Page 6 of Enter the Lair

Devon’s voice softened.“Where was your father?”

“My brother was killed on a hunt in the Sahara.It was the start of an awful few months for me.I try pretty hard not to think about that time in my life.”

“I’m sorry.I saw your brothers’ death on the news.Were you close?”The sympathy in his voice surprised him.

“No.He was ten years older than me.My mother had some health issues, so I spent most of my time with her.She died when I was eleven.I barely saw my father after that.”She had loved her soft-hearted mother.

“Does your father blame you for her death?”The anger had crept back into his voice.

“No.He just had no use for a girl.He spent all his time with my brother.Although, he did hire professionals to train me.He wasn’t the same after Donny’s death.”She told him as much of the truth as was comfortable.“My father made my life difficult for a while.I was so distraught, one day I asked Gerry to marry me and run away.”She recoiled at the ridiculous memory.

Devon’s demeanor changed.“You asked Gerry to marry you?”

“First.I was attempting to run away.Second, Gerry laughed.He said he didn’t think that was what I really wanted.Of course, I apologized the next day.Gerry was fine with it.He’s the easiest-going person I know.He always has my back.And I never have to explain myself.”Admittedly, she’d secretly thought she’d marry Gerry.Now she wasn’t so sure.Her attraction to Devon was something she’d never prepared for.

His voice rumbled.“He was right to set you straight.You weren’t his.And if you ever try to run from me.Be warned, Sarah...I will hunt you down.”

Her body ignited.While his dominant nature rubbed her the wrong way, his voice didn’t.He was the opposite of everything she wanted in a man.Dominant.Bossy.Inquisitive.Unfortunately, her body and mind were not in agreement.She rolled her shoulders to shake off the unwanted lust, taking a good look at him to figure out why she was burning for him.Her analytical mind looking for a solution to the natural attraction.

“There is no getting away Sarah,” he said.

“Reading my mind?”She replied.

“You shifted your body toward the door and glanced at your gun.”

Crap.He was good.She scanned him slowly from head to toe.“How did you get the scar on your temple?”Devon’s face hardened.For the first time since they met, she was afraid of him.

Devon let the familiar anger wash over him.As irritated by the question as he was, he still appreciated how Sarah had turned the tables on him.He needed to get the rest of the story about Racheal.

“I went on a hike.It ended badly,” he said.

She took a step back and squinted.“Your lying.”

“Why would you say that?”It wasn’t completely a lie.He’d started that day with a run up the mountain.He’d had four legs at the time, but she shouldn’t be able to pick up that difference.

She glanced towards her gun and shivered.“If you don’t want to tell me the full story, just say so.Don’t lie or avoid the issue.”

Devon became suspicious.“You seem certain, Sarah.Were you told about my disappearance?”

“Disappearance?...no, I didn’t know.I’m sorry Devon.”She took a step toward him.He didn’t wait.He pulled her to him.Kissing her.His tongue thrusting into her mouth without mercy.His anger a wound only her body could heal.

Sarah pulled her mouth away.“I need to know what happened.Who took you?How long did they hold you?How did you get away?”There was anguish in her eyes.“I will tell you everything about Racheal.Things that only Gerry and I know.Please tell me everything.”

Something in her desperation swayed his decision.“I started my day with a run up the mountain.It was sunny.Beautiful.It was the last beautiful thing I remember until I saw you.I was scouting around when I was attacked.There were seven males.I was overpowered and taken back to their compound.”

She clutched his shirt.“What did they want?Money?”

“I had no idea.They tortured me, but never asked for anything.”I can’t tell her about the coyotes, yet.

“How long were you held captive?”

His fingers lightly traced her face.To remind himself she was real.“They held me for two months.The scars are from the beatings.”

She smiled.“You fought them.”

“They pitted me against several of them at once.I won’t burden you with the details.”

“How did you get away?”