The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [72]
Sawyer had assumed as much, but he saw it didn’t ease Honey at all. He glanced sharply at Jordan. “Casey?”
“I sent him to the basement. Gabe is with him, and they’re waiting on her.”
He nodded. “Come on, Honey. You need to get your robe.”
“Don’t do this, Sawyer.”
Her pleading tone unnerved him, but he hardened himself against it. He’d do what he had to to protect her. “There’s no time for this, babe. Come on, have a little trust, okay?”
She moved reluctantly, but she did scoot off the bed and put her arms into the robe he held for her. Wearing only his slacks, Sawyer followed Jordan out, keeping Honey safely at his back. “How did they know she was here?”
“Maybe Alden had the phone call traced, or maybe someone in town knows and spilled the beans. She’s been here a couple of weeks now, and you’ve had a line of patients every day. And Honey, once you’ve seen her, isn’t exactly a woman to forget.”
Sawyer grunted at that. She was so damn sexy she made his muscles go into spasms. Jordan was right; no one would forget her, and her description would be easy enough to peg.
When they neared the basement steps, Gabe was there waiting. “You owe me for this one, Sawyer. You know how I hate missing all the action.”
“Keep her safe, and you can name your price.”
Gabe grinned at that. “If you get a chance, punch the bastards once for me.”
He handed Honey over to his brother. She hadn’t said another word, and she wouldn’t look at him. Gabe gently put his arm around her. “Come on, sweetie. Casey is looking forward to the company.”
“Gabe?” Sawyer waited until his brother met his gaze. “Don’t come out, no matter what, until I come for you.”
“We’ll be fine, Sawyer. Go, but be careful.”
Sawyer watched Honey disappear down the steps. She was far too passive to suit him at the moment, but he brushed it off. Morgan was already outside and no doubt could use their help. He closed the basement door, heard Gabe turn the lock, and he and Jordan rushed silently out the back door and across the damp grass. They kept low and in the shadows and they found Morgan just where Sawyer knew he would be, peering around the barn, the closest out-building to the shed, keeping the intruders in sight.
“You two sleuths sounded like a herd of elephants.”
Morgan’s sibilant mutter was filled with disgust, but Sawyer didn’t take exception. “Did you see anything?”
“Two men, both big bastards. From the sounds of it, they’re getting into Honey’s car.”
“Looking for the tape.”
“I assume. And when they don’t find it, they’ll head for the house.”
“You see any weapons?”
Morgan grunted, but the sound was drowned out by the myriad night noises, crickets, frogs, rustling tree branches. An eerie fog, visible through the darkness, drifted over the ground. Morgan wiped his forehead, his gaze still trained on the shed. “They’d be total idiots if they weren’t armed.”
“Jordan said you put the call in to the state police?”
“Yeah.” Suddenly he pressed himself back, then glanced at Sawyer. “I don’t think they’re going to make it on time, though.”
Sawyer curled his hands into fists, easily comprehending Morgan’s meaning. He was on his haunches, and he tightened his muscles, ready to move. There was no way in hell he was letting anyone near the house, not with Honey and Casey inside.
Morgan reached past him and thrust his gun at Jordan, a silent order for Jordan to be backup. Jordan accepted the gun with a quietly muttered complaint, then braced himself.
Shadows were visible first, then the dark, indistinct forms of two men creeping quietly across the empty yard. They mumbled to each other, then the one trailing slightly behind growled, “That little bitch has been more trouble than she’s worth. When I get hold of her—”
Without a word, Morgan launched himself at the first man, who caught the movement too late to turn. Sawyer was right behind him. It gave him enormous satisfaction to hear the grunt of pain from the man who’d threatened Honey as he drove him hard to the ground. His fist connected solidly with