out of here, Hallbeck. That’s an order.”
Ryan’s eyes narrowed and he straightened but didn’t loosen his hold on the struggling human. “Not until you tell me what’s going on and why Black thinks you’re deserting.” His eyes searched Michael’s face. “Though I gotta say it’s sure not helping what I’m seeing right now.”
Michael smelled the fear rolling off them both. Ryan knew what he was capable of when the vampire took over and Becca knew what Black could do to him no matter the distance. Their concerns for him were lost as the weakness of the human inside failed and the vampire surged forth.
“Please,” Becca called softly from Ryan’s side where he’d tucked her tight. His arm had hers pinned to her sides. Her hands twitched, wanting to touch him. “We can get through anything as long as we’re together, Michael. Even Kenneth.”
Ryan’s eyes widened as realization dawned. “You’re running wit h he r ? Shit, Mike, that’s crazy. Black’ll never let you both out. You know that.”
“Give her to me,” Michael demanded. His tongue felt heavy. “Becca, we’re leaving.” The bands pulled again and Michael went down to his knees, clutching at his head. Wetness from his ears slid through his fingers. The ghostly growl became a roar as the admiral gave voice to his displeasure. “You can’t have her,” he hissed back.
“I’m not taking her anywhere, Mike,” Ryan responded gently, attempting to calm him. “But neither are you. Come on, we’ll figure this out together.” There was a scuffle, then, “Becca, no. Don’t touch him.”
Ignoring the warning, Becca pulled away and dropped beside him on the pavement. Having no regard for her own safety, she threw her arms around Michael. “Please, Michael, please don’t do this. I can’t lose you. I can’t watch him kill you, I can’t.” Hot tears touched his cheek as she pressed her face to his.
Mine, mine, mine . The vampire chanted, gnashing its teeth.
Michael growled his frustration and released his head to grab Becca, his arms wrapping around her torso. Holding her as consciousness faded, he garbled around the blood coating his tongue. “Get. Out.”
“I’m not leaving you, Michael. I can’t, I thought I could do it but I just can’t.” Becca hiccoughed, adding in a whisper, “I’m sorry.”
The ghostly growl filled his mind.
“Fuck you , Sir . ”
Becca inhaled sharply.
Michael felt the pressure inside explode and his world went black.
Chapter 9
“Do you want to tell me what that was back there?”
Becca met Ryan’s green eyes in the rearview mirror and shrugged. “I don’t know that I can. You should really ask Michael.” Her hands cradled Michael’s face where it rested on her lap. Considering there was no warmth to his flesh, none of the human signs of life, she was left to wonder if he would wake or if Black had done irreparable harm. She stroked one pale cheek and he stirred, barely. She needed something to do, a distraction. “Do we have any wet wipes in the glove box?”
He gave her a look she chose to ignore, staring instead at the city lights as they streaked past. “You can fix your makeup when we get back.”
“It’s for the blood.” Her fingers pushed back a lock of his black hair. If it weren’t for all the blood he might look peaceful.
Something changed in the car and Ryan voice, when he spoke again, was softer. “I think there’s a drug store up ahead. I’ll see what they’ve got.”
“Thanks, Ryan,” Becca answered quietly.
They pulled into the CVS parking lot a minute later.
“Need anything?”
“Just something to clean him up. Thanks.”
“Sure, Bec.” Ryan left the car running.
Foo Fighters was playing on the radio, too quiet to make out the words but she could guess
Ryan’s eyes narrowed and he straightened but didn’t loosen his hold on the struggling human. “Not until you tell me what’s going on and why Black thinks you’re deserting.” His eyes searched Michael’s face. “Though I gotta say it’s sure not helping what I’m seeing right now.”
Michael smelled the fear rolling off them both. Ryan knew what he was capable of when the vampire took over and Becca knew what Black could do to him no matter the distance. Their concerns for him were lost as the weakness of the human inside failed and the vampire surged forth.
“Please,” Becca called softly from Ryan’s side where he’d tucked her tight. His arm had hers pinned to her sides. Her hands twitched, wanting to touch him. “We can get through anything as long as we’re together, Michael. Even Kenneth.”
Ryan’s eyes widened as realization dawned. “You’re running wit h he r ? Shit, Mike, that’s crazy. Black’ll never let you both out. You know that.”
“Give her to me,” Michael demanded. His tongue felt heavy. “Becca, we’re leaving.” The bands pulled again and Michael went down to his knees, clutching at his head. Wetness from his ears slid through his fingers. The ghostly growl became a roar as the admiral gave voice to his displeasure. “You can’t have her,” he hissed back.
“I’m not taking her anywhere, Mike,” Ryan responded gently, attempting to calm him. “But neither are you. Come on, we’ll figure this out together.” There was a scuffle, then, “Becca, no. Don’t touch him.”
Ignoring the warning, Becca pulled away and dropped beside him on the pavement. Having no regard for her own safety, she threw her arms around Michael. “Please, Michael, please don’t do this. I can’t lose you. I can’t watch him kill you, I can’t.” Hot tears touched his cheek as she pressed her face to his.
Mine, mine, mine . The vampire chanted, gnashing its teeth.
Michael growled his frustration and released his head to grab Becca, his arms wrapping around her torso. Holding her as consciousness faded, he garbled around the blood coating his tongue. “Get. Out.”
“I’m not leaving you, Michael. I can’t, I thought I could do it but I just can’t.” Becca hiccoughed, adding in a whisper, “I’m sorry.”
The ghostly growl filled his mind.
“Fuck you , Sir . ”
Becca inhaled sharply.
Michael felt the pressure inside explode and his world went black.
Chapter 9
“Do you want to tell me what that was back there?”
Becca met Ryan’s green eyes in the rearview mirror and shrugged. “I don’t know that I can. You should really ask Michael.” Her hands cradled Michael’s face where it rested on her lap. Considering there was no warmth to his flesh, none of the human signs of life, she was left to wonder if he would wake or if Black had done irreparable harm. She stroked one pale cheek and he stirred, barely. She needed something to do, a distraction. “Do we have any wet wipes in the glove box?”
He gave her a look she chose to ignore, staring instead at the city lights as they streaked past. “You can fix your makeup when we get back.”
“It’s for the blood.” Her fingers pushed back a lock of his black hair. If it weren’t for all the blood he might look peaceful.
Something changed in the car and Ryan voice, when he spoke again, was softer. “I think there’s a drug store up ahead. I’ll see what they’ve got.”
“Thanks, Ryan,” Becca answered quietly.
They pulled into the CVS parking lot a minute later.
“Need anything?”
“Just something to clean him up. Thanks.”
“Sure, Bec.” Ryan left the car running.
Foo Fighters was playing on the radio, too quiet to make out the words but she could guess
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