THE MARINE'S LAST DEFENSE by Angi Morgan Page A

he’d get it out of her. Gain her trust. Then you can help and maybe get your job back or some other type of employment.
    “You were flying under the radar by house-sitting. That was a good idea with characters like that searching for you. You’ll need new civvies and a coat before we hit the road.”
    The snowfall was heavy again. He’d listened to the weather off and on today. Dallas wouldn’t see much more, then the temperature would warm up and most of the roads would be clear by late morning.
    “I appreciate everything you’ve done. You’ve saved my life twice today. But after you take these handcuffs off, don’t you think I should leave? You shouldn’t get more involved. It’s already cost you your job and almost your life. Maybe you could exaggerate my escape abilities and let your supervisor think I conked you on the head or something.”
    He rubbed the lump under the bandage on the right side of his head where he’d been “conked” for real that afternoon. He hadn’t meant to draw her attention to it, but her intake of breath and immediate touch proved he had.
    “What happened to your head? Did you hit it on something?”
    “The bullet grazed me. If it hadn’t been for the pup pawing at my ear, I might have completely passed out and drowned.” He watched for a vehicle that might be tailing them. Those two goons might try to follow, but he was determined not to be a step behind this time.
    “You’ve been shot and suspended and it’s all my fault.” She dropped her forehead to the passenger window.
    He could only see her shoulder and matted hair. “I think we need to clean up before we drive five or six hours. Even Dallas is smelling like a sewer.”
    “Do you think that’s a good idea? They could be right behind us.”
    “I’ve been driving in circles to make sure we weren’t followed. We’re clear. My apartment is just around the corner.” He wouldn’t gain her trust if she knew he’d been close to taking her to the police station. Dang if he knew why he’d changed direction. “Tell me about Dallas. Why would anyone adopt a half-blind dog?”
    “You’ve met her.” She raised the head of the pup and kissed her fur. “First, she’s absolutely adorable and doesn’t let the blindness slow her down at all. I volunteered at the shelter and introduced Brenda Ellen to her after she lost her first dog. She brought her home the next day.”
    “So you really like dogs.” He slowed the truck for the last stop light before his complex.
    Bree didn’t allow the handcuffs to encumber her. He watched her stroke the black fur, keeping Dallas calm and silent. His dad always said you could tell a man’s true character by how he treated his animals. If that were true about this woman...maybe it was the reason he’d sided with her.
    “I’m glad you kept her,” she said softly.
    He parked at the rear of his lot with easy access to leave in a hurry. He’d half expected that his fellow officers would have the place surrounded. He’d stolen evidence in order to save this woman’s life.
    “Listen.” He held her arm through his jacket and she raised those violet eyes questioningly at him. “Stealing evidence isn’t the most honorable thing I’ve done. Probably not the most dishonorable, either.”
    “You’re saving my family. What could be dishonorable about that?”
    His mind was made up and he needed to be honest. “You’ve got two choices. Either go to jail now. Or turn the rest of the money and evidence over to me and go to jail in Amarillo.”
    She sat straighter, stiff, looking petrified. “I see.”
    “I’m a cop. What did you really expect?”
    Almost spilling Carl’s coffee and the woman who had shyly giggled at his awkwardness seemed like a distant memory. Be honest. Okay, his physical attraction to Bree had influenced his decisions earlier in the day. But he couldn’t admit that to her. He could barely admit it to himself.
    “I’m not certain,” she whispered. “A