Page 56 of Helsing: Demon Slayer
Ryan caught sight of a tall figure directing the onlookers with two fingers. The first group shuffled toward them as the second one disappeared around the corner of the veterinary hospital. It took only a moment to process what was happening. The second group would continue on around the other side of the building and come out behind the van.
They’re flanking us.
Not good. Not good at all.
“Anytime, Markham,” said Ryan, aiming the muzzle of the Glock at the ringleader, who like any rat bastard, hung back while the others risked their lives.
“I’m trying, I’m trying.” Dianne pressed the starter wire against the combined ignition-power bundle, not dropping it even though it sparked again. The ringleader yelled something at the same time that she said, “I got it!”
Ryan didn’t respond. Instead, he shot the ringleader, followed by three other people at the forefront of the first group, which now charged at them. As these attackers fell, those nearest them tumbled over their bodies, throwing the impetuous charge into disarray.
Ryan turned toward the hospital just as the other group emerged from behind the far corner. Dianne threw the Opel into drive and sped away. Ryan waited as long as he dared before rising through the open passenger window and, twisting, firing toward the spilled gasoline under the van.
Three things happened almost simultaneously.
First, Dianne plowed into two of the still-standing attackers, sending one flying over the car’s hood and the other into the rest, who’d started to scatter.
Second, the bullet striking asphalt ignited the spilled gas.
Third, the flames rode on the fumes leaking from the open tank, igniting what gas remained.
As they raced onto the nearby street, the van exploded behind them. Ryan watched as the resulting blast threw the fastest attackers a dozen meters and the boiling flames caught the rest. Screams followed them into the night as he sagged into the passenger seat.
He checked the clip in his gun. Empty.
Dianne gave a little whoop. “Holy hell, that was insane. I thought I’d panic, but I didn’t. I actuallydidsomething. I didn’t freeze. I didn’t fail.” She glanced over at him. “That cartridge you asked me to hold is in the door pocket.”
“Thanks.”
Ryan ejected the spent cartridge and inserted the new one with a concerted effort before looking at Dianne. She looked tired. Yet despite the shadows under her eyes, he didn’t think he’d ever seen a more beautiful—or brave—woman, and that was saying something given theElioudwarriors he knew.
“Listen, Markham—”
“Dianne.”
“Dianne.” He swallowed. They’d run out of water an hour ago. His throat was thick, and his mouth burned from the gasoline. “I don’t know if I’m gonna make it to the safehouse. I have enough energy left in my system to set an EMS beacon. Someone from the ops center will contact you, give you directions. You keep the Glock until you get there.”
He tried to hand the gun to her, but the exertion from their last action had finally drained him as the adrenaline rush faded. The Glock dropped to the center console.
“Ryan!” Dianne’s piercing shriek penetrated the descending fog. “You said you’d never leave me. I can’t do this without you, soldier. We’re a team, remember?”
Ryan closed his eyes. He was more tired than he’d ever been in his life. “You’ve got this, Beauty. I trust you. Don’t stop until you reach the safehouse.”
“Do you know why I made the key to Emily’s diary into a ring?” she asked out of nowhere.
“Hmnh,” he said, not able to formulate the wordno.
“Because I read it. I read her personal, private thoughts. I saw that she planned to break up with him, that she didn’t love him and wanted to date someone else in college, to travel, to major in international relations. I read what she said about their breakup, the fact that he got so obsessed, so mean, so clinging. She thought he was following her.”
Ryan forced himself to listen, but it was like he’d taken a narcotic or depressant. He didn’t know why Dianne sounded so frantic about something that might as well have been a whole other life ago.
“Why … are you … telling me … this … now?” he asked.
“Because it’smyfault! It’s my fault that no one knew Emily was scared. They just saw her smiles, her concern for Jai when his mother said he was depressed.”
“That’s … not … your … fault,” he said, taking shallow breaths between words.
“It is! And it’s going to be my fault if you die!” She was sobbing. “You can’t die. Not now. I need you.”
