Page 49 of Survive the Night
“Your little rebellion’s over. Time to go home,” Jeb said, reaching out to grab Sarah’s arm. The movement knocked her out of her paralysis, and she dodged, darting out of reach and backing away.
“What the hell?” Logan said, and Sarah’s gaze flashed to him for just a second. He was staring at Grace, an unpleasant smile growing on his face. “You’re here, too? It’s a two-for-one special.”
Sarah jerked her attention back to Jeb, but the distraction was enough to give him time to lunge. She twisted, trying to stay out of reach, but he managed to grab a handful of her coat and hauled her out of the bathroom into the VFW entryway. Panic wiped her brain clear, and she struggled like a kitten caught by the scruff until she started thinking again. Yanking her arms from the sleeves, she pulled out of her unzipped coat, falling to the floor once she was free.
The jarring impact drove a grunt out of her, and she remembered that she had a voice—and that there was a table of help only a few feet away. Sucking in a breath, she screamed.
Logan ran from the bathroom, blood running from his nose as he bounced off the doorjamb. He jumped over Sarah’s legs on his way to the door. Yanking it open, Logan dashed outside.
“Shit,” Jeb muttered, grabbing at her again. This time, Sarah was able to scramble away and dodge his grip. A nearby roar caught her attention.
Everyone in the viner was running toward them. The pack was led by Otto, whose face was pulled tight with rage. Jeb grabbed her, gripping both of her arms, but Sarah hardly felt it. All her attention was focused on the rampaging Viking lumberjack coming to her rescue.
Jeb’s hands went slack, and he made a strange whimpering sound that told Sarah he’d spotted Otto. She grinned fiercely. Jeb was right to be scared. Otto, her gentle, kind giant, was about to kick his ass.
Then he was there, yanking Jeb off her. Otto’s huge fists smashed into him—once, twice, a third time—before Theo and Hugh were pulling him off.
“Leave us enough to arrest,” Hugh said, his usual lighthearted tone just a thin overlay. Even shocked and battered, Sarah could hear Hugh’s rage. His gaze raked the area, finally landing on Sarah. “Where’s Grace?”
Her heart skipped and then started to pound. Grace! Before Sarah could scramble to her feet and run into the bathroom, Grace was standing in the doorway.
“I’m okay.” Hugh loosened his hold on Otto and was at Grace’s side in an instant. She gave him an only slightly wobbly smile. “Really, Hugh. I’m fine.”
Sarah looked back at Otto, who was breathing hard, his hands clenched at his sides. Jeb was still on the ground, staring up at him. Blood trickled from a cut below his eye, which was what reminded Sarah of Logan.
“Logan was here,” she said, and all three cops snapped their heads around to look at her. “Logan Jovanovic. He ran out that way.”
Keeping his gaze locked on her, Otto shook free of Theo’s hold and walked the few steps to where she was still sitting on the floor. He crouched down and cupped her cheek.
“I’m fine, too.” She made a shooing gesture. “Hurry. He’s getting away.”
“You going to kill him if I leave him with you?” Theo asked Otto, quickly handcuffing a cowering Jeb.
There was a pause before Otto finally said, “No.” Theo frowned, obviously not believing him.
“I’ll watch him,” Jules said, pushing through the gawking customers standing in a circle around the action. “Go get the other guy.”
Theo still hesitated until Megan and then Vicki joined Jules. Apparently, since he rushed out the door, Theo thought that the three of them—four including Sarah—would be enough to keep Otto from dismembering Jeb.
“What happened?” Hugh asked, sliding an arm around Grace’s shoulders. She leaned against his side.
“Jeb and Logan broke into the bathroom,” Sarah said. She started to climb to her feet, mentally cursing her shaky limbs, and then Otto lifted her off the floor. Once she was up, he kept his hands on her shoulders until she felt steady. A part of her wished he would pull her into his arms so she could bury her face in his chest and forget about everything, but she knew she couldn’t collapse yet. Later, she promised herself. She could cuddle him later. “At first, we thought it was Hugh—”
Hugh made a small sound of protest that drew everyone’s attention. After a second, he shrugged, keeping the gesture small enough that it didn’t jostle Grace. “Fair enough. Keep going.”
“They kicked the door in.” Sarah swallowed, willing her voice not to shake. “Jeb dragged me out by the coat, so I slipped out of it and screamed. By the time he grabbed me again, you were all here.”
“I punched Logan in the face,” Grace said baldly. “He started to come at me again, but then he heard Sarah scream, so he took off.” Her voice caught as she looked up at Hugh. “He recognized me.”
Hugh pulled her gently against his chest. “It’s okay, Gracie. Theo and Viggy will run him down. We’ve got a bunch of the Jovanovic bastards already locked up. I’ll keep you safe while we get the rest of them.”
With her face still pressed against him, Grace shook her head. Her voice came out muffled. “There are too many of them. I can’t keep dragging you guys into my mess.”
“I’m sorry.” Sarah stared at the back of Grace’s head as she realized what she’d done, what she’d brought on these people who she’d started to consider friends.
Otto slid his hands from her shoulders to her upper arms in a reassuring caress. “Not your fault.”
“It is, though.” She turned to meet his gaze. “I brought them here. Logan would’ve never even seen Grace if he hadn’t been here for me. I should’ve left after he found me the first time, but I was selfish. I’m sorry, Grace. I’m sorry for pulling you all into this.”
