Read Online THE MARINE'S LAST DEFENSE by Angi Morgan - Free Book Online

hands in his and he pulled her through the window while the car shifted, sinking a bit deeper into the lake. He steadied her slim figure on the slick rocks until she could stand on her own.
    He shook his head, all the while knowing he had to get the traumatized puppy. He holstered his weapon. “They might come back, so stay close to the car. I don’t think it’s moving again.”
    “Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere. You’ll probably have to carry her.”
    The doors were still locked, keys in the ignition. He tried the lock button, electrical was gone. “Dallas, come on, pup.” He tried coaxing her with kissy sounds, but like this morning at the body of Mrs. Richardson, nothing worked.
    “She’s blind on her right side, Detective. I don’t think she can even see you.”
    That might partially be the reason, but most likely, the animal was just scared. As scared as the woman climbing up the grassy shore? “I told you to stay put, Bree. You keep moving and I’m coming after you instead of the dog.”
    “I’ll be freezing in the snow instead of freezing in the water. Trust me, Detective, I have nowhere to go.” She raised her cuffed wrists to him, emphasizing her captive status.
    Restraints hadn’t dissuaded some of the men he’d captured before. He hoped she spoke the truth because, for the life of him, he couldn’t abandon the dog. He held his breath and climbed back inside the vehicle. This was the first time he’d been grateful to be issued a huge tank of a car, instead of a newer economy size.
    Jake shrugged out of his suit jacket and took a couple of deep breaths to prepare for the icy submersion. He maneuvered his long body into the backseat almost as soon as his feet crossed through the window. He broke the water’s surface, grabbed Dallas and then lost her when her body hit the ice water. He spun in the water to get out and caught movement on the driver’s side of the car. The men who had run them into the lake were approaching through the bushes.
    “Look out!” He slammed his hand against the roof, scaring the circling pup trying to get back to the dry rear window.
    He pushed the dog under the water and she popped up outside the car. He followed as fast as his legs could push him through, hearing Bree’s screams under the water. When he came up for air, she was still yelling at the man who carried her across his shoulder up the small hill to the road.
    “Watch out!” she screamed.
    He turned away from Bree’s abductor and straight into something slamming into his ribs. He’d been a second too late all day, but not anymore.
    The rocks were slippery under him, but he scrambled to get through the frozen reeds to the shore. He caught the piece of wood when his attacker tried to ram it in his gut. He shoved back, sending the man slipping backward on the ice.
    Jake followed and got an uppercut under the man’s chin. A left. Another right. The man stumbled back with each hit. Jake tugged the mask at the top of his head, showing a chin that could barely grow hair. The kid couldn’t be more than twenty years old. He still held the branch in one hand while he yanked the ski mask back into place. Jake recognized the crazy, wide-eyed, out-of-his-element look.
    The kid blinked, panted hard and dropped the branch. He’s going to run. Jake was ready to dive and knock the young man to the ground, but the kid pulled a gun. He began firing—wildly. Jake heard a bullet connect with metal, and one ricocheted off a rock. And the third...
    Bright shards of light exploded, obscuring his view of anything else and sending him to his knees. He hit the water, plunging face-first into the icy lake. He fought to stay aware. Bree’s “no” echoed between his ears along with the thumping of his heart. There was a sharp shove against his ear. Was the floating a sensation or was he really on top of the water?
    Shot. Conscious but unable to react. Was this it? Had he survived six years in a war zone to come home