Page 102 of Caught in the Crossfire

“I’ll help, too.”

When they rose, Linc started to stand. Dawn shook her head. “We’re going to help Emily put away food. You’ll be able to see us from here.”

He looked as though he’d argue with her when a coworker of Linc’s sat next to him to talk. Linc nodded at his friend in greeting, then said to Dawn. “Stay close.”

She smiled, then joined Nicole at Emily’s side.

“Need help?” Nicole asked the other woman.

Emily hugged her. “I’d love the help. You must be proud of Mason and his accomplishments.”

“I am. We owe Brian for giving him the chance to prove himself.” She introduced Dawn to Brian’s wife.

“Did I see you with that handsome PSI teacher?”

Dawn smiled. “His name is Linc Creed.”

They worked fast to box leftover hamburgers, hot dogs, and buns.

“What’s next?” Nicole asked.

“We store the food in the company refrigerator. If no one takes the food tonight, Brian and I will transport it to the fire station and the police station to share the bounty.”

“That’s a great idea.” Dawn picked up a large container of hamburgers and followed Emily toward the building.

Nicole searched the crowd for Mason or Linc. Both men were in deep conversation with other people. The trip to the kitchen would only take a moment. She grabbed a large container of hot dogs and trailed after Emily and Dawn.

Once they stored the food in the refrigerator, she and Dawn retraced their steps to the food tables to pick up another load. When they filled their hands with food containers for the fourth trip, Dawn said, “This is the last of the meat and buns.”

They carried the boxes to the kitchen and wrangled the containers into the full refrigerator. “Do you need help with anything else?” Nicole asked Emily.

Brian’s wife turned from the sink, shaking her head. “I have a few more utensils to load into the dishwasher, then I’ll be finished myself. You two go enjoy yourselves.”

Nicole and Dawn headed back to the festivities. “I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to go home,” Dawn said. “These short nights and early mornings are about to get me.”

“Same. I don’t understand how Linc and Mason still function at peak efficiency.”

“I don’t know Mason’s secret, but Linc’s military training helps him handle the strain.”

The lights went out in the hallway, and a hard hand clamped over Nicole’s mouth.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Nicole fought against the strong hands restraining her but failed to break free. An elbow to the man’s gut resulted in muttered curses and promises of retaliation.

She recognized the voice. Fisher. Fury overwhelmed the fear swamping her. What did this idiot think he was doing?

Fisher wrapped an arm around her waist and yanked her against his body. “Keep fighting, wildcat. I love it when women fight me,” he whispered.

Dawn, a few feet ahead of Nicole, started to turn when Patton clamped a hand over her mouth and brandished a knife in front of her face. The blade glittered in the low illumination of an exit sign. She froze. “Very good, sweet cheeks,” he murmured. “You’re going to come with us, nice and quiet. If you don’t, you and your mouthy friend are going to pay hard. Sure would be a shame to cut such beautiful skin. Understand?”

Her gaze sought Nicole’s, eyes wide with fear.

This was crazy. Patton and Fisher couldn’t possibly think they’d get away with this.

Patton jerked her head back and pressed the knife to her throat. “I asked you a question. You better answer unless you want the next few hours to be unpleasant. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

Dawn gave a small nod.

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