Page 58 of Crimson Storm

Desperate to convince them to spare his life, I mustered as much dignity as I could from my position bleeding on the ground. “Imogen’s daughter.”

“They know who you are,” someone said from behind me. “Why do you think we’re here?”

My head jerked around at the familiar voice. “Kannon!”

If I hadn’t been crippled and in excruciating pain, I’d have flung myself at my old friend and hugged him. It was incredibly good to see his handsome Viking face. Spotting my injury, he hurried toward me, wrapping an arm around my back to pull me up to my good leg.

“What thehellare you doing here, squirt? I thought you were out in California with all the peace-loving hippies now.”

I sagged against him, grateful for the support. “I was. But then... well, it’s a long story, which I’ll be happy to tell you later. Right now I need to get some help for my friend.”

“Looks like you need help yourself. You’ve been shot. What kind of round was it?”

“Don’t worry about me. You don’t happen to have any O-negative in that truck, do you?”

“Thirsty?”

“No—not for me. For him. He’s lost a lot of blood. It’s the universal donor type.”

“No, but we’ve got some back at the Bastion, of course. You can’t really mean to take a human there, though.”

“Yes. I do. He helped me and Kelly and Heather escape from a bad situation. He got us here. I can’t just leave him here to die. He needs help, Kannon. The hospital’s too far away—he won’t make it. I have to get him to Dr. Coppa.”

He peered around me to check out Shane’s body lying in a pool of blood. “I’m not sure he’ll make it to the Bastion either. He looks pretty far gone. Sure you don’t want to just turn him?”

I fought off another flare of thirst. “Absolutely sure. Can you help me get him into the truck?”

Kannon’s face creased in consternation as he glanced around at the brightly lit border station. At the moment, it looked like a massacre scene.

“Yeah, okay, but she’s not going to be happy about this.”

She. Imogen. Chill bumps rose on my skin and lifted the fine hairs on my arms.

“I know. Thank you for doing it anyway.”

After another reluctant glance down at me, Kannon helped me to the van then went back to scoop my human friend off the pavement.

Shane woke. “Ow. Shit that hurts. Abigail?” He twisted his head, searching for me.

I called out to him from the van’s open rear door. “Right here. We’re taking you somewhere to get you some help.”

“Or to get him eaten,” Kannon muttered.

“What?” Shane whipped his head back and forth as he surveyed the bloody aftermath. “What’s happening?”

Kannon didn’t bother to answer but placed Shane on the floor of the van next to me. “Just be still, kid. You’re getting blood on the carpet, and you don’t have that much left to spare.”

To the other Bloodbound, Kannon barked out orders. “Clean this place up. Dispose of the bodies. Destroy the cameras and recordings. Remove any trace of yourselves or of Abigail and her friends. Meet back at the Bastion—and one of you bring along the buggy and horses. I’m going on ahead.”

He slid the back door closed then got behind the wheel of the enormous vehicle, starting it and putting it into gear. I looked around the rear section and found a leather jacket someone had left behind on the floor. Balling it up, I pressed it against Shane’s wound to stem the flow of fragrant fresh blood.

“Owwww,” he groaned.

“Sorry. I can’t have you bleeding out before we even get there.”

“Where are we going?” he mumbled, nearly incoherent.

“Never mind. Just lie still and be quiet. You’re going to be okay.”

---