Page 61 of Condemned By Secrets

Luther tensed. His whole body was ready for fight mode, but then he heard the only thing that could meld his heart back together. Anna gasped out a breath, and he took advantage of the distraction to whirl on Haines.

Moving out of the line of fire, Luther reached for the weapon and twisted, but Haines didn’t let go.Dammit!

Haines fired off a shot as Luther manipulated the bastard’s wrist to take him to the ground. It went wide somewhere past the farmhouse. Luther bent Haines’s wrist until he gained control of the weapon, then pointed it at Haines. “Cuff yourself.”

The man was seething, and his eyes snapped at Luther. “No.”

“Do it, or you’ll be the one sporting a bullet hole.” Luther aimed for the man’s leg. He wanted to shoot the bastard for what he’d done to Anna, but he was more valuable alive. The captain and the mayor were still untouched.

Luther was aware of Anna coughing and hacking as he kept his eyes trained on Haines. The dirty bastard finally complied, and Luther reached for his phone. He dialed 911 but calling for help was unnecessary. He heard sirens in the distance.

The smoke must be visible from town by now.

“This isn’t over, Monroe. The captain will have my back.” Haines snarled at him, and spittle coated his lips.

“Then you don’t have anything to worry about, do you?” Luther aimed the gun at Haines’s chest. “So, stay put.”

The operator answered his call, and Luther gave her a brief rundown of the situation. She confirmed units were already responding to the smoke.

Without taking his eyes or the weapon off Haines, Luther hung up and walked over to Anna. She was still coughing. Her throat had to be swollen, but she was breathing, and that’s all that mattered. “Anna, baby. Help is on the way.”

“Luther.”

It was a hoarse whisper, but he answered. “Right here, baby.”

“How?” She pulled in a wheezing breath, and he hushed her.

“Shh. Save your voice, sweetheart.”

Luther’s finger was twitchy over the trigger. If he didn’t have to worry about Haines, he could focus on Anna. He was desperate enough to hold her in his arms, tofeelshe was really all right, that he considered shooting Haines. Just in the foot so he wouldn’t run away.

Anna coughed again, and out of the corner of his eye, Luther saw her whole body shake with the force of it. The ambulance needed to hurry the hell up.

As soon as he thought it, the sirens grew louder. He chanced a quick glance behind him to see a fire engine emerge from the trees. A police cruiser and ambulance weren’t far behind. Luther had never felt more grateful to see those flashing lights.

“Help is here, baby.”Help is here.

CHAPTER 24

The first thing Anna noticed when she woke up was someone was holding her hand. It gave her a sense of comfort, familiarity even, as calluses brushed her palm. Didn’t she know that hand? Something beeped in repetition, and she sensed it was bright wherever she was. Wanting to find outwherethat was, she struggled to open her eyes, but her lids were unusually heavy.That’s strange.

She managed to make them flutter, and, as she did, a voice she recognized said her name. “Anna!”

Luther.She smiled. Well, she thought she did, but she wasn’t sure her expression relayed it. She felt fuzzy—uncoordinated.

“Wake up, baby.” Luther kissed her hand, and Anna wanted with every fiber of her being to do as he asked.

She pushed through the fog surrounding her and forced one eye open, then the other. There he was.Officer Hottie.

“It’s good to see those gold eyes again.” He grinned at her, buthiseyes held unshed tears.Why is he upset? Has something happened?

She reached for his cheek and found her arm was hooked up to an IV. Anna’s forehead creased in confusion. “Luther?” Her voice sounded strange to her ears, and her eyes widened.

“Shh, you’re all right, Anna. But your throat’s probably sore.”

“Why?” she croaked out.

“Do you remember what happened to you?”

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