Page 51 of Secrets in Calusa Cove

“I would not finish that statement if I were you.” Dawson rested his hand on his weapon. “Now, walk away.”

Tim didn’t listen. Instead, he leaned closer. “She’s a fucking murderer. Everyone knows she killed her father in cold blood and dumped his body in the Everglades like gator?—”

“You shut the fuck up.” She lunged forward, cocking her first, ready to land it right between that asshole’s eyes.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” Dawson’s voice boomed in her ears. A strong arm came around her midsection and lifted her feet right off the ground less than a foot away from Tim.

She kicked and tried to wiggle herself free. “Let me go, Dawson.”

“Yeah, put her down. Let’s see what she’s made of,” Tim said.

“I’ll fucking tear you limb from?—”

“Be quiet, Audra.” Dawson covered her mouth. “You don’t want to do this,” he whispered. “He’ll press charges.”

She gripped his wrist, digging her nails into his skin, kicking, wiggling, and doing her best to break free. “Put. Me. Down,” she demanded. No way would she take this from Tim O’Toole.

“Are you going to behave?” Dawson’s breath tickled her skin.

She turned her head and glared. Why did she have to behave when Tim was the one being a total dick?

“I told you she was dangerous.” Tim waved his hand wildly in her direction. “I didn’t do anything, and she came at me, ready to hit me. She’s a lunatic.”

“Are you kidding? You got in my personal space. You called me names,” she said, kicking her feet, struggling once again to break free. “I was defending myself.”

“She’s right, Tim,” Dawson said. “If I hadn’t stopped her from hitting you, I’d be hard-pressed to ignore the fact that you were being aggressive and accusatory. I was worried you might attack her.”

“I was a little worried he might do that, too,” Silas piped in out of nowhere.

That was strange, but she wasn’t about to question someone coming to her defense, even if it was Silas.

“That’s bullshit,” Tim said. “I don’t know why Silas is taking her side, but everyone knows why you are. I hope she’s worth it.”

“You better shut up,” Audra said. “Once Dawson puts me down, I’m going to?—”

“Be quiet.” As if she were a sack of potatoes, he tossed her over his shoulder. “Tim, if I were you, I’d go home. I don’t appreciate you antagonizing anyone, including me, and that’s exactly what you did. Unless you’d like to join us at the station.”

“No. I’m fine,” Tim said.

Audra sighed. She let go of all the fight she had left inside. This was a battle she could not win.

“That’s what I figured,” Dawson said. “Let me do my job. Now get in your car and leave.”

“Does your job include kicking her out of the challenge and arresting her for not only using her weapon when it wasn’t necessary but threatening me?” Tim asked.

Audra couldn’t see anything other than Dawson’s ass. It was a nice ass, but she’d rather have a bird’s eye view of what was happening with Tim right now, yet it wasn’t worth the argument.

“Leave the detective work to me,” Dawson said. His voice was tight and filled with frustration.

“I’ll have your badge if she’s back out here tomorrow,” Tim muttered.

“Good luck with that.” Dawson turned and strode across the parking lot. His thick muscles flexed under his uniform. He set her on her feet and opened the back door of his patrol car.

“Oh no. I’m not getting in that thing.”

“Get in the vehicle.” He pointed.

“Make me.” She folded her arms and cocked her head.

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