Laying Down the Law Read Online Free

said. Though Cord had obviously already figured that out.
    There was a cut on his forehead and some blood in his light brown hair. Heaven knew where else he was hurt, but at least he wasn’t moaning in pain like the bald paramedic crumpled next to them.
    “Are you all right?” Cord asked her.
    No. Not by a long shot. But Karina didn’t think she’d gotten any other injuries, probably because she’d been held in place on the gurney. And because of Cord.
    “I’m not hurt,” she responded. Maybe that was true, but everything inside her felt bruised and raw.
    Cord pulled the straps off her and eased her sideways off the gurney and onto the floor. “Help him,” Cord told her.
    That’s when she saw the angry gash on the bald paramedic’s head. Not a simple cut like the one on Cord’s, either. This one was deep, and he was losing a lot of blood.
    It was hard to find anything in the debris, so she used the cotton blanket that’d been covering her and pressed it to his wound. While she did that, Cord checked on the paramedic in the front seat. It didn’t help her nerves any when he pressed his fingers to the guy’s neck.
    “Is he dead?” she asked hesitantly.
    Cord shook his head. “Just unconscious.” He used the radio in the front to call for assistance. “Stay put,” he warned her.
    Despite the debris and clutter everywhere, Cord managed to make his way to the back of the ambulance. He had his gun ready when he tried the door handle. It took several pushes, but he finally got it open.
    Karina couldn’t see anything outside because Cord was blocking the way. He didn’t go outside. He stayed there, his gaze firing around and his head raised. Listening.
    She heard the moan coming from the front seat, and several moments later, the paramedic in the front lifted his head. “What the heck happened?” he grumbled.
    “An explosion.” Cord didn’t even glance back at the guy. He kept his focus outside. No doubt in case the killer came after them again.
    That gave her a fresh jolt of adrenaline.
    They were stuck here. Right where the killer could get them. And this time, he just might succeed.
    This nightmare wasn’t over. It was just beginning.
    “Try to level your breathing,” Cord told her. “I don’t want you to hyperventilate.”
    Since she was very close to doing just that, Karina tried to slow down her breathing. Tried to steady her heartbeat, too. She wasn’t very successful at doing either.
    “Jericho should be here any minute,” Cord assured her.
    She wasn’t sure if that was wishful thinking or if he’d gotten confirmation of that when he’d used the ambulance’s radio. Karina certainly didn’t hear any sirens.
    But then she also didn’t hear their attacker taunting them.
    “Is he still out there?” she asked, and wasn’t aware she was holding her breath until her lungs started to ache.
    Cord didn’t jump to answer her. He continued to look around. “I don’t see him. That doesn’t mean he’s not there.”
    True. “You’ll have to warn Jericho.” She didn’t want the sheriff driving into a trap.
    “He knows,” Cord assured her. He shifted his position, lifting his head.
    And then he cursed.
    He drew in several more breaths and cursed again.
    “Can you walk?” Cord looked at her first for an answer, then at the bleeding paramedic.
    “Yes,” Karina answered at the same time the paramedic mumbled a not so convincing “yeah.”
    “Why?” she asked.
    But it wasn’t necessary for Cord to answer her because she smelled two things that she didn’t want to smell.
    Gasoline.
    And smoke.
    “Did he set a fire?” she blurted out.
    Cord didn’t answer her question. “We’re getting out of here now. Now!” he ordered, glancing back at the paramedic in front.
    “What’s going on?” the paramedic asked, but despite being dazed and injured, he started climbing over the seat toward them.
    Now, Cord made eye contact with Karina. Their gazes held for a few intense seconds.