Free Hiding From Danger (Danger Incorporated Book 2) by Olivia Jaymes Page B

pocket, he quickly sent a text to Nancy who was working police dispatch tonight about the speeding SUV. He added, “Armed and dangerous. Do not engage without backup.”
    With more sirens screaming in the background West knelt next to the injured man. The other officer had already started administering first aid and West was careful to stay out of the way while still getting a glimpse of the suspect’s face.
    Shit. No one he knew.
    Strange that someone from out of the area would be breaking into homes but the economy wasn’t the greatest and desperation made people do strange things. Another cop car pulled into West’s driveway and Lou Blanton hopped out. Lou was an experienced officer and a good man to have on the scene.
    I need to get to Gigi.
    “Jesus, you take a leave of absence and this is what happens?” Lou peered down at the blood covered man and grimaced. “What’s going on here?”
    West stood and pointed back to his home. “Two guys trying to break in. Heard them trying the doors and windows. I gave them the usual warning and told them to stop but they started firing on me before taking flight. I pursued and they continued to fire on me but this one ran into the path of Jerry’s cruiser. The other got away in a dark SUV. Late model. I asked Nancy to put out a BOLO.”
    Lou whistled and jotted down a few notes. “Did you discharge your weapon? Damn, there are too many people around here. We’ll need a couple of officers just to deal with the crowd.”
    More officers were arriving along with an ambulance, the flashing lights illuminating the entire block. For a measly burglary attempt this was quite a mess. The local news was bound to show up any minute.
    “No. Too many people. I never had a clear shot.” West paced, too wired to stay still. “Listen, I have someone in the house and I need to give them the all clear. Can you handle this?”
    Lou was more than capable and West needed to get back to Gigi, who had to be on pins and needles listening to the gunfire and wondering what was going on.
    “Sure. It looks pretty routine. Foiled attempted burglary with an added injury when the suspect ran. Jerry looks pretty shook up though.”
    The young cop who had been first on the scene was pale and standing a few feet away from the prone man while the EMTs worked. The stricken expression of the officer told West that he needed to make sure that he talked to the kid. Jerry hadn’t done anything wrong but he was clearly blaming himself.
    “I’ll be back in a few.”
    West slapped Lou on the back and jogged into the house and up the stairs. He almost pulled the door open but then remembered he needed to knock first. He could have been the recipient of a lead bullet in the chest. His woman was a damn good shot.
    “Gigi? It’s me, babe. You can come out now.”
    The door cracked open slowly and she peered around it. Obviously shaken, her hands trembled and her skin had a gray cast to it as she held out the firearm. “I heard gunfire. Are you okay?”
    The minute he took the gun her hands ran over his arms and chest, her gaze darting from head to toe. He shook his head and placed the firearm on the chest of drawers before tugging her close. He could feel the her heart race and her body quiver so he simply held her for a long time, stroking her hair and whispering that everything was going to be okay.
    “I’m fine, babe. It’s all fine. They never got in. Not even close. They just didn’t like it when I interrupted them, that’s all. It’s all fine.”
    She pressed her cheek to his chest and he rubbed his chin on the top of her head, the vanilla scent of her shampoo wrapping around him. “Are you hurt? Are you okay? Did you get them? Are they going to jail?”
    Shit. No. “One is headed to the hospital. He ran into the path of the police car. The other took off but we’re looking for him. We’ll get him.”
    If not tonight then one in the future. The guy didn’t appear to be an amateur. If he did