“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” No way was he telling Henderson shit.
“That may be,” the sheriff allowed, “but just in case, I want to leave you with something to think about.”
Clay blinked. Prayed he wasn’t about to get shot.Shit.He knew how cops could be. They could make it look like it was his fault.
The pressure suddenly eased on his skull.
Clay relaxed.What the hell?
The gun rammed between his legs. The muzzle shoved hard against his balls. All the air rushed out of his lungs. The whimper that echoed in the silence was his.
“Don’t shoot!” he squeaked. Clay’s balls tried to draw into his belly. His entire body shuddered. “I swear I didn’t do nothing. I swear!”
“I’m going to take your word for that,” Henderson said quietly. He increased the pressure of the muzzle.
Clay wailed like a goddamned girl.
“But,” Henderson went on, “if you or any of your thug friends go anywhere near her, I will find you and then I’ll blow your puny balls clean off. Do you understand me?”
Clay nodded, his head bobbing frantically. “Whatever you say, Sheriff. I swear to God, I won’t go near her.”
“And your friends?” The gun threatened to bust right through his scrotum.
“They won’t go near her, either.”
“Good.”
Henderson drew his weapon back. Clay sucked in a shaky breath. His face was wet. Shit! Badass guys didn’t cry like little girls!
“Now get out,” Henderson ordered.
Body trembling, Clay snatched at the door, finally got it open. His feet hit the ground and his knees buckled. He’d barely gotten back to his feet and shoved the door closed when Henderson roared away.
“Asshole!” Clay stumbled to his truck. Somebody should’ve killed that son of a bitch long ago.
Muttering every foul word he knew, he climbed behind the wheel of his truck and took off.
Hell no, he wasn’t touching that bitch. His daddy and Henderson didn’t need to worry about him. Or his buddies.
Before going on into town, Clay drove to the place he’d been watching. He parked his truck. His balls had finally quit throbbing. He snaked his way through the woods until he reached that old, abandoned shack.
Clay smirked. Nope. He wasn’t gonna have to lift a finger.
Dear old cousin Addy was on a short list.
And her name had just come up.
22
Forrest General Hospital
Hattiesburg, Mississippi; 8:00 p.m.
She looked so innocent lying there.
Fury tightened his lips.Bitch.His gaze roved the white sheet, landing on her protruding belly. Disgust twisted in his gut.
He would not allow this.