Page 117 of Just the Nicest Person

She rushed toward Duke, kneeling beside him. Flames from the gas tank heated her skin despite the arctic conditions.

“Are you okay?” Andi searched his face, his chest, and legs, looking for what had happened to him. Blood stained the white snow, and the scent of gasoline saturated the air.

Then she saw the blood seeping from his shoulder, and she sucked in a breath.

That guy had stabbed him.

“Duke . . .” she breathed.

“I’m . . . fine.” He cringed as he attempted to sit up. “Threw . . . gasoline . . . on me.”

That explained the strong odor clinging to him.

The killer had tried to burn him alive, hadn’t he?

One random spark from the fire could cause him excruciating pain, if not death.

Anger surged through her. Andi glanced back for a better look at the man who’d done this. He’d already disappeared behind the trees.

As if he knew exactly where he was going and how to manage this terrain.

She’d have to think about that later. Right now, she had to get this jacket off Duke before this situation got even worse. She began tugging at his sleeves, desperate to get the fabric off him.

Finally, she did.

The next instant, Simmy appeared beside them. Her breath came out in cold wisps as she paused. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Duke.

“Oh, Duke . . . that doesn’t look good.”

“Let’s get him inside.” Andi rose, determined to keep a cool head. “I already called the police. They’re on their way.”

Carefully, Andi and Simmy helped Duke to his feet. She wished Ranger was out here to help. They could use his muscles right now.

But she’d tried to wake him. He hadn’t budged.

For a moment, she’d even wondered if he was dead . . .

Finally, she’d asked Mariella to try to wake him.

Once Duke was upright, they wrapped their arms around his waist and walked him inside to the couch near the fireplace. The rest of the gang gathered around, their eyes still glazed with sleep.

Everyone but Ranger.

Was he still asleep?

She’d figure that out later.

Simmy jumped into action as she quickly assessed Duke. “I need to get his shirt off. Grab some scissors from the drawer beside the register.”

Andi rushed to find them and then brought them back, along with a wet washcloth.

She ran the cloth over Duke’s skin to help remove the gasoline as Simmy cut away his shirt, revealing a two-inch wound.

She frowned before glancing at Andi again. “I’m going to need the first aid kid. It’s behind the counter also.”

Andi hurried to retrieve it, thankful Simmy seemed to know what she was doing.

For the second time in a long time, Andi found herself doing something that sounded awfully close to praying.

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