Davis, Keyonna - Nowhere to Hide [Pine Valley] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (11 page)

“I feel the same way.” Sighing, Duncan rubbed his hands over his face and stood up to pace the room. Before he could say anything else, the door to the sheriff’s station opened and Dr. Barnes walked in with a folder in his arm.

“Hey, Doc, what can we do for you today?”

“Well, Duncan, I know I’m not supposed to show you this, but I felt you needed to see it.” Curious, both he and Logan walked over to the desk and looked at the folder that Dr. Barnes had opened on it. It was Cane’s medical records. Looking them over, Duncan felt his stomach roll like he was going to be sick. Cane obviously sugarcoated her injuries when she told them about her past. He didn’t know how she survived the hell that bastard put her through. Looking over at Logan, he saw that he was barely holding back his anger. He knew that Logan knew exactly what Cane went through because he went through the same thing with his father.

“Shit!” Logan yelled. “How did you get this info?”

Not understanding what the problem was, Dr. Barnes frowned and said, “I saw her ID when you guys went through her bag the other day at the office. I submitted
it
online to have her medical records sent because I was worried about her. Based on her records, I had a good reason to be worried.”

“Damn, can anyone have access to the website that you used to access these records?” Duncan asked.

“Well, in theory, no,” Dr. Barnes said, “but anyone with a login ID and password can log on. Why all the questions? What’s going on?” Although Duncan knew he shouldn’t be mad at the doc, he couldn’t help the anger in his voice.

“She is on the run from an abusive boyfriend, and you may have just told him exactly where she is.”

“We have to warn her,” Logan yelled as he started for the door. Duncan didn’t say anything, just followed Logan out of the station.

* * * *

Sighing, Cane sat the book down that she was attempting to read. There was no point in trying to read it when she couldn’t concentrate. She had been staring at the same page for about fifteen minutes now. Her mind only wanted to think about one thing. Well two things, she thought, laughing. Duncan and Logan, the two men had somehow worked their way past her defenses, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about it. Strike that, she knew exactly how she felt. She was in love with the both of them. That was the scary part. Cane was not so naive to think that she was out of danger, and she knew that it was only a matter of time before Sam used his resources to find her. Cane didn’t even want to think of what he would do when he found her. Maybe she should leave now. He couldn’t find her if she just kept moving. But then she would have to leave the two men that she had come to love in just a short amount of time. The thought of leaving them made her heart hurt and it hard to breathe. What was she going to do? She couldn’t leave them, but she couldn’t put them or the rest of their family in danger either.

You have certainly gotten yourself in deep this time, she thought. Deciding that she needed some fresh air, Cane went to the small safe that Duncan insisted that she have and took out a little cash. Ali was working at the diner, maybe she would go see if she needed a little help. Cane was not used to just sitting around doing nothing, and it was starting to get to her.

As she walked down the street, Cane looked at her surroundings. Could she see herself living in this town? Never being a fan of big crowds, she liked the fact that it was small and not very many people lived in it. Not really paying attention to where she was going, Cane didn’t hear when someone came up behind her and grabbed her arm. Screaming, she turned and swung with her fist connecting with someone’s face.

“Cane! Cane!” Gasping for breath, she realized that Duncan was yelling at her.

“It’s just us, sweetheart, calm down.”

“Oh God, I’m so sorry, but you can’t sneak up behind me like that.”

“Damn, baby,” Logan said
,
rubbing his jaw and smiling. “You can really hit.”

Cane’s heart was racing, and she couldn’t hold back the tears that started flowing. Would Logan hit her back for punching him? Sam certainly would have, even if it were an accident. When she reached up to wipe away the tears, she noticed that her hands were trembling. Not wanting them to see her like that, she turned and walked away. Before she could take a few steps they grabbed her and both pulled her into a hug.

“We are sorry, baby. We didn’t try to sneak up on you,” Logan said. “We yelled your name a few times, but you didn’t answer us.”

“I guess I was just lost in thought and didn’t hear you.”

It felt good sandwiched in between them. She felt safe and comforted. She couldn’t believe that they were holding her like this out on the street where everyone could see. She tried to move, but they held her tight and didn’t budge.

“Um, guys? People are starting to stare.”

“Let them look,” Logan said. “We don’t care what people think.”

It shouldn’t have, but that comment made her feel like she was the most precious thing in the world to them.

“Sweetheart, why were you out wandering around by yourself?”

“I got bored and decided to go for a walk and then see if Ali needed any help at the diner. Why were you guys looking for me?”

“Come on,” Duncan said, “let’s go back to your room
.
W
e need to talk.”

We need to talk? What was going on? The serious look on their faces told her this wasn’t going to be a good conversation. Afraid her voice would give away the chaos going on in her head, she just nodded and followed them back to the room. Once they were inside, Cane sat on the bed and stared at the two men waiting for them to tell her the bad news that she was sure was coming. Duncan sat next to her and grabbed her hand while Logan paced the room like an angry wild animal ready to break out of his cage.

“Whatever it is, just tell me please. I can handle it.”

