Page 21 of Saved By the Surly Medic

Glancing around, I realize I probably look like a frightened rabbit. There's nobody else out here on the streets, even though it's the middle of the day. Even though they don't look very strong, there's still two of them, and no way could I fight them off. Plus, there's an entire uneven cobblestone square between me and my car.

My knees knock as I take another step backward.

Right now, this frightened little rabbit wishes that she had her Wolfe.

13

JONAH

Adark prickling sensation starts up between my shoulder blades as soon as Brooke drives away.

I really shouldn't be this worried. She managed to survive in the world just fine long before she met me. All she's doing is driving around a bit and sketching a little. I assume she'll take some photos along the way, too.

So why do I still feel like I shouldn't have let her go alone?

I wanted to tell her not to go without me. Insisted that I drive her myself in just a couple of hours. But there was something in her eyes telling me that she needed her space, which I understood completely. I was a loner myself my entire life until I met Brooke.

Dammit. I wish that she could have her personal space without driving all over the mountain alone.

Luckily, my afternoon appointments are simple, and I finish early since Mr. Emmerdale called to cancel, explaining that his wife talked him into going to see his regular doctor tomorrow to get some tests…which is probably for the best, to be honest.

Just as I pick up my phone to text Brooke, it rings in my hand. "Oh – hey, Clark."

"Jonah, look…" He sounds uncomfortable. "I don't mean to overstep any bounds or anything, but I feel like I should tell you something…"

"Go ahead."

"I had to do some errands today, and one of them was dropping off a few things at my cousin's mother-in-law's in Pinesley."

A bad feeling washes over me as I sink heavily into a chair.

"I was just leaving when I saw Brooke driving into town. It looked like she was heading straight to the town square, maybe."

"The church is right there, isn't it?"

"Yeah. You know it?"

"Yeah. She wanted to sketch churches today. When was this?"

"Maybe two minutes ago? Sorry, I gotta go. I'm in a huge rush today. But you know that right near the church is where all the?—"

I'm already on my feet, grabbing my keys and racing for the truck. "I know. On my way. Thanks."

Nobody should ever speed on the mountain roads. It's dangerous. But I know these mountains like the back of my hand, and my truck has a surprising amount of power and handles corners well. After making it to Pinesley in record time, I head straight for the church.

Brooke's car is across the square in a mostly empty parking lot. I can’t see anyone anywhere.

Shit.

My knuckles tighten on the steering wheel as my foot jams the brake all the way to the floor. I screech to a stop in front of the church. The whole place is filthy. There's no way she would have gone inside that dilapidated old building.

I jump out and begin running down the alley behind the church, hollering at the top of my lungs.

"Brooke!" I probably look like I'm out of my mind.

I am.

The blood in my veins turns to acid as I arrive in the tiny back parking lot. Two greasy little creeps are leading Brooke to one of several rickety benches where people are passing around a bottle.

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