“Good, ‘cause you were being an ass.”
As Damon’s growling grew louder, Jared wrapped his arms around Tessa. “Tell him where, Tessa. The faster he calls Duncan, the faster he can apologize to Nicole.”
Tessa glared back at Damon in warning before rattling off what she knew and where Nicole was to meet Pam.
Damon punched in a number on his cell. After a second of silence, his voice echoed in the small room. “We found her.”
Chapter 3
Newport, Kentucky, was Pam’s stomping grounds. She grew up here, along the Ohio River. For a brisk November night, Newport on the Levee was bustling with activity. Restaurants were overflowing as well as the shops that had sprouted up overnight. Flipping the hood up on her lightweight jacket, Pam scanned the crowd looking for trouble. In every face, she expected to see Kenny scowling back at her. She spooked herself so much, she was afraid to look at anyone, but she had to be prepared. He was out there, and she knew, without a doubt, he was looking for her.
Two women walked close by talking and laughing, reminding Pam of better times when she and Nicole would walk the Levee. They would talk about their day as they headed toward their favorite place to eat, Dewey’s Pizza, then go to Club Zero for a beer and some dancing. Shaking the memories away, she hurried her pace. She didn’t have time for memories.
Seeing the spot she was to meet Nicole, Pam headed toward the bench and sat, huddling into her jacket. It wasn’t overly cold for November, but the weather in Kentucky was never what it was supposed to be. Her eyes focused on the strong current of the water; the Cincinnati skyline across the river reflected in the rippling water as pieces of driftwood skirted past. Her eyes lifted to stare across the water; her stomach fluttered. Duncan Roark was there somewhere. He might as well be a million miles away rather than a short drive across the river. There wasn’t a second that went by that she didn’t think of the Warrior. He probably hated her now. Not liking the thought, she stood, nerves and aggravation radiating off her. Even though she had talked to Nicole, she never let the conversation become personal.
A feeling of being watched shivered through her body. Slowly, she turned, scanning the area. “Come on, Nicole,” she whispered, shuffling from foot-to-foot and feeling more nervous than usual. Something didn’t feel right, and lately her instincts were dead on.
Checking her phone again, she looked back up, spotting a tall man with long hair. She only knew one man who towered over people with hair like that. “Dammit!” She turned to head in the opposite direction, but stopped. She should have known Nicole wouldn’t keep her big mouth shut. Damon DeMasters was at her back and Jared Kincaid was at her front. With nowhere else to go, unless she wanted to take a cold swim, she turned again to walk between the two Warriors before they got any closer.
Before she could take two steps, her eyes found his golden gaze staring intently at her as his long legs ate the distance up between them. Feeling cornered and panicked, Pam glanced quickly for an escape, but she knew it was useless. Her heart and body took over, sending her moving toward Duncan, but her head screamed for her to run.
As if in a daze, her body kept moving toward what she wanted more than anything in the world, but seeing the look on his face stopped her. His mouth opened in warning, his hand shooting out toward her. Snapping out of her dazed state, Pam let her eyes roam the area. She and the Warriors were surrounded by more uniformed police officers than she could count, all pointing their guns on her.
A tall man walked toward her, flashing his badge. “Pam Braxton.” He put his badge back in his coat pocket, nodding toward an officer who proceeded to handcuff her. “I’m Detective Ferguson. You are being brought in for questioning on the murder of Sheriff Bowman.”
“This is bullshit. You get off handcuffing women?” Jared growled, moving closer to Pam. “She is no threat.”
“This time you have no jurisdiction.” Detective Ferguson smirked. “I suggest you Warriors go on with your business before you’re arrested and taken in with her.”
Duncan looked at both Jared and Damon. “Call Sloan.” Before anyone could question why, Duncan punched the detective square in the face.
*****
As Pam was led away to a police car, Duncan followed, pulling the officer who handcuffed him along with him. After they carefully placed Pam in the backseat, the officer closed the door.
“Uh, sir.” The officer holding onto Duncan’s arm nervously cleared his throat. “You need to come to my car.”
Duncan looked down at the man and frowned. “I’m riding in this car.” He nodded to where Pam sat.