Page 102 of Betrayed in Blood
“What’s her status?” Devon moved Lucas out of the way and grabbed Simone’s hand. I didn’t see her grip back.
Then Ginger was next to me, her arm around my waist and her head on my shoulder.
“She’s alive.” Madame Saldano shook her head. “You have Ginger to thank for that, but she’s unresponsive.”
I glanced down at Ginger and noticed the blood smear on her arm. Lucas was focused on Simone, but I understood what had happened. Ginger must have fed Simone, and Lucas healed her cut. I put my arm around Ginger, and we hugged each other, neither of us able to tear our gaze away from Simone.
“The problem is the bullet. It was silver. Her body, as you know, instinctively pushed to expel it. If it had been any other organ, the damage wouldn’t be a problem, but in the brain? The bullet could have created more harm exiting than entering.” She shrugged. “I believe she will recover, and with the right medication and time, her brain should repair itself.”
“What aren’t you saying?” Devon demanded.
“The brain is a strange thing, even for vampires. I don’t know if there will be lasting side effects from this. Memories, knowledge, motor skills, anything and everything the brain controls could repair itself differently. If it had been a lead bullet, the body would have expelled it more slowly. I’m not saying she wouldn’t still be in a critical condition, but vampire bodies push silver out faster as a defense mechanism. In the brain, that tends to do more harm than good.”
She’s alive.She’s alive.My mantra was the only thing keeping me from screaming.
“Does she require more donor blood?” Devon asked.
“Not yet. She received enough that her arm is almost healed. The brain takes longer to recover. I’d prefer a few medications before attempting more blood. But Michael will stay with us for when the time comes.” She stood with Devon’s help. “We need to move her to a place where she can remain until she heals.”
“Of course.” Devon nodded to Lucas. “We’ll take her to her room at the manor.” He glanced at the human standing next to the kitchen island. “Michael, you’ll stay at the manor for now, if that’s alright.”
Michael bowed his head. “Yes, absolutely.”
Devon picked Simone up as if she weighed nothing, and Team Three made a path for them. I stayed to help Madame Saldano pack up, but she shook her head. “I have two others to see to first.”
Ginger and I held onto each other as we followed Lucas out of the house to an even wilder scene in the front yard.
All the SUVs had been brought into the driveway. Devon was laying Simone in the back of one, and one of the Team Three members climbed in after her before the door was shut. Devon hit his fist on the back of the SUV, and it took off just as Roxie’s van pulled up. One other car followed, which would be Harlow with Trudy, Jamal, and Russell.
Sergi jumped out of the van and ran to Devon. “How’s Simone?”
“She’s alive but unresponsive. We won’t know more until she wakes. What do you have to report?”
By then, the leads from all the teams arrived except for Decker, and a vamp appeared to be standing in for him. When I surveyed what at first appeared to be a chaotic scene, it wasn’t as disorganized as I first thought.
To my far left was a stack of bodies. I assumed dead enemy vamps. Not far from them were two vamps from Team Five, who monitored three enemy survivors in zip ties—April, Jasper, and another vamp I didn’t recognize. To the far right was another small group of a shirtless Elijah, a naked Rachel sitting on the ground with a jacket around her shoulders, and a red wolf. That would be Decker. Why was he still in wolf form? I couldn’t tell from where I stood, but his fur appeared matted. Two other vamps from Team Six remained close.
“All teams have reported in,” Sergi responded to Devon’s question. “We have four injured, including one of the shifters. All of the enemy combatants have been accounted for, the best we can tell. Three remain alive.”
“What do you mean the best you can tell?” Devon’s fear for Simone had been pushed aside, and he was growing irritated. I would have gone to him, but Ginger was still clinging to me, and Devon didn’t need his girlfriend to help him with the aftermath, even if I’d been the mission leader.
“The wolves were chasing down two vampires when one shot Rachel. Elijah and Decker didn’t take that well. Let’s just say it would take too much time to put the body parts back together, so we’re doing a head count.” Sergi couldn’t help but grin at his macabre joke.
I took a closer look at the front yard and turned my head away. There were definitely body parts in the yard, and while I wasn’t sure I’d eat anytime soon, I had to give the wolves credit. I hadn’t been sure how well they’d work in a real battle when lives were on the line. The skirmish at Oasis hadn’t been the best testing ground. Now I knew.
“Get a clean-up crew here. I want it to look like Willa and April simply left.”
Sergi nodded. “Bella and Jacques took Willa back to the manor. She woke up and was disoriented and combative.” He glanced to where I stood, then turned back to Devon. “Bella gave her a sleeping aid, and they’re watching her. What do you want to do with the three we kept alive?”
“Take Jasper and the other vampire to the coastal safe house.” He gave it another minute thought, then added, “Take April there for now. Keep them separate and in chains, except for April. Make sure she’s comfortable and has food, but she needs to remain confined. I’ll decide what to do with her after I speak with Cressa and Willa. I also want all cell phones, tablets, and computers you can find brought to the manor. Let’s see if they’re the ones who’ve been texting Cressa. We’ll also retain Roxie’s security codes on the house and gates. No one comes or goes without your knowledge and approval.”
Sergi nodded and strode away, issuing orders to the team leads.
Devon waved for me. Ginger and Lucas followed.
“Get in the lead SUV. I want to do a quick check on the injured, and then we’ll be on our way.” He strode toward Elijah, and I waited as they shook hands. Devon squatted next to Rachel and placed a hand on her shoulder.
She nodded and gave him a weak smile before Devon nodded at the red wolf who sat on its haunches, his tongue hanging out. Decker wasn’t going to leave her side anytime soon.
