of the officers spoke with the woman who was with you this morning and took her official statement,” Robinson said. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table between them. “Aren’t you a little bit curious about what she said?”
The only thing Draven needed to know was if Cashea was okay. She wouldn’t know why Brett and his cronies had showed up at the gas station. Hell, Draven wasn’t even sure how they knew he was on the move. The only thing he figured was that they had been watching his house. He made a mental note to increase security around the ranch. He needed to leave here so he could go and see for himself that she was unharmed. The tears that had streamed down her face had just about torn his heart out.
He just hoped that he hadn’t ruined any chances of them actually moving forward with their relationship. It may have only been a short time, but he felt it deep down in his gut that he needed her. It had never steered him wrong in the past, and he wasn’t expecting it to now.
“Again, am I under arrest?” That’s all Draven wanted to know at this point. If he wasn’t, theyneeded to let him go. He hadn’t done anything but defend himself. Hell, he had even held back where he wouldn’t have hurt the fuckers too bad.
A chirping sliced through the air. Robinson pulled his phone out of his pocket and read the message. He lifted his gaze and stared at Draven.
“Brett Falco suffered a broken nose and fractured cheekbones. Eric Rudd, dislocated jawbone that is going to require surgery. Ben Walker’s suffered a broken humerus and radius that appears to need surgery. Nick Evans suffered a concussion and six fractured ribs, and Gus Cross had almost all of the bones in his right hand broken and his right tibia fractured in three places.” Robinson sat back and placed his phone on the table.
Draven kept his face devoid of any emotions. That list proved he had pulled back on what he was truly capable of. They were all lucky they were not breathing through a straw.
Hell, they were lucky enough to still be breathing.
Robinson’s phone chirped again. He reached for it and read the new incoming message. Draven kept his gaze on the officer. They were stalling. Trying to see if they could find anything on him, but he already knewwhat they would find.
Nothing.
“It looks as if the clerk at the gas station has come forward along with providing the video footage of the attack,” Robinson announced.
Draven bit back a smirk. He pushed back from the chair and stood.
“I’ll see myself out,” he announced.
“I’ll walk you out.” Robinson stood and came around the table. He opened the door and motioned for Draven to exit first.
He moved out into the hallway and followed Robinson through the small facility. Ironhaven’s sheriff’s department wasn’t that large.
“You aren’t going to tell me what is going on between you and Falco? I know that you two had an altercation at the Hen House.” Robinson was still going to try to squeeze something out of Draven.
“Maybe you should ask Falco,” Draven replied dryly.
They arrived near the front of the building. An older woman sat at the counter speaking on the telephone. Robinson rested a hand on Draven’s forearm. He tensed and stared down at the man’s hand before lifting his eyes. He glared at the deputy. He didn’t give a shit who he was, he’d better take his damn handoff him.
Robinson apparently got the message loud and clear. He removed his hand from Draven’s arm.
“Well, that’s the thing. He’s not talking,” Robinson muttered. He opened the door that led to the waiting room. He motioned for Draven to go. “We’ll be in touch if we have any other questions. You are free to go. Just don’t leave town.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t be.” Draven stalked through the doorway.
Ridge, Buck, and Andy were standing together near the window of the waiting room, but it was the small figure sitting off in the corner by herself that his gaze latched on to. She appeared tired, but she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Their eyes connected, and it was then Draven’s heart stuttered.
“Draven!” she exclaimed.
She launched herself from the chair and rushed across the room. He opened his arms just in time for her body to slam against his. He wrapped her up in his embrace. He breathed in her familiar scent and didn’t want to let her go. Her arms were tight around his waist while her face was buried against his chest.
