Page 64 of Graced
Rhyne yelled as the Aspenall dipped into the opposite culvert and began flipping over and over, sending dirt and debris flying into the air before coming to a complete rest on its hood.
Braking to a hard stop, he threw the car into PARK and jumped out of the vehicle.He saw four men, Welsh and Cargill included, crawl out from underneath the vanquished Aspenall and race for the heavy brush lining the side of the highway.They jumped the barbed wire fence and quickly disappeared.Two sheriff’s deputies ran after them, while in the distance Rhyne heard the wailing of more police cars approaching.
There was no doubt in his mind that the four vamps would get away.They were stronger and faster than humans, but he might be able to run one of them down.But he had to check on Grace first and foremost.Her safety took precedent.
Going up to the SUV, he noticed the rear hatch was bent and partially open.Grabbing one side and the bottom, Rhyne pulled on it to open it farther.The hinges squealed as the door gave way a fraction of an inch.Taking a deep breath, he tried again when a figure took a stance on the other side.He threw Nash a grateful look.
“On three.One…two…pull!”
The door resisted for all of three seconds, then let go with a loudpop!and dropped to the ground with a hiss of the hydraulic cylinders.
The interior reeked of blood and urine.Rhyne climbed inside to find Grace unconscious and lying in a heap atop the ceiling light.She didn’t move as he placed a hand on the side of her neck.Feeling a strong pulse, he bowed his head in relief.
He slowly peeled the silver duct tape from her mouth.There was no response, no reaction, making him fear she’d hit her head or had internal injuries that weren’t readily visible.
“Grace.Grace, can you hear me?”
He scanned the multitude of bloody pinpricks dotting her arms and shoulders, as well as the reddish bruises.The sight of them sent a fresh wave of anger through him, knowing those men had been feeding off her.
There were also a pair of white zip ties binding her hands at the wrists.They were so tightly bound, her hands were turning purple.Taking a bit of the plastic between his thumbs and forefingers, he snapped it apart, doing the same for the ones around her ankles.
Gently and carefully, he took her into his arms and removed her from the vehicle.As he stepped out of the SUV, a bright light struck him in the face, making him flinch.
“Freeze!Massey County Sheriff!Don’t move!”
Rhyne turned to face them.“Is an ambulance on the way?She needs immediate medical attention!”
Two more sheriff vehicles had joined the accident site.Overhead, he caught the familiar sound of the helicopter as it swept the area for signs of the men who’d fled the overturned SUV.
Nash was nowhere to be seen.
“Who are you?”a second voice demanded.The man’s face was obscured by the high beam from his flashlight.
“I’m Rhyne Castille.Nash and I are the ones who informed you about Welsh Roebuck, the man who attacked those people at the Harbor County Hospital and killed one of the lab techs.”He held up Grace’s comatose body.“This is Grace Lockhart.She’s the woman who fled the hospital to get away from Mr.Roebuck, but I managed to get her away from him until the police separated us, and allowed Mr.Roebuck to kidnap her.We’ve been following them all this time.”
“You’re the guy who called to tell us about Roebuck’s whereabouts?”the first voice inquired.
“No.Nash, my roommate, did.I was too busy driving.”
“Why did you feel like you had to follow after Roebuck in the first place?Why get involved?”the second voice demanded.In the distance, a different siren wailed.Rhyne guessed it had to be EMS.
“Because…” He swallowed hard as her body grew more limp in his embrace.“Because I had to save her.I couldn’t let Welsh get away with her.”
“Why?What is she to you?”
“She’s my fiancée.”
CHAPTER32
Consequences
Rhyne watched as Grace was loaded into the ambulance.“Which hospital is she being taken to?”he asked one of the EMS techs.
“Massey County Memorial.”
He nodded.“Thanks.”
Stepping out of the man’s way, he continued to study her, searching for any sign that she was regaining consciousness, but she remained out of it.In a way, that was good.When she finally woke up, she’d find herself in a safe place, out of danger and out of Welsh’s reach.
