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Another local officer stood over Brett.

“Hands up. Don’t move,” Dawson ordered.

Brett did as he was ordered and took the opportunity to check on Thea. Two officers stood with her and Emerson. Thea leaned against the wall and held one hand to her chest as an officer radioed for medical assistance.

Asa barged in looking for Brett. “I thought I told you to wait for me.”

“You were running late, and I made an executive decision.”

“We can’t just barge in when there have been reports of gunfire! We had to coordinate the SWAT team and the hostage negotiator.”

Brett kept his hands in the air and jerked his head toward Thea. “Can I go to her?”

Asa let his head roll back and sighed. “Fine. Just don’t do anything stupid.”

Brett was on his feet at Thea’s side in seconds. Blood streaked down her face from a gash on her head. “Are you okay?”

“Chest hurts,” she said low.

Looking over his shoulder he asked, “Where are the paramedics?”

“On their way,” one of the officers responded.

He cradled Thea’s face in his hands and pressed his forehead to hers. “Hang in there, baby.”

Thea gripped his arm, urging him to open his eyes.

“I love you,” she whispered.

His own chest ached, as if his heart could be both broken and full at the same time. He pressed a quick kiss to her lips and whispered back, “I loved you first.”

Chapter27

Thea

One of the police officers led Thea from the small room to the small gravel parking lot outside. The officer’s quick walk did nothing to calm Thea’s fears about the pain in her chest.

Emergency response vehicles were parked everywhere around the building, and police and SWAT personnel moved in and out of the building.

Thea knew the feeling in her chest. Her broken ribs were further damaged, or her lung had been punctured again. Either way, the road ahead promised a bumpy ride.

The bright mid-day sun made the events of the last hour feel like a bad dream. The whole day was surreal. The hope that had filled her to the brim all morning before leaving the ranch was lightyears away now as she tried to calm her breathing.

But Brett was still at her side, holding her shaking hand in his.

He’d come for her. So had her brother and Linc. Even Emerson had come to her aid, despite the danger that waited.

Red and blue lights flashed from all directions outside the old building. They’d called in the whole team. Police stood all around the garage in various uniforms.

Two paramedics in red met her as she followed the officer to the ambulance. They pulled a gurney from the back and directed her to sit on the side.

“What are your injuries?” a man asked as he slipped gloves over his hands.

Thea pressed a hand to her side and tried to inhale.

“She had some broken ribs and a punctured lung from the attack,” Brett said.

The male paramedic nodded. “Miss Howard, let me get your vitals, and we’ll get on our way to Cody.”