Chapter 31
Takedown
Grace found herself floating in and out of consciousness, which was a blessing in disguise.
When she was awake and cognizant, she was acutely aware of her current circumstances.
Of the danger she was in. Of the sharp moments of pain being inflicted on her.
And worse, how little a chance she had at getting out of this alive.
She lay bound and gagged in the back of a large SUV.
Besides Welsh and his friend, a man she heard referred to as Cargill, there were two other men in the vehicle who took turns watching over her.
Or who used that excuse to prick her with their hypos and withdraw a little blood to indulge themselves when they were back there with her.
If the guys up front were aware of what they were doing, they didn’t care.
She couldn’t speak for the tape over her mouth. Even if she’d been able to convince them to take it off, she doubted they’d accommodate her.
If those men torturing her wasn’t enough, menstrual cramps left her curled up in pain.
There was also hunger, but those pangs eventually faded away as the need for something to drink grew worse.
The most humiliating part was when she was forced to let her bladder go.
Although her jeans managed to soak up most of it, the smell remained.
Her captors didn’t react. Didn’t flinch.
During her semi-lucid moments, she was aware of Welsh and Cargill arguing.
It was heated but didn’t result in any punches being thrown, but she could tell it was serious.
Very serious. Something about why they were being followed.
That’s when she thought she heard Welsh claim that it was Rhyne tagging along. That there was nothing to worry about.
Hearing that Rhyne might actually be behind them gave her some hope she might get out of this alive. Or, at the very least, be able to feel his arms around her one last time.
She awoke when the car stopped, and she realized they were getting gas.
All four men hopped out of the vehicle, knowing she couldn’t escape no matter how hard she tried.
The zip ties bit deep into her wrists and ankles, cutting off circulation to where her hands and feet had lost all feeling, and making any effort to slip out or break them was futile.
Even if she was able to break free, she wouldn’t be able to walk, much less run for help.
She thought about Rhyne, about those brief hours they’d shared, especially the part when he’d explained to her that there were good vamps as well as bad ones. There was no way of knowing if she’d get out of this alive, but if she did, she wanted nothing to do with vampires. Never again.
Her heart skipped a beat. Except for Rhyne. Not Rhyne.
Heat flushed her face, and she sniffed against the tears. She’d stay with Rhyne if he asked her. She’d take the risk, but on one condition—that they removed themselves from ever associating with his kind ever again.
I’ll take the risk with him because…because he’s different.
She hoped her instincts were good.
Then she prayed for deliverance.
* * *
The sun would be below the horizon within minutes.
Once it set, Rhyne knew exactly what Cargill would do.
He wouldn’t turn on his headlights, and instead drive using his vampiric night vision.
Going dark and staying dark would make detecting him that much more difficult despite the obvious danger he’d pose to other human drivers.
Two county sheriff cars shot past him, their lights and sirens flashing. Rhyne glanced over at Nash for confirmation. The man nodded as he opened his passenger side window and looked upward.
“They got a helicopter overhead. At least, I’m betting it’s law enforcement.”
“Let’s hope so.”
They topped a small rise, enabling them to spot the Aspenall dead ahead with the two sheriff’s cruisers flanking it.
Rhyne watched as the big black SUV suddenly took an off ramp, nearly sideswiping one of the vehicles as it left the interstate.
Speeding up a bit, he also exited in time to see Cargill swerve at a red light and continue onto a smaller four-lane highway with the cruisers right on his tail.
He followed suit but stayed far enough away where he and Nash could observe without becoming a problem.
Cargill hit the gas before they reached the city limits, and from that point the race was on. Nash also noticed Rhyne increasing their speed.
“Cargill’s making a huge mistake gunning that big SUV. Those things aren’t as agile as a smaller car. They’re good for ramming, but piss poor at taking hairpin curves.”
Rhyne agreed with him. “I bet Carvill can’t figure out why the fuck the cops are after him. I wish I could hear what’s going on between him and Welsh.”
“You and me both.”
Nash checked the copter’s location again when his cell phone went off. He glanced at the display. “I don’t recognize the number, but I’m betting it’s the law.”
Rhyne nodded as the man answered the call.
“Hello? Yes, this is Nash Villaton. Yes, I did. Well, actually, I’m in that dark blue Tamerin that’s following right behind two of your deputies.”
When Rhyne lifted an eyebrow at him, Nash covered the phone to whisper, “Massey County Sheriff’s Department.
” Back to the phone, he continued the conversation.
“Yes, sir. Yes, sir. We’re sticking with them.
Yes, we plan to help you identify the suspects once they’re in custody.
All right. Thanks.” Ending the call, Nash sighed and focused on the chase happening outside the windshield.
“The deputies are aware of us following them. We’re to keep our distance. ”
Rhyne sat up straighter. “Oh, shit.”
“What? What?”
His worry morphed into fear. “No! No, no! What the fuck are you doing?”
The bigger sheriff’s cruiser had moved in front of the smaller one and slammed into the back of the Aspenall.
The black SUV fishtailed for a moment, then regained traction and sped off, but the big white cruiser easily caught up with it.
Here on the lesser travelled state highway, traffic was lighter, enabling the deputies to make their move.
Rhyne tapped the brakes, slowing down to give the people ahead more room.
No sooner had he retreated than the sheriff’s car rammed the black SUV a second time.
The Aspenall skidded sideways, overcorrected, and hit the shoulder.
Rhyne jerked the steering wheel, driving the car off the road and partway into the culvert as he focused on the takedown happening right in front of him.
Before the Aspenall could get back onto the highway, the second sheriff’s cruiser moved in, taking out the black SUV’s front bumper as it neatly clipped the left front tire. At the same time, the bigger sheriff’s vehicle went straight for the rear tire well.
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 loud pop! 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.”