Page 48 of Lion’s Den

“Yes. Why? Do you know her?”

He shook his head. “I used to know a girl named Phoenix. She was a ward of the State, like me. We were great friends until one day I came home from school and she wasn’t there. I looked all over town, everywhere I could think of, but came up with nothing. Her face haunts me every night. I hear her begging me for help, but when I wake up, I’m alone.”

Oh, man. Looked like Dario had a woman of his dreams, too. “I’m sorry, D.”

His friend waved it off. “Can’t go back in time to fix things. So, what’s the plan, Cam?”

“We need to figure out why The Collector wants Sedona.”

Spencer looked amused. “Well, did you ask her?”

He almost snapped at his buddy, but the medic didn’t know about the drugs and the amnesia. “She can’t help us.”

Silence, then, “Why not?”

“Sedona was drugged and kidnapped while she was unconscious. When she was awake, the kidnappers kept her blindfolded.”

To a man, all of his friends scowled. “Drugged? Did someone give her an injection?” When Cam nodded, the medic said, “Show me.” Spencer rose and approached Sedona with an easy, nonthreatening stride. He glanced at Cam. “I won’t do it unless you and Sedona both sign off on it.”

Cam turned to Sedona. “Our medic wants to touch your neck, Sedona. Yes or no?”

She glowered at him. “Yes. For goodness’ sake, I’m not that sensitive.”

“You didn’t see your attackers’ faces. You identified them by voice and by tattoo on one of them. We don’t know who the man employing The Collector is. Tiger, you could pass him on the street and not know it was him.”

She stared. “Thanks for scaring me to death.”

“I’m sorry. I just want you to know why we need to keep pushing on this. We have to find the person paying The Collector to bring you to them.” Cam cupped her cheek. “Please, let Spencer look at your neck.”

“It’s fine. Go for it, Spencer. Right side.”

Spencer pulled out a penlight and turned the beam on to illuminate the side of her neck as Cam’s arm circled her waist.

“I hate this,” Sedona whispered.

Cam froze, then removed his arm from her waist. “I apologize for overstepping my bounds.” Yes, he sounded stiff, and no, he couldn’t help it, just as he couldn’t help feeling as though a mule had kicked him. How could they move forward if Sedona hated his touch?

She grabbed his hand and wrapped his arm around her waist again. “Not this. I hate the situation. I should be taking care of my students, not dodging kidnappers and a hit man.” Sedona lowered her voice. “I love your touch, Cam. Every time.”

The tension wracking his muscles drifted away. “You’re sure?”

She nodded. “If that changes, you’ll be the first to know. But it won’t ever change.”

Cam gave a slight nod. “Spence, what can you tell me?”

His friend straightened away from Sedona, a grim expression on his face. “You were right. Someone drugged her. Did the doc at the ER run blood tests?”

“He did. The results weren’t ready at the time we left the hospital.”

“I received a report a few minutes ago,” Sedona said. “I haven’t had time to review them yet.”

“Do you mind if I look at them?” Spencer asked.

“Go for it.” She unlocked her phone, pulled up the report, and handed over her phone.

Everyone was silent while the medic read the reports generated by the hospital lab.

In his arms, Sedona remained stiff, waiting for Spencer to render a verdict. Cam cupped her nape and held her against him lightly.