Page 67 of Lion’s Den

“That’s right. Based on the evidence we saw, at least two men came after your brother.”

“Did they get him? Do they have Julio?”

Cam glanced at Isaac and gave a slight nod.

“Based on the evidence we found in the woods, we believe they have your brother,” the sniper said.

“What evidence?”

“Scuff marks, boot impressions in the dirt, and part of a shredded pediatric hospital gown where the vehicle was parked.”

“How do you know they parked there?” Eddie demanded to know.

“The driver burned rubber leaving the area. He left us a nice trail to show which direction he went.”

“Why aren’t you following him now?” Eddie hopped up, evidently ready to go out there himself to hunt these men down.

“As dumb as these guys are, the driver didn’t burn rubber all the way to their destination. Once we reached the end of Philmore Street, we didn’t know which way to go. That’s why we needed Rhys’ help.”

“Well, where is he?”

“Right here.” Rhys hustled into the waiting room with his laptop in hand. “What do I need to know?”

Cam glanced at Dario, who dropped into a chair beside Rhys. While Rhys brought up a search engine on his laptop, Dario spoke in low tones with occasional glances at Maria.

“My turn,” Cam said. “Are you okay, Sedona?”

She thought about breezing over his concerns, but that would be a serious mistake. Cam must trust that she’d be honest with him. Otherwise, he would continually worry about her. “No.”

He loosened his hold on her and eased back enough to see her face. After one look, he clasped her hand and drew her to the opposite side of the room and into a corner. Cam cupped Sedona’s nape. “What’s wrong, and how can I help?”

“I don’t understand why The Collector came after me, and now it seems he has Julio. We’re nowhere near important enough for him to focus on us. It makes little sense.”

“I’ve been thinking about that.”

“Come to any conclusions?”

“Yeah, and you won’t like them.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Try me.”

“Have you considered the possibility that The Collector was originally after Julio, not you?”

Her breath froze in her lungs. What did that mean? He couldn’t be serious. Julio was five, for goodness’ sake. Why would a killer-for-hire be after a kindergartner? She waited a beat, expecting him to grin and tell her he was joking. He didn’t. “You’re joking, right?”

“Nope.”

More waiting. He was serious. “How could that be true?”

Cam wrapped his arms around Sedona and held her close. “It’s easy. Julio had to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, like we think is true of you.”

“So, what does that mean? What would a killer-for-hire want with a five-year-old boy?”

“The same thing he wants for you. Dominic Simpson wants you and Julio dead, Sedona, and he’ll do anything necessary to see that his mission is completed.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

BY BEING BLUNT, Cam had scared Sedona. For that, he could have kicked himself. The problem was, his gut said he was right on the money. Somehow, Sedona and Julio had seen and or heard something that Dominic Simpson’s client deemed a threat to himself, and he wanted the threat eliminated.