Page 24 of The Night Runs Red

I met Brielle’s terrified gaze. She pressed her phone to her ear and mumbled something into the speaker. “I love you,” I mouthed, and she shook her head as tears slipped from her eyes.

If I was going to die, she would be the last person I’d see. Though I hated the thought of her having to witness me like this. Jasper was gone. Crimson stained the concrete where we’d been, a reminder of the choice I’d made that would likely cost me my life.

I’d never been afraid to die, not even when I was told about the death clause in my marriage contract. But this? This was terrifying.

The back doors of the van swung open, and my body slammed against the metal floorboard. My arms were roughly wrenched behind me and zip-tied together. “Careful! If we fuck her up much more, the boss’ll have a fit.”

“Let’s hope she even makes it. That vamp took a bite outta her, and now she ain’t lookin’ so good.”

“We gotta stop that bleeding.” I felt someone turn my wrist to apply a bandage. “What’re you sitting around for? Drive, you idiot!” The vehicle lurched forward, followed by the slamming of doors and squeal of tires.

The faraway sound of sirens zoomed past us as we fled the scene, leaving Brielle and Jasper behind. I rolled over, pressing my face into the cool floor just in time to throw up what little food I had in my stomach. Inexplicably, my attention fell on an errant screw, bouncing and skittering across the floor of the van. I thought it sounded like the tinkling of a bell as my vision faded, and I sunk into darkness

* * *

The sound of screamed curses brought me back to consciousness just before the entire world turned upside down. We were falling down a steep hill, the van rolling roughly. My body was tossed around like a doll. Something sharp stabbed into my side, slicing me open. Hot, sticky blood coated my skin, pouring fresh from the new wound.

I’d been right. I was going to die.

We came to a halt, dust hanging in thick clouds around the vehicle. The copper tang of blood mingled with the acrid bite of fuel. No matter how often I tried to clear my vision, the world remained out of focus. Muted voices echoed in my head, the air filling with gunshots once again.

I was so tired. I just wanted to sleep. If I could close my eyes, the pain would disappear, even if only for a moment.

Just one single moment.

The sound of metal shredding under sharp claws drew my attention to the back of the van. Thin streams of light filtered through gaping holes left behind from the destruction. “. . . have to get her out—it’s gonna blow.”

The doors were ripped open, and I saw a man, silhouetted against the bright light, his features obscured by shadow. I allowed myself to be taken by the darkness once more.

Maybe death wouldn’t be so bad after all…

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“Fucking find them,” a harsh voice gritted out. A steady yet incessantly annoying beep filled the silence between their words, making it hard to concentrate on what was happening. “I do not care what it takes. Make it happen.”

My eyelids were heavy as I tried to lift them, and every part of my body ached. I groaned, unable to do more than twitch my fingers. “She’s waking up,” the voice said sharply.

My memories were foggy. I could easily recall the sound of gunfire and crumpling metal as we flipped down the hill rapidly, flashes of the overwhelming anxiety that accompanied the thought of dying, and the fear of being abandoned by Jasper, but nothing concrete.

I blinked, clearing my vision. An older man in a sharp white jacket strode through the door, a clipboard tucked under his arm. He walked over and checked something on a monitor near the bed before flashing a professional smile my way. “Ah, Calia. It’s wonderful to see you awake!” He leaned forward conspiratorially. “You gave everyone quite a scare when they brought you in.”

Did I? Other than Brielle, who I hoped had left the area unharmed, I wasn’t sure who else would’ve been worried. And how long had I been out?

“. . .Your aunt and uncle are just outside, along with your cousin, and Mr. D’Arcy here hasn’t left your room even for a moment.”

That was when I noticed someone sitting in the corner, their eyes dark and lips pinched. Rion. A muscle ticked in his jaw, his hands gripping the armrests of his chair. He didn’t care for being called out like that. I didn’t care for it either because I’d forgotten I was hooked up to a heart monitor that gave away the rush I felt at knowing Rion was worried. But why would he be worried? Was there more to this than he said? And would he have been free to live his life if I’d died in the accident, or would the death clause have still found a way to take him?

Erratic beeping filled the room, both men’s attention turning to the machine. The sound only worsened as I looked over at my husband, and noticed a smug smirk plastered to his stupid, handsome face as he realized its indication.

The doctor chuckled and turned the monitor’s volume down, thankfully not addressing it further. He ran through a list of injuries I’d sustained, stating he was surprised I was healing so quickly given how garish I looked when I arrived. “The only wound that will leave scarring is the one on your hand. I’m afraid the damage was extensive, given the venom injected into your system.”

“Venom?” I echoed. “But I hadn’t—” Visions of Jasper’s teeth tearing into my skin raced back—the agony I felt with each drag, and how the wound had been torn as the men grabbed me. I raised my palm and stared at the abnormal lines.

“Thankfully, it shouldn’t leave any lingering effects.” The doctor glanced behind him at Rion, whose face grew red. “For what it’s worth, it appears the… injection was an accident. Given the amount, an involuntary reaction likely occurred in a moment of a desperatation.”

“It should not have fucking happened at all,” Rion muttered bitterly, talking more to himself than the room.

“Yes, well, it did. We can be thankful a scar is the only evidence,” the doctor said. He patted my shoulder and excused himself to tell my aunt and uncle I was awake, leaving Rion and me in stilted silence.

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