Page 101 of Lion’s Den

“Who else could it be?”

“Not who, Tiger. What. This could be a trap.”

She scowled. “How does Elliot know about the figure? If he can see through a window, he should be able to tell if Julio’s in that place or not.”

“The lady has a point,” Owen said. “What about it, bro?”

“The room where the person is located has only a dim light on, and he or she isn’t moving.”

Sedona’s heart sank. Julio was always in motion when he was awake, and in one of their quick conversations, Maria had laughed about Julio being a restless sleeper. “If that’s Julio, something is wrong.”

Spencer crouched on the other side of Sedona. “How do you know?”

“He’s never still, and according to his mother, that includes when he sleeps.”

The medic glanced at Cam, his expression grim. “We need to get in there. I doubt any of these guys have medical training or know the correct dose of Ketamine to knock out a kid.”

Sedona gripped Cam’s forearm. “Please help him.” She saw the reluctance in his eyes. “Cam.” She’d beg if necessary. Sedona knew down to her bones that her student needed help, and if this team didn’t get to him soon, they would lose him.

Cam turned to the team. “Here’s what we’re going to do.” For the next couple of minutes, he explained the maneuver. “Does anyone see a weakness in the plan?”

“One,” Owen said. He inclined his head toward Sedona. “I’m sorry, Sedona, but under these circumstances, you are our team’s greatest weakness, especially for Cam.”

His words cut deep into Sedona’s heart. Was it so wrong to want to help? “Well, ouch. Don’t hold back how you really feel, Owen.”

“Watch yourself,” Cam warned.

“I’m watching out for you since you don’t seem capable of doing it yourself.”

David held up one hand. “Owen’s right. Take care of it, Cam, or I will.”

“Mission clock,” Elliot said and went silent again.

Sedona frowned. What did that mean? From the resignation in his eyes, she probably wouldn’t like it.

Cam gave a slight nod. “Everyone into position.”

The rest of the men scattered. Only Caleb remained behind. “Good luck,” he whispered as he walked a few feet away.

Sedona inched closer to Cam. “What’s wrong?”

“Do you remember when I asked for your promise to follow orders without question until after the danger was past?”

“Of course.”

“I need you to stay hidden here.”

She longed to demand an explanation, but she’d given her word and wouldn’t go back on it. Sedona nodded.

Relief flooded Cam’s eyes. He leaned over and captured her lips in a brief and possessive kiss. Cam pointed to a fallen log and nudged her in that direction.

Great. A dead tree. She hoped whatever critters were now making that log home didn’t transfer their attention to her. Sedona shivered as she walked several feet away from Cam.

Although she dreaded lying that close to the fallen tree, she sucked it up and did it without complaint. Every second Cam was delayed taking care of her was another second Julio was in the clutches of The Collector.

Sedona prayed it wouldn’t take Cam and the others long to get to Julio because she was pretty sure a spider had just walked across her forehead. It took everything she had not to jump up and scream like a girl while frantically swatting at her face and hair to get the eight-legged creature off her.

She could handle this. Cam and the others were counting on her to handle a spider situation herself. The last thing she wanted was to hinder the men in their quest to save Julio. She taught kindergartners. Sedona could handle anything.