Page 32 of Helsing: Demon Slayer
Ryan’s gaze traveled to a point over her head. “Go for Demon Slayer,” he said.
Dianne sidled closer. For the second time since they’d left the ship, she heard her sister’s voice, taut, sharp-edged, and vibrating with the strain of command, in her ear. “Sitrep, Demon Slayer.”
She was attempting to parse that foreign word when Ryan said, “Your sister is fine, Aerie Actual. Grimes, however, sustained a full fracture to her left femur. Unless you’ve got angels on standby, I need a medevac yesterday.”
He appeared to listen before responding, “Copy that.” Then he looked down at Dianne. “You’re in luck. Your brother-in-law will extract us by helicopter. We’ll rendezvous somewhere along the highway.”
Before Dianne could ask any questions about this astounding bit of news, Ryan gazed over to their local rescuers. Markos had positioned Germaine’s injured leg next to her good leg and now wrapped medical tape around both, creating an effective temporary splint from the uninjured leg. Next to him, Barts searched through a large black bag stuffed with dangerous-looking guns. The man felt his commander’s gaze and looked up.
“Boss, what’s the plan?” he asked.
“We leave in two mikes. Thezotibrings a team to extract us, LZ forty klicks south. Make sure you secure the cargo. And get me a weapon and plenty of ammo.”
“Copy that.”
Ryan nodded at the chocolate and water still clutched in Dianne’s hands. “Looks like you can take that to go.”
Two minutes later they were back in the Range Rover and speeding northeast toward E65, the scenic two-lane highway known as the Adriatic Highway, which followed the mountainous coastline. Dianne had pleaded to ride in the third-row seat next to Germaine’s head. Ryan didn’t look happy about it, but he nodded and took the second-row seat opposite hers so that she remained in his line of sight. At least he’d let Markos apply some sort of battlefield stitches to his split cheek. It was slightly swollen but blood no longer ran into his beard.
Dianne scarcely noted how quickly they moved among the traffic, but somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered how the world outside could look so normal. Did any of the other vehicles’ passengers know what had happened at the port this morning?
It was as if she’d stepped into an alternate dimension where nothing made sense.
After they’d been driving in silence long enough that Dianne’s head began to pound, she remembered the water and chocolate still lying in her lap. Although Ryan hadn’t yet reminded her to consume them, she’d seen the looks he’d directed at her. They didn’t feel overbearing. She didn’t know why she thought so, but he radiated concern. It anchored her.
Uncapping the bottle, she drained half of it in one long pull. Her headache eased. She realized that her stomach had also started to ache, from stress and hunger. She opened the chocolate bar, this time a white chocolate scented with lavender. As soon as she smelled the sweet chocolate and delicate floral confection, her headache lifted. She broke off a piece and let it melt on her tongue, closing her eyes with a sigh.
“About time, Markham,” said Ryan.
When she opened her eyes, she saw that he watched her, a small smile playing around his beautiful mouth. Why did she want to nestle into his warmth like a cat rubbing against its owner?
At that thought, she said, “Why do you keep calling me Markham? My name’s Dianne.”
He blinked a few times before responding. Something changed in his posture and expression. The smile disappeared. “Finish the chocolate. We’ll be at the extraction point in half an hour.”
He leaned forward to talk to Markos and the other guy.
Well, damn. That was pretty clear.
Scowling, Dianne broke another piece of the candy off and slid it into her mouth.
“He’s not that into you, girlfriend,” said a weak voice next to her.
Startled, Dianne almost choked on the chocolate. Taking a quick sip of water, she wiped her lips and swiveled in her seat to see Germaine watching her. Her friend’s pale blue eyes were large in her wan face.
“You’re awake!”
“Morphine’s good, but I’m sure he underdosed me,” said her friend, the scientist. “He doesn’t want to overestimate my weight and cause me to stop breathing.”
Wincing, Dianne leaned forward and put her hand on Germaine’s shoulder. Markos had covered her friend with an emergency thermal blanket and only her head remained visible. “I’m sure he’ll give you more once we meet up with Olivia’s husband, Mihàil.”
A strange light brightened Germaine’s face. “He’s coming?”
Dianne nodded. “He’s apparently got a helicopter and more guys like Ryan.” Her gaze slid to the man she’d thought of as The Beast. He still conferred with the other two men. “I have a feeling my brother-in-law isn’t just an Albanian businessman.”
“That’s obvious,” said Germaine. She coughed and then grimaced. “Which is why it’s a good thing his paid bodyguard doesn’t want to hook up with you.”
Ryan glanced at them. He wore a frown, but his gaze seemed to look past them. Dianne wondered where his mind was. She looked back through the rear window, uneasiness filling her. Whatever had possessed those people had been directed ather. And Olivia had sent Ryan before it had happened, almost as if she’d known.
