Page 60 of Army Ranger Redemption

“Hopefully, the face of my brother’s assailant.”

“Not quite. Just...something.” She wiggled her fingers. “I could try again.”

“Not if it’s going to upset you.” He held his breath, torn between wanting any information Scarlett could glean and wanting to protect her from harm.

Scarlett nudged the sheet aside and curled her fingers around Dax’s hand, over the tubes stuck in his flesh. Closing her eyes, she exhaled a long breath. Her chin dropped to her chest and her breath quickened. Her lashes fluttered.

The curtain across the doorway whipped back, and Scarlett yanked her hand back.

“I’m sorry.” Tiana smiled brightly as she grasped the curtain. “We have to run a few tests on Dax before we send him over tomorrow morning.”

Jim scooted his chair back, blocking Tiana’s view of the bed. “Sure, sure. Thanks for letting me see him.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Scarlett, blinking and pushing her hair back from her damp forehead.

She patted Dax’s hand and straightened the sheet. “Hang in there, Dax.”

They walked silently out to the reception area where Deputy Stevens was waiting for them.

“Do you need anything else from us, Quentin?”

“Kennedy, can you come into the station tomorrow? I just want to ask you a few more questions about your brother. Another Lord was spotted around town—Charles Swanson—Chewy. You know him?”

“Yeah.”

“He and your brother on good terms?”

“I have no idea, Stevens. Can we leave this for tomorrow like you said?”

“Yeah. You two going to be okay? It’s like a mini crime wave between your properties out there.”

“You’re telling me. I’m assuming my cabin is an active crime scene right now?”

“That’s right.”

Scarlett tugged on the sleeve of his jacket. “You can stay at my place tonight.”

That had been their original plan, and it sounded even better now. If Stevens was surprised at Scarlett’s easy invitation, his stoic face didn’t show it.

“That’s probably a good idea, since we still don’t have a lead on the arsonist, and he might very well be the same person who threatened you the other night and then stabbed Dax today.”

Jim scratched his chin. “Busy...busy and desperate.”

“For what? I can’t believe a twenty-five-year-old cold case is still causing this much havoc.” Stevens clapped his hat on his head.

“If the perpetrators of the kidnapping are still here and have something to lose, they’re going to want to shut up everyone involved.”

“Are you saying your brother was involved? Scarlett? She was just a kid, and so were you.”

“Yeah, well, kids sometimes know more than adults give them credit for.”

“All right. I’ll let you go. I notified Sheriff Musgrove, so check in with us tomorrow, Kennedy.”

“Will do.” Jim propelled Scarlett out the main entrance and toward her car. When they were both ensconced inside, he turned to her. “Did you see anything when you touched Dax?”

“Nothing. I was just getting started when Tiana interrupted me.” She drummed her fingers against her chin. “Hadn’t she just told you to take your time?”

“You know how hospitals are.” He paused. “What are you saying? Do you think Tiana stopped you on purpose?”

“She’s Quileute. She knows what I am.”

“So, she might be trying to protect someone.”

“Like I told you before, there’s something about this case that always had my people on edge.”

“Doesn’t seem to have your uncle Danny on edge.”

“I’m going to have to pay a visit to Jason tomorrow to find out what Danny was up to tonight.”

“Do you think he’ll tell you?”

“I have my ways.” Scarlett cracked her knuckles and winked. “Now, let’s get going. You must be exhausted.”

“I’m still doing better than Dax.”

* * *

AS JIM CRANKED on the engine and then pulled out of the hospital’s driveway, Scarlett tipped her head back against the headrest. How had their evening gone from delicious to deadly?

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