“You’re an asshole, Jarek.”Cassie needed to think fast.
The cold blade was on her neck in the next second.“I die and evidence will be mailed to the district attorney, exposing you and all your friends.”
“I don’t believe you.I’ll slit your throat too and not think twice about it,” Jarek threatened.
Would someone who’d wanted to possess her be able to kill her?Could she make a move?Duck out of his grasp?Would that give Marcus enough time to draw his weapon?Or would he just chicken out based on the crime syndicate name being thrown around?
Cassie was about to find out.
Hudson had readthe situation wrong.The person who’d moved behind the bush was likely trying to hide from him, not surprise him.He was injured.There was blood.A lot of blood.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” Hudson said on approach.He still had the shotgun ready, just in case.“I just don’t want to surprise you.”
The man waved Hudson over.Was it a trick?A way to surprise him?Catch him off guard?
There was only one way to find out.
“What happened?”Hudson asked five feet out from the large male.
“Mountain lion,” he said.
“What’s your name?”Hudson asked, unsure if he would get an honest answer.
“Franco.”
“What are you doing on my land, Franco?”
“Hunting.”Franko’s response didn’t add up.Sure, he was wearing hunting gear, but where was his rifle?
“Are you aware it’s illegal to hunt on my family’s land without permission?”
“I thought this was public land,” Franco said.
Up close, the man’s skin had paled.
“How long have you been here?”Hudson asked, not getting too close.An injured person backed against a corner could be deadly.Franco, if that was his real name, was solidly built with thick arms and legs.He didn’t fit the description of Jarek that Cassie had given him, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t associated with him.
“A while.”Franco shifted position, revealing a serious wound to his left side.His cargo pants were ripped, and a hunk of flesh was missing from his outer thigh.
He must have been the one to report the attack.
“Is this where it happened?”
Franco shook his head.“I left the scene thinking I could make it to my vehicle, where I have first aid supplies.Wanted to dress this wound myself and find cell coverage.”
This indicated that Franco had reported the attack out of concern that he might not make it out of the woods on his own.However, now, help would arrive at some point, and he would survive.The fact he’d left the reported attack site meant he didn’t want to be found if he was able to make it out of here alive on his own.
“Were you afraid they’d ask too many questions about why you’re here?”Hudson asked.
Footsteps from behind caused him to turn around.
“We’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Kade said as he and Owen approached.
Owen held up his phone.“These are practically useless out here.”
Their gazes shifted to Franco.
“What the hell happened here?”Kade asked.