Page 27 of Taken by the Lawman

“Go. Get that bastard!” She’d live. Hopefully the man who did this wouldn’t.

Several uncertain expressions flickered over his face before he cursed under his breath and jumped up. She heard the thudding of his boots and she finally managed to push herself over to lean against the car she’d probably left a dent in.

*

“I’m taking you to the hospital.” Deegan could barely control his adrenaline as he helped Kiersten up off the cold concrete. “Put your arm around my neck and lean your weight on me,” he told her.

She did as he asked and leaned into him for support. “I’m fine. Nothing’s broken.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” He helped her over to sit on the steps so he could examine her closer. The alarms, both the hotel and car, were finally turned off, but the ringing remained in his ears.

There were no words to describe what he’d felt when he saw her laying on the floor of the garage. Blood on her nose and lips and bruising already starting on her cheek. Although he hadn’t wanted to leave her side, he’d also wanted to catch the fucker who had done this to her. Unfortunately, the bastard had a head start. If Deegan would have caught him, the killer would be a dead son of a bitch. “Now we know he isn’t working alone.” Once she was seated on the cold step, he ran his hand down her hair and rested his palm on her neck. “Tell me what happened,” he asked, realizing he had a vulnerable hitch to his voice.

“I heard the alarm. I knew something was wrong, so I raced down to find out what the hell was going on. I put my gun away so I didn’t scare any of the people coming out of the hotel. The next thing I knew a man was on me. I didn’t get a look at his face because he was wearing a mask. Damn, he was strong, like he’d been trained to fight. I couldn’t get to my gun.” She blinked. “What do you mean he isn’t working alone?”

“The alarm went off to cover up the shots. He got off a couple, but I was able to hit the ground for cover and get to my gun. He took off and I watched the car speed off. He couldn’t have been in two places at once.” He ran his hands down her arms, her legs, her ankles, checking for any broken bones. “Does anything hurt?”

She snickered. “It’d be easier to list the things that don’t, but I’ll be okay, just a little sore.”

“Did you see anything from the cameras?”

“Nothing.” She closed her eyes a moment. “I’m going to catch him and when I do, I’m going to find great joy in sending him away,” she said through tight lips.

Taking a deep breath, Deegan hated seeing her like this. When it came to Kiersten, he had a protective side that never lessened. He realized she was tough, but even tough people could get hurt. He felt a wave of nausea at the idea that she had been banged around by the killer. She could have been seriously injured, or worse. Deegan realized they weren’t messing with some two-pump-chump killer. The man didn’t even waste any time in asking for the pictures. He shot to kill. They would have killed Kiersten too.

“No broken bones, but I’m still thinking you need checked over,” he said softly. “You could have a concussion.”

She stared at him. “I don’t like hospitals. I’m fine, really.”

“You look like shit.” He leaned in to look at the bruising and swelling on her face.

Her eye roll told him she didn’t find him funny. “Thanks.”

“You know what I mean. I hope you busted the killer’s chops.”

“I got him a few times, but like I said, he’s trained in hand to hand combat.” Her cell buzzed and he watched her look at the screen. “The sky is about to fall. Hamilton wants to see us immediately.”

“That didn’t take long.”

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