Page 70 of Tough Justice

He rolled to his side, trying to push upright. Another shaft of pain, the likes of which he’d never experienced in his life, sent him to the ground again. He hissed in air through gritted teeth, which only worsened the pain. Breathing was becoming difficult. He tried pulling his gun from the holster, but his right hand wouldn’t cooperate. More pain. His vision clouded, and he felt lightheaded.

“Get to the trees!” he shouted, and goddamn did it hurt to yell. “Take Thor with you.”

“I’m not leaving you.” Tori fell to his side, trying to haul him to his feet. “Get up!” she demanded, taking his good arm and helping him stand.

As she got him to his feet, he nearly doubled over and passed out.

Thor barked, circling them, uncertain what to do.

Headlights bore down on them again, engines roaring. The copse of trees was barely ten feet away. They weren’t going to make it. With Tori’s help, he half walked, half stumbled. Every step was sheer torture, sending more pain directly to his shoulder and torso.

They made it to the trees just before the pickup caught up to them. Both vehicles braked. Car doors opened.

“They’re in the trees!” someone shouted.

“I got ’em,” a different voice said.

Unable to take another step, Deck fell to his knees, sucking in shallow breaths. Every inhalation sent a blast of fire to his ribs. Beside him, Thor whimpered, licking his face. “Leave me,” he said to Tori. “Run, dammit!”

Crunching of boots on the dry leaves told him there were at least three men approaching. With his good hand, he ripped the hand radio from his belt. “Officer down. Commons Park, in the trees. Need help fast!” He let the radio fall to the ground then reached around and pulled his gun with his left hand, aiming it at the oncoming assailants.

Thor growled then leaped from Deck’s vision.

A man screamed. “Get him off me! Shoot the dog!”

More growling.

Sirens wailed in the distance. Blue and red strobes flashed, reflecting off the trees.

“Let’s get out of here!” one of the men shouted.

“Don’t leave me, motherfucker!”

Car doors slammed. Headlights shut off as the pickup and the other vehicle sped from the park.

Deck began slumping to the ground. He tried blinking away the white stars clouding his vision.

“I’ve got you.” Tori’s arms came around him, preventing him from whacking his injured shoulder even harder. He was too heavy for her. His back hit the ground, and he grunted.

Gentle hands examined his body, which had begun to shake. His forehead and upper lip beaded with sweat, and he felt like vomiting. Buzzing took up shop in his ears. Screaming sirens cut through the haze settling over him.

Shouts of “Police!” were followed closely by, “How do we get the dog off?”

Thor. He couldn’t see his dog but understood Thor had his jaws wrapped around someone’s body parts. “Thor,” he mumbled. “Release. Release.” The effort to speak sent another wave of pain crashing through his ribs. He had to get up, had to call Thor off before he killed someone.

Deck tried pushing to a sitting position, but Tori held him down.

“Deck,” came Tori’s worried voice. “Try not to move around.”

More growling. More screaming.

He shoved at her hands, trying to twist on the ground to see what was happening. More stabbing pain stopped him. It hurt just to breathe.

“Deck!” Tori shouted. “Stop fighting me! I think you have a cracked rib and maybe a punctured lung. Moving around will only make it worse.”

Thor’s growling intensified, and again Deck fought to get up. His teeth chattered, and sweat rolled down his temples. The moaning sound he heard next was his own, as he struggled to breathe. The pain was so intense, he thought he was dying.

“We need help here!” Tori shouted. “I’m a doctor. Get my medical bag. I dropped it in the grass. And someone get a blanket. He’s going into shock.”