Page 103 of Lion’s Den

“Yet you’ve rigged every exit in this building to explode with a child trapped inside. How is that not harming a child?”

“Simple. To protect the child, you wait. When my business is finished, the remote detonator will be turned off.”

“Why should I believe you? How do I know that you’re telling the truth?”

“You don’t have a choice but to trust me, Officer Sims. I do not wish to harm the boy, and I haven’t to this point. I could have killed him hours ago, but I didn’t. That should be enough proof for you.”

“I also heard you don’t hurt innocents.”

“Correct.”

“Then leave Sedona here. If you need a high-value hostage, take me.”

Simpson chuckled again. “A very generous offer, indeed. However, you don’t serve my purpose, Officer Sims, nor are you as beautiful. I prefer the finer, refined things in life. That is not you. Now, I’ve just placed the remote detonator into the hand of my associate. Your lovely Sedona can confirm that.”

“He’s telling the truth, Cam. Please, you must let me go with him. Caleb needs help quickly, or he’ll die.”

“I understand. Forgive me for failing you.”

“You didn’t. I love you.”

“I love you, too. Do everything necessary to survive. Everything. We have a bright future together when this is over. I want you to focus on that, all right?”

“I will.”

“How touching and sappy,” Simpson drawled. “I have to admit, you surprise me, Officer Sims. I didn’t think you were capable of that much powerful sentiment. Now, before you waste the time of your friend, Rhys, I’m leaving Sedona’s phone with my associate, so don’t bother doing a trace. The phones I use are untraceable. Use your time planning where you will take this lovely young lady when my mission is complete. As long as you don’t interfere, she’ll be fine,” the assassin reiterated. “If you don’t cooperate, Officer Sims, Sedona will make funeral arrangements instead of wedding plans. Of course, she’ll need comforting after her devastating loss, and I’m excellent at offering comfort. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

His grip tightened further. The jerk. He planned to keep Sedona with him if Cam died. He wouldn’t let that happen. “Understood.”

“Good. Relax, and this will be over soon.”

Yeah, but could he trust the word of an assassin? That was the question. Who was he kidding? Of course he couldn’t trust the word of The Collector. Cam knew from his own research that Simpson hadn’t lied about not harming children. The assassin also didn’t leave witnesses behind.

His gut twisted into a knot. This could go bad in more ways than he cared to think about.

“Remember, Officer Sims, my associates will watch you. Step out of line even once, and you will never get to say goodbye to your girlfriend.” He ended the call without waiting for Cam’s reply.

David tapped his comm device. “Elliot.”

“On it. You take care of things in there. I’ll take care of them out here.”

“Watch your six.”

“Copy that.”

David turned. “Who’s The Thunderhawks’ EOD man?”

“That would be me, sir,” Dario said.

“Get us out of here, fast. Elliot will need a hand transporting Caleb to the vehicle.”

“Copy that, sir.”

David continued to dole out assignments to each member of their team until he turned to Cam. “Get out of your head, Sims.”

“With respect, sir, you wouldn’t be handling things much better if Emma was in the hands of The Collector.”

“He was pitiful when she was in WITSEC,” Levi said.