Page 57 of Taken by the Lawman

“Take your time. I’m sure it’s in there.” He had no clue, but he understood nothing good came from feeling frantic.

The voices were drawing closer. “Kiersten, go. They’re coming. Get out of here!”

“I’m not leaving you.” She still worked through the keys. “No way. We’ll get out of here together.”

“Go and get help. You can get away,” he urged.

“Shut up. That’s not going to happen, not without you. Remember, you want to be the father of my child. I can’t take the risk of anything happening to you.”

“Does that mean you want it too?”

“You betcha! Get out of this with me alive and the answer will be a hundred times yes!”

Then he felt the release of the metal from around his wrists about the same time the door came flying open. Deegan was off the chair so fast that it went airborne and he charged Evans, not giving the man a chance to react. Deegan had him against the wall, pounding his fists into his face until he heard…

“I’d stop if I were you.”

Deegan looked over his shoulder. The other man had a gun aimed at Kiersten.

Grabbing Evans by the shirt, Deegan flung him hard to the ground, turning all his attention on the tall muscular man who had his gun dangerously close to her. Deegan held up his hands in surrender mode and didn’t move a muscle. Evans was busy trying to scoop himself up from the floor. He had blood dripping from one nostril.

“I’ve stopped,” Deegan said calmly.

He heard a sound in the distance. Was it a helicopter?

A second later sirens lit the air.

“Shit!” The gunman cocked his chin as if he was trying to listen closer. “What the hell is that, Evans? How the fuck did they find us here?”

Evans had finally managed to pick himself up and was swiping the back of his hand across his busted nose.

“You two have time. They’re not here yet. Run now,” Deegan encouraged.

The gunman lowered the weapon an inch. “Maybe he’s right. We have time to get away.” For a brawny man, he certainly looked scared.

“Don’t let him get in your head, man,” Evan seethed. “We can’t abandon our post.”

“What the fuck are you talking about? This ain’t a post. This was your fucked-up idea.” There went the gun, another inch or so lower.

“We can’t let them live. That’s part of the plan.” Evans didn’t flinch a muscle.

“You better hurry, buddy,” Deegan said. “I can hear the sirens getting closer. They’re coming and once they do, this will all be over. Prison isn’t a life for you.”” He saw the weak link in the man.

“Fuck this!” The gun lowered completely and he took off down the hallway running.

Realizing he was alone, Evans’ confidence slipped some. He turned and raced down the hall too.

“Stay here,” Deegan said to Kiersten as he took off after Evans. The man was a fast runner, but Deegan was catching up to him. Evans slammed through the back door, almost taking it off its hinges, but Deegan was right behind.

They were outside now in a parking lot.

A horn sounded and a truck came out of nowhere, hitting Evans, sending him soaring in the air and landing with a loud sickening thud on the ground. Deegan raced to Evans who wasn’t moving and checked his pulse. It was faint, but he was alive.

Looking back at the truck, Deegan smiled when Cull Cade got out of the driver’s side. “I thought I was going to be late, but it looks like I came at the right time.”

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