Dance or Die (White Oak - Mafia Series Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

your father he can control you by hurting other people.”
    “Well, the truth is, he can. I can’t let other people be harmed just because my father is angry at me.”
    Sheriff Cobbs turned stern and hard. “You have to. Otherwise, he wins and you’ll end up like your mother, being battered nightly until the bastard he marries you to decides he wants a new wife.”
    She leaned against a tree. “I will not marry into the mob, but I can’t just let innocents be hurt in my place.”
    “What I’m about to tell you cannot be shared with anyone, not even Dan. These men aren’t innocents. They are here to protect you. Benito was scared of Helen. Every time he tried to get the best of her, she’d slam him down. The disposition of this land is a perfect example of that.”
    He pulled her chin up, so she was forced to look at him. “Benito has yet to discover what a powerful young woman you’ve become. And I intend to keep you safe until he realizes you are untouchable, just as Helen was.”
    His declaration stunned her. “But why…I mean I really appreciate this, but why do you care what happens to me?”
    He shrugged. “Does it matter? Your enemy is my enemy. That makes me care very deeply about your well-being.”
    She nodded, now understanding. The Campinelli monster had killed his wife and now a new Campinelli monster was growing in power. By saving her, he was weakening her father.
    She gripped his hand. “Thank you, yet again. I’ll take these guys up. Can you call me tonight and tell me if you found the other four and if they’re okay?”
    “Do you really want to know?”
    “Yes.”
    “And if it’s bad news, do you think you can take it without bursting into tears and revealing the truth to those rangers in your house?”
    “If that’s the price for the truth, I can do it.”
    His face lightened. “You are so like Helen.” He patted her arm. “Get the boys up now or you’ll be late picking up the next batch.”
    They traveled up the road as fast as possible, the guys handling all the plank crossings. When they reached the top, Malcolm asked if he could accompany her back down.
    It would mean someone was going to be cramped, but honestly, she appreciated the company. Right this moment, she was terrified. Her father had just proven how far he was willing to go to get his way. He didn’t know these guys weren’t desperate men searching for jobs. He simply didn’t care if he harmed innocents.
    God, please don’t let them be dead.
    “Something wrong?” Malcolm asked.
    “I’m just worried about the four missing men.”
    He sighed heavily. “Me, too.”
    Thankfully, all ten of Team One showed. She handed out their badges and they hurried to work. She could tell they had already learned of the missing four by their subdued demeanor. Not surprisingly, their hearts weren’t into barrier building today. She didn’t push them to work harder. How could she, when they were here, risking their lives to keep her safe, and they’d just lost four of their friends?
    She hated that, but she was also grateful they were here. If her father would kill some poor, low-skilled laborer, he could do the same to Frank, Jack, or Sonny.
    Or Dan or Steel.
    For her, cutting down a giant white oak tree became almost therapeutic. It transferred her pain and misery into something she could reason away: To protect the mounds, this tree has to go, so the security cameras can do their job.
    Once the tree thundered to the ground, the men came closer to marvel at its majesty. Malcolm came up. “If you have additional chainsaws, a few of us could help you cut it from here.”
    “You have experience with a chainsaw?”
    “Not with downing giant trees. I doubt there’s anyone in the state besides you who could bring down a monster this size with such precision. However, now that it’s down if you tell us where to slice, we’re capable of making a straight cut.”
    She waved Andy to her. He ran up smiling…the only one of her