Cowboy Behind the Badge Read Online Free PDF Page A

he threw open the door so he could return fire.
    Hines bolted behind Tucker’s truck. That didn’t stop the man from shooting, though. This time, the bullet smacked into the door less than an inch from where Tucker was standing.
    Hell’s bells.
    So, he had his confirmation.
    These guys were killers, and they were firing shots into a house where they knew Laine and the babies were hiding.
    â€œDon’t go out there,” Laine whispered as Tucker stooped down and opened the door a little farther.
    â€œI can’t let them keep shooting into the house.” And anyway, Rayanne was out there. Responding to his call for backup. He didn’t intend to let her face down these guys alone.
    Laine continued to protest, but the sounds of the babies’ cries and the shots drowned her out. Tucker created some sounds of his own by sending a shot at Hines. The bullet smacked into Tucker’s truck, very close to his intended target, but the miss got him the results he wanted.
    Hines leaned over to fire again.
    And this time, Tucker made sure he didn’t miss.
    He didn’t go for a kill shot. He wanted this dirtbag alive so he could explain what the heck was happening here, so Tucker shot Hines in the right shoulder. When the idiot still kept hold of his gun, Tucker put another bullet in his arm.
    Even over the noise of the gunfight, Tucker heard Hines groan in pain, and he finally let go of his gun.
    Hacker cursed. No doubt because he realized his partner had been shot and was now unable to return fire. Rayanne gave him another reason to spew some profanity. Tucker saw her dart out from behind one of the trees and take aim at Hacker.
    â€œDrop your gun now!” she ordered.
    Tucker hurried onto the small porch and took aim at Hacker, as well. A single word of profanity left the man’s mouth before he tossed his gun to the side and lifted his hands in surrender.
    â€œGet on the ground,” Tucker demanded. “Both of you.”
    Hines’s arm and shoulder were bleeding, and he was clearly in pain, but he eased himself to the ground. About fifteen yards away, Hacker did the same.
    Tucker slid his phone across the floor toward Laine. “Call Colt and tell him to get out here now. We’ll need an ambulance, too.”
    Laine gave a shaky nod, and even though she now had both babies in her arms, she managed to grab the phone.
    Since Tucker figured the two gunmen could be carrying backup weapons anywhere on their bodies, he kept his own gun aimed and ready when he made his way out the door and down the porch steps. Rayanne kept her gun ready, too, and went to Hacker. Tucker went to Hines.
    â€œColt should be here soon,” Tucker relayed to Rayanne. But maybe he could use the time to figure out who these guys really were.
    Tucker took aim at Hines’s head. “Start talking. Tell me about the woman you killed.”
    â€œDidn’t kill nobody,” the man snarled. He had his hand clamped to his arm, the pain etched all over his face, but he still managed to look cocky and defiant.
    â€œWrong answer. Try again.” Tucker made sure he sounded cocky, too. “Who sent you here?”
    His tobacco-stained teeth came together in a sneer. “Even if I knew that, I wouldn’t tell you. Wouldn’t be good for my health.”
    â€œNeither is bleeding out.” Though the man didn’t seem to be in danger of doing that, Tucker took his threat a little further. “I can get an ambulance out here real fast. Or real slow. Your choice.”
    His mouth tightened even more. “You’re not gonna let me die.”
    No. But Tucker figured he could bluff him into thinking otherwise. “You just took shots at me, my sister and a friend of mine.”
    â€œShe ain’t no friend of yours. I know who she is. And who you are. I know that your mama killed her daddy, and there’s bad blood between you two. No reason to protect her.”
    â€œI’m a