Page 53 of Tainted Love

I train my ears, listening for the sound of squealing tires or revving engines, anything that will indicate he’s on the move or where he’s going.

Sirens. A lot of them.

I can’t chase after Marty without drawing unwanted attention. I sure as hell can’t stick around here to get caught with an unconscious, beaten ballerina in my car.

Looks like we’re running.

I climb into the driver’s seat and reach over to feel Lucy’s neck for her pulse. It’s there; slow, steady, but strong. She’ll survive, but I’m not sure how she’ll feel about that. That stage was a fucking bloodbath and she saw the whole damn thing. Witnessing something like that does something to you, but I won’t let her fade away. Not like I did.

Lucy stirs at my touch and her glossy eyes open. Her lashes stick together with dry tears and sticky make-up residue stains her cheeks. She winces at the slightest twitch of her body.

“Try not to move,” I tell her, laying my hand on her face. “I’m going to get you some help.”

“Don’t touch me.”

I grab the car keys from my pocket. The sirens sound louder, inching closer to us with each second but I can’t take my eyes off her. Her chest heaves up and down. Her jaw is tight and flexed. She’s in extreme pain. All because of me.

I turn the ignition. “Try to get some rest—”

“Fuck you.”

I stare straight ahead and drive out of the lot. We travel three blocks and ease into the late afternoon traffic as countless police cars whiz by us along with two fire engines lagging behind them.

Black clouds rise into the sky. I glance back at them in the rearview mirror. Lucy’s entire world has gone up in smoke.

I know how that feels.

“Take me home.”

I look over at her red, determined eyes. “No.”

“Take me home.”

“You don’t want to go home.”

“Why not?”

“Because he went there first looking for you,” I answer. “I saw it myself. The entire place was destroyed.”

“I don’t care—”

“Lucy, I can help you.”

“I don’t want your help, Mr. Hart.”

She’s never made my name sound quite as contemptuous before.

I look back to the road with my mouth shut, concentrating on the only thing I can control.

Get Lucy out of the city. Don’t look back. Hope Elijah and Lilah don’t take too long getting to the house.

Lucy sobs quietly to herself. Her memory must be clearing up. She’ll remember everything. Every sound, every smell, every drop of blood. Every single detail of today will stick with her for the rest of her life.

She shifts slightly, forcing all her weight into her left leg as she moves, and bites her lip to keep from screaming in pain.

“Don’t move—”

“Shut up.”

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