Page 59 of Claimed by the Lawman

“Sheriff?”

He turned. “Yes, Ruby?”

She made her way to him, coming so close that he caught a whiff of her overwhelming scent. She leaned in, pressing her hands on his chest. “Did you say you wanted a private dance?”

He blinked. “No.”

“No? But you said…”

Then he understood. Who was she afraid of overhearing their conversation? Maybe the cameras situated around the room were the issue. She took him by the hand and led him through a side door into a room that was no bigger than a cell. The walls were covered from ceiling to floor in mirrors. She pointed to a chair and then stepped over to a small stereo, flipping on music. Rotating her hips, she moved seductively to the beat. He hoped this led to information because he wasn’t interested in a lap dance, or anything she had to offer.

She glided closer, whirling her assets in his face before sitting on his lap.

“Ruby, I’m not—”

“Shh.” She turned and spread her legs over his lap, sitting across his thighs. “M stands for Mansfield,” she whispered.

Kace flinched. “Mansfield? He branded women?”

“Is that so hard to believe? He likes things a little kinky—a little young and kinky. He brands them so that everyone knows who they belong to. He’s a bit greedy.”

“I can’t believe this. I know him—”

“His hands are dirty, Sheriff. He coached me on what to say in my statement and I did as he asked in exchange that he would leave me and my girls alone.”

“But…”

She slid off his lap and stepped over to the radio, flipping a switch. “Your time is up, Sheriff. Now go, please.”

“Ruby?”

“Do I need to call in my bouncers?” she warned.

Clenching his jaw, he got up from the chair and left the room, knowing he wasn’t going to get any more information.

Once he was outside, he reached for his phone and dialed a familiar number. Deputy Payne answered on the second ring. “Meet me at Mansfield’s…yeah…it’s going to be messy.”

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