Page 103 of Love Bleeds
Chapter Thirty-Five
As quickly as possible, I explained the situation to the other three. Nicolai had my friend in his basement, and if we didn't get her out, she was going to blow up in approximately ninety minutes.
There was no time for arguing, or plotting, or scheming.
"We gotta get her out," I said. "I cannot be responsible for this."
"You can't shut the bomb down remotely or tell your friend to do it?"
I shook my head. "I didn't have the time to program a remote switch and I doubt that Vlad would know what to do, or that he's even still there... or that he'd do it, honestly." There was no way that I could trust the guy with something this serious. Not when even just the memory caused cold sweat to break out on my back.
"I can do it," Crimson said. "Nicolai will let me in, and if I can find the bomb, I can deactivate it."
"Great plan," Aldrich said. "And what are you gonna do when he tears you to pieces the moment you get back?"
"He won't," Crimson said, sounding strangely calm. "It's not his thing. He doesn't enjoy violence like that. He'll try to play mental games. He doesn't know that I might be able to withstand his control now, so maybe I can fool him."
"That's way too risky," I said. "I'll go."
"After what Nicolai did to you last time he got his hands on you? No fucking way," Crimson said, punctuating each word of that last sentence.
"I think he understands by now that he can't turn me," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt, because I couldn't let Crimson do this. This was a mess that I had created, and I had to clean it up. I had to go in there and deactivate the bomb. My bomb. "I have to do this. She wouldn't be in danger if it wasn't for me."
"She wouldn't be there at all if it wasn't for me," Crimson argued.
"You were only turned because you wanted to protect me. It all comes down to me." I exhaled. "Look, we don't have time to argue." I turned to Talon. "You tell my family where I went. See if you can get some back-up. Who knows, maybe some action will actually get those WAFFER people moving too."
"Sure," Aldrich said. "We'll just casually tell your family that you wandered into a building that's not only infested with vampires but also about to blow up. That'll go over well. Look, it's really sad about your friend, but we can't let you go there."
"I see what you're saying," I said slowly, turning to the fridge again to get another bottle of blood. As much as I hated it, if I was going to get through this alive, I was going to need magic. I took a bottle out of the fridge. Holding it tightly, I walked toward Aldrich. At least my legs didn't feel like jelly anymore. With my free hand, I dug into my pocket, closing my fingers around a small pineapple-shaped object. "This is a human thing," I said. "You wouldn't understand."
Less than a foot away from Aldrich, I closed my eyes and dropped the flash.
Then I bolted.
* * *
There was a mere hour left in the countdown by the time I made it to the law firm. I'd had to take the stupid subway, so of course I wasn't the first one there. Aldrich had a car and Talon couldfly, which was utterly unfair.
They had to be in the vicinity somewhere, probably waiting for me to show up so they could pounce. I ducked into the shadows of a back alley, feeling like a criminal hiding from the long arm of the law. Like a rogue, which had never been my favorite character-class to play.
If only all of this was some elaborate roleplaying game...
I peeked out onto the road. The pavement leading up to the law firm was deserted, but that didn't mean my vampire friends weren't nearby.
Even as I thought that, someone got out of a car parked up the road. In the orange glow of the street lamps, I could just so make out a familiar silhouette.
Crimson.
He walked toward the entrance of the law firm.
Without even thinking about it, I rushed after him.
No way could I let him go in there alone. Not after everything. I'd rather die than lose him again.
With a sinking feeling, I realized that I very well might.
That we both might.