After a few more minutes of silence, it was Logan that finally spoke. “We may have a problem. Dr. Barnes submitted a request to have your medical records sent. Now he assures us that the site he used online is secure, but anyone with a login ID and a password can access the requests and see where those files were sent.”

For a second, Cane thought she might pass out. It seemed as though her lungs had stopped working and she couldn’t draw in a breath.

Oh God!
I knew it was a mistake to stay here. I need to leave as soon as possible. He could already be here or on his way.

 
She couldn’t stop all the thoughts from running through her head. Jumping up from the bed, Cane ran to the closet. She grabbed her suitcase and backpack.

“What are you doing?” Duncan asked.

“I’ve got to leave as soon as possible. He could be her
e
at any moment,” she yelled. Knowing that she might have to leave at a moment’s notice, she never unpacked, so she was ready to leave in no time at all. Before she could make it to the door, Logan grabbed her arm. Worried about where she would go and what she needed to do next, Cane couldn’t help but to let out a gasp and to flinch when she felt a firm hand grasp her wrist. She was used to a slap or a punch following whenever Sam grabbed her like that. Even though she hadn’t known these two men long, she knew that they were nothing like Sam and would never hurt her. Looking up, she saw the frown on Logan’s face as he blocked the door. Duncan stood up and walked over with his hands raised as if any sudden movements would scare her away. He slowly placed his hand on her back and began to rub small circles.

“You know that we would never hurt you, Cane. Let us protect you. We won’t allow that bastard to harm you ever again,” he said. Logan nodded his head in agreement and cupped her cheek.

What were these men doing to her? They gentle way they touched and held her made her feel safe. She wanted to stay in their arms forever, but she would never allow this family to be harmed because of her. She knew Sam and how ruthless he could be. He had a lot of friends and connections and wasn’t afraid to use them. Cane had no choice. She had to leave. She would never forgive herself if anything happened to them.

“I have to leave as soon as possible. He will kill me, and he will kill you if you get in his way. I can’t let that happen.”

“
Damnit
, Cane!” Logan yelled as he walked away. “Let us help you. You can’t run for the rest of your life. We don’t want you to leave.” Duncan, who was still rubbing her back, spoke next. “Give us a chance to help you. Logan is right, we don’t want to lose you. I know it has only been a few days, but we think we could really have something special with you if you would only give us a chance. If you don’t feel safe here anymore, then stay with us.”

“I couldn’t…” Cane’s words were cut off by Logan grabbing her shoulders and spinning her around. With a growl, his lips came down over hers. Logan put all of his emotions into the kiss. It was rough and intense and was over before it got started good.

Pulling back from her with a stern look on his face, he panted, “We won’t take no for an answer.”

With that he turned and stormed out of the room. As fear snaked down her spine, Cane turned to look at Duncan. His face was almost apologetic as he drew her in for a hug.

“You have to give Logan a little time right now. He is dealing with his own demons. He saw your medical file.” Cane knew that she hadn’t told the guys the majority of what she suffered over the years because the injuries were too extensive to count.

“Logan suffered a lot of what you went through with his father, and he is having a hard time dealing with it right now. Please let us help you. If you don’t feel comfortable staying in the room with us, you can always bunk with Ali. She loves having you around.”

Could she really take a chance and depend on someone else for a change? Looking into Duncan’s eyes, Cane saw the truth of his words and the belief that he could truly keep her safe.

Taking a deep breath she nodded her head. “Okay, I will stay with you.”

Logan was leaning against the sheriff’s SUV when they came out of the bed
-
and
-
breakfast. His arms were crossed against his broad chest, and he had a haunted look on his face. Cane hated that she was the cause for that look. She didn’t want him remembering the awful past. She walked straight to him and hugged him. Immediately she was engulfed in his warmth as it flowed through her body getting rid of the icy chill that
overc
a
me her when she heard that Sam may know where she
was
.

“I have agreed to stay with you guys and let you help me,” she said into his chest. Damn he smelled good. He smelled like fresh soap and something she could only describe as pure man. Releasing her, Logan opened the door and helped her in to the SUV.

“I’m glad you changed your mind about leaving,” he whispered in her ear as she was climbing in. Cane couldn’t hold back the shivers that went down her spine as she felt his breath on her ear.

What have I just agreed to? I should be headed out of town right now. The first sign of trouble, I’m out of here
.

Duncan and Logan took Cane straight to their house. Logan carried her bags and put them in Duncan’s room where she slept the night before. She wanted to protest and tell him to put them in Ali’s room, but the truth was she wanted to sleep between the two guys again. They kept her safe and warm all night and kept the nightmares away.

“Have you eaten lunch yet?” Duncan asked.

“No
,
that’s where I was headed earlier when you stopped me.”

“How about I fix us all a sandwich while you find us something to watch on TV.
”
Smiling, Cane nodded and walked out of the kitchen. Logan was already sitting on one end of the couch when she got there so she sat on the other end and curled her legs under her. Obviously not satisfied with the seating arrangement, Logan reached over and picked her up as if she didn’t weigh anything at all and tucked her by his side. He put his arm around her shoulder and pressed her head against his chest.