Present Danger by Elizabeth Goddard (shoe dog free ebook .txt) 📗

“Because you’re bleeding. Where exactly are you shot? I need to stop the bleeding.”

Must have happened when the guy surprised them by firing on their vehicle. He had only noticed a pinched feeling, and not the pain. Adrenaline had probably kept him going and alive.

“I think it went all the way through.” He’d been shot before and should have recognized the signs. “I’m going to live, Terra. Don’t look so stricken.”

She kneeled beside him. Opened up his shirt. “Where is it?”

“My arm. We can stop the bleeding. Make a tourniquet. But they’re already here. Help is here.”

Pain and terror filled her wide eyes. He hated putting that look on her face. Jack wanted to squeeze her hand, but the strength had run out of him.

Vehicle lights filled the edges of his vision, along with flashing colored lights of county vehicles. Terra put pressure on the wound and pain ignited. He gritted his teeth to keep from groaning. He didn’t want to scare her. With his free hand, he pushed the hair out of her face, then ran his hand over her cheek. Trailed his thumb down her jaw. He wanted a second chance with her.

He didn’t deserve it, but . . . if he survived . . . God, please, give me another chance with Terra. I need to make it right like Aunt Nadine said.

Her eyes flashed to him, the whites bright in the shadows. “What are you doing?” Her voice shook.

She tried to pretend he had no effect on her, but he saw in her eyes that his touch sent a current through her. The same current that ran through him when she was near.

Or was it the loss of blood and adrenaline crash that was getting to him? Maybe his condition acted like a truth serum, and he was being honest with himself.

He tried to push up. Some hero he was.

But she was alive. They’d made it out alive. Unlike . . .

Unlike . . . “Sarah.”

“What? I’m not Sarah.” Her face was now filled with full-blown panic.

“Sarah, you’re alive.”

“Jack. It’s me.” Terra drew close enough he could kiss her. “It’s me.”

“Terra.” He tried to reach up and touch her lips. Pull her closer, but his body wasn’t cooperating.

“Here, here! Help, we need help . . .” Her words trailed away, and when she stepped out of view to let the EMTs take over, he saw her trembling, blood-covered hands. She leaned in. “I’ll let them know to keep searching. And just how dangerous he is.”

“Stay with me, Terra.” Stay with me . . .

Had he said that out loud?

“I’m here, Jack. I’m not going anywhere.” She weaved her fingers with his.

Jack closed his eyes. Blood loss. That’s all this was. Too much blood loss.

Images accosted him. The girls. So many girls being trafficked. One in particular. The shock of her familiar face. The anger and panic that engulfed him. But he’d worked to get her out. To save her before they took her out of his reach.

His cousin, Sarah.

Her body dumped in the snow in Wyoming.

Because of him? Someone knew he’d tried to save her?

Terra was here with him. Her words floated through him, close and yet far. Trained officers died all the time. He couldn’t lose Terra too.

Jerking, he opened his eyes. She was there. But she’d released his hand. He kept her in his line of sight as she walked with the two men who had now placed him on a gurney.

Jack didn’t want her to leave, because if she remained by his side, then she wouldn’t be facing that madman.

Or her brother. He could see her facing off with her brother. Putting herself in danger.

Jack gasped for breath. He had more to say. He had to warn her.

An EMT pressed an oxygen mask over his face. What was the matter with him? He had no power to move. To speak.

The thought of Owen being connected to Leif and the possibility that he could be involved made Jack more nauseous.

Terra!

He closed his eyes and wished he hadn’t, because now he wasn’t sure if he could open them again.

“I’ll meet you at the hospital, Jack,” she said as if she heard his silent screams.

“I’ll be right behind you,” she called again.

He found the strength. He pushed his arm up. Shoved the mask away. “Terra. Ride with me!” He eyed the EMT. “She has to ride with me.” He grabbed the paramedic’s arm and squeezed. “Special Agent Connors is going to ride in this ambulance with—”

FIFTY-FOUR

Jack had lost consciousness.

Terra’s knees shook. She wanted to climb into the ambulance with him like he requested. The EMTs were shutting the door on her, ignoring Jack’s request.

“Wait a minute!” She tried to force her way in.

A hand touched her arm from behind. “Agent Connors. I’ll get you there.”

Terra turned to see Detective Nathan Campbell.

“Terra.” Compassion filled his tone. “My vehicle’s right there. We’ll follow the ambulance. In fact, I’ll lead it into town.”

“Let’s go!” She ran with him, and they jumped into his vehicle. He placed the flashing lights on top of the unmarked vehicle and ran the sirens. Sped around the ambulance and paved the way on the lonely county road.

“What happened out there?” he asked.

Terra clutched the handgrip. Nathan would make sure the ambulance didn’t waste time. She just hoped he got them there alive.

“Leif pulled out the big guns. We were caught off guard. How could we have known that he would pull this?”

“You couldn’t have. Sarnes had pulled up information for Jack, but only prepared the report tonight.”

“What does it tell us?”

“He was a warrant officer. Piloted helicopters for the Army. And yes, he served with your brother. He was a hero and saved lives. The other information paints a sad picture. His sister was killed. Leif kind of went off the deep end after that. He was discharged, though we don’t know the exact reasons.”

“Well, he went off the deep end tonight too. He’s armed and dangerous, and I need to talk to my brother, to warn him. He needs to know