Page 23 of Lethal Game

Her valiant attempt at dark humor impressed him. She might not think of herself as brave, but she had a deep well of courage inside her. He had a feeling she might need every ounce of that courage before this was over.

Getting back up the hill was almost as harrowing as the trip down, Alisa thought, as she was strapped into a metal basket and hoisted up the hill on a shaky ride that made her nauseous and dizzy. Finally, she reached the top and was helped out of the cage and into the back of an ambulance, which had come despite Jason's claims they didn't need one. While Jason was being brought up to the road, the paramedic gave her water and assessed her condition.

She knew she needed some treatment, cuts that should be cleaned to prevent infection, and a better look at the pain she was now feeling to make sure the adrenaline rush hadn't covered up anything more serious.

Jason joined her a moment later, speaking to his blonde female partner for a moment before joining her in the back of the ambulance. They were whisked away to the hospital on a short ride, reminding her just how quickly everything had gone wrong.

Once in the ER, they were taken into separate exam rooms and treated for their injuries.

Georgia, the nurse who had been on duty the night before, came in just as another nurse finished cleaning her wounds.

"What on earth happened to you now?" Georgia asked.

"My car brakes didn't work. I went off the side of the road."

"Oh, my God! You are living under a dark cloud."

"Tell me about it." She slid off the exam table. "I need to go upstairs and check on my mom. I'll see you later."

When she reached the lobby, she saw Jason talking to his partner.

His concerned gaze immediately flew to her. "Everything check out?" he asked.

"Just some cuts. You?"

"Same."

"You were both extremely lucky," the woman said. "We haven't officially met, Ms. Hunt. I'm Savannah Kane."

"Thanks for your help today and last night," she said.

"No problem. I'm just sorry you needed help."

"Me, too. I need to go upstairs."

"I'll meet you up there," Jason said.

"Okay." It felt strange to walk away from him. He'd become her anchor in a very stormy sea. This latest storm had passed, and while she hoped there wouldn't be another one, that was probably wishful thinking.

Jason led Savannah into the hospital cafeteria. He needed coffee, and she needed to catch up.

"How are you really feeling?" she asked, giving him a speculative look as they sat down at a table.

He sipped his coffee, happy for the hit of caffeine that might help drive some of the fog from his brain. "I'm okay."

"Why were you in the car with Alisa Hunt? I thought you were just walking her into the garage?"

"I was going to leave it at that, but she was too shaky todrive. Look, there's a lot going on with her, and I don't know how it fits with Novikov's appearance in LA, but I believe there's a connection."

"Seriously?" she asked in surprise.

"Yes. I no longer think the attack last night was random. Kashin went there to kidnap her. When that didn't work, someone sabotaged the brakes on her car. If she'd been driving, there's a good chance she wouldn't have survived."

"Having seen the crash site, I would believe that. What else are you thinking?"

"Her mother is upstairs, sick from a mysterious ailment that the doctors have not been able to diagnose. Her father, who allegedly adores her mother, has disappeared and his phone number no longer works. Her mother's health issues are very serious. So why would he disappear?"

"Okay," Savannah said. "I see where you're going. Is there more?"

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