Page 43 of Back the Blue

With a bag of food.

Over the next hour, we commiserate with her coworkers. And get updated on Malcolm’s condition as well. I’m helping her clean up when they’re dispatched to another call.

A shooting.

No sooner do I take my phone from my pocket to find out more, it rings. When I answer, I find out that Venom is close to the area. I let loose a single curse that causes Lorna to stop and look at me. She furrows her brow and I just nod. Then she grimaces and heads to the ambulance to do her job. I give my marching orders to my team and sign off. In the next minute, I’m trailing both ambulances to the scene. A new protocol measure since the shooting Lorna and Malcolm responded to that started all of this chaos in the first place.

When we arrive, the officers on the scene wave us through. I’m out of my vehicle before the ambulances come to a stop. I head for Lorna as soon as she pops open the back door. My weapon is in my hand as I scan the scene. It’s already been secured by local law enforcement, but I don’t rest completely easy until I catch sight of the rest of my team also on the perimeter.

I move as close as I can to Lorna as she treats one of the gun shot victims. In less than five minutes, she’s stabilized him and has him on the stretcher. I holster my weapon and lend a hand moving him. I catch her eyes for just a moment, and delight in the small smile on her face. I give her a wink back and stand back as they load him up. But just as she turns to say something to me, there’s a verbal command given that makes my blood run cold.

“Stop right there!”

I immediately turn and place myself between Lorna and the very familiar man who has approached. When I recognize him, I draw my weapon and take a step forward. He merely smiles and slowly raises his hands.

“What do you want, Venom?” I demand.

“Just a word with that lady paramedic,” he says.

“Over my dead fucking body,” I growl.

“I mean her no harm,” he says calmly. “I owe her my life, you know.”

“Yeah, I do know,” I nod. “But her life is now in danger because of it.”

He lowers his hands and takes a step forward. The other two officers step closer, and so do I. But Venom just relaxes and closes the distance until my gun is almost touching his chest.

“I know who the FBI is after,” he says.

“And?”

“I want to help you get him,” he smiles. “And I can make sure the lady stays safe until you do.”

Twenty-Nine

When Ashley turns away, he draws his weapon and approaches someone. I recognize him right away, but I don’t have time to intervene. Instead, I do my job. But even as I climb into the back of the ambulance, I’m worried. Why Venom is here now is a mystery to me. And the fact that Ashley is dealing with him makes me nauseous.

“Lorna?”

“Yeah,” I nod as I keep working.

“You good?”

“Yeah.”

“You look like you’re about to pass out,” Mike says pointedly.

I take a deep breath and exhale before I look up at him. His concern for me is evident. I appreciate it, but I’m fine.

“I’ll be fine, thanks.”

He grimaces but keeps working, too. When our patient is stable and we’ve tidied up a bit, I sit back and sigh. And the inevitable happens.

“Do you know the man Pitbull was facing off with?” Mike asks.

“Yes,” I nod. “His name is Venom. I saved his life.”

“So he doesn’t want to hurt you,” he says.

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