Chapter Thirteen

Emma.

I scream and swear and bang against the walls for all I'm worth. Everlee helps by pounding on the walls, but I can tell she doesn't really understand and isn't all that comfortable. I can't risk explaining it to her right now though. The others will hear me, and I'll give away Ryker.

I heard him when they wrestled me into the ambulance, and I heard his car following us the whole way. I don't know why he came after me, and I can't stop to think hopeful thoughts right now. I need to use all my attention and energy on doing whatever I can to get us out of this.

The ambulance stops with a jolt. I know Ryker is close by, and I have to keep up the noise and get all the attention on me to give him time and cover.

"You motherfuckers," I scream. "When I get out of here, I'm going to rip your fucking heads off. You cocksuckers! Open this fucking door. Let me out of here. I fucking dare you! I fucking dare you! Worthless fucks!"

"You can open the door," Mason says from outside.

I'd know his voice anywhere. I listen, but I don't stop screaming nonsense and banging. I can only hope that Ryker has a plan besides me flying out of here like a pissed off wild animal and killing everyone, because that's all I got right now. I've already got the only scalpel I found in my hand, and I've been pounding against the doors, waiting to explode since we stopped.

"No fucking way," someone says.

"Pussy," another one sneers.

"You open it then, cocky fuck," the first guy says. "Then, I'll watch as Fox kills you."

The hinges on the doors squeak as I pound, and I start kicking the door instead, putting all my weight and fury into each kick. It starts to give.

"Holy fuck," someone says. "She's gonna bust that fucking door right off. You must be out of your mind, Mason, trying to cage her."

There's a single gunshot, and I'm sure Mason just killed him for speaking to him like that.

"Does anyone else have an opinion?" Mason snarls. "I didn't think so. Open the door."

The doors unlock, and I dive straight for where I predict Mason is standing as they're pulled open. He's alarmed at my accuracy and reflexively fires his gun, hitting me in the shoulder.

Gunfire comes from all around us suddenly, and everyone scatters and ducks for cover. I drive the scalpel into Mason's chest and get up and run. Everlee is behind me. I slow up, grab her hand and we run together.

"Over here," Gabe yells to us from the edge of the property.

We run toward the guys. They all join us, we jump in the cars, whip U-turns and peel out. My heart is pounding. I take a second to look around. Everlee and I jumped into Ryker's Nissan Maxima. Ryker is driving. I'm next to him, and Everlee is behind me.

There's a black SUV in front of us and another behind us, I recognize them as Gabe's company vehicles. We speed through the streets and take the ramp onto the interstate. The phone rings, and Ryker puts it on the Bluetooth.

"That was quite a shit show," Gabe says, chuckling.

"It worked." Ryker has a shadow of a smile on his face.

"Sure did, Gunny," Gabe agrees. "I gotta head back to the office, but the other car is going to stay with you for a while to make sure you stay out of trouble."

"Thanks, Boss," Ryker says. "We owe you. I'll be in touch."

"Over and out."

They disconnect. The car in front of us takes the exit, and we keep going south.

Ryker reaches over and takes my hand. "I'm so sorry, Emma. I remember."

"I'm glad," I say softly. I'm glad he remembers, I'm glad he forgives me, and I'm glad he's here. I still have to figure out how to forgive myself.

"So what was the plan?" he asks. "Head south to the border? Get on a plane at the next terminal you find?"

"I hadn't thought that far ahead," I admit. "We were just driving out of town and talking about it when that fucker hit us."

"They must've been tracking your car," he says.

"Is that how you found me?" I ask.

"Gabe called in some girl, and she had you on radar in under five minutes." He smirks.

"Serena." I giggle.

"I knew I liked her," Everlee says from the back seat. "She's got balls."

Ryker laughs at that. "Yes, she does. I don't think Gabe liked her much, though."

"Mmm." I smile slyly. "I was thinking he liked her a little too much."

"Ah." Ryker nods thoughtfully. "That might be it. Poor bastard."

I playfully punch his shoulder.

"Well, how about we drive until we need to stop for gas, and then we'll figure it out from there?" Ryker offers, and we both agree that sounds fine.

"You know we just signed our death certificates," Everlee says quietly. "Mason will definitely retaliate. Not only did you stab him, Fox, but you, Ryker, blindsided him, stole his woman, and made a complete fool of him in his own front yard."

Ryker growls, and I say, "I'm not his woman."

"He doesn't know that," Everlee sighs.

"Well, he should get a clue," I snap.

"What's the story there?" Ryker glances at me.

"There's no story," I huff. "I haven't seen him in decades."

"But you have a history?" He frowns.

"Are you jealous?" I smirk.

"Yes," he says without hesitation.

"That's cute." I smile, and he growls at me again.

"You should work on your communication skills," Everlee teases, and I laugh.

Ryker frowns at me, and I hold up my hands.

"We dated for a very short time when I first became a vampire." I pause, and then add, "Before you were even born."

He rolls his eyes at that. "You're mine. I can be jealous of anyone in your past, no matter the timeline. And especially if the fucker is going around saying you're his wife and kidnapping you."

"He showed up in town a couple weeks ago saying he was going to be king of the vampires and that Fox was going to be his queen," Everlee explains. "Apparently she has some mysterious fear factor with the other vampires, and he thought that would get him support."

Ryker frowns and the phone rings.

"Hey, brother," Drew says cheerfully. "That was some dance back there."

"Sure was." Ryker smiles. "And wouldn't you know it, I got the girl." He winks at me and then looks in the back. "Actually two of them."

"Are they all right?" Zeke asks.

"We're fine," Everlee answers him as she sits forward in the seat so she's almost between us.

"Is Fox holding up?" Drew asks. "I thought I saw her take one in the shoulder."

Ryker’s head snaps to me and sees the blood on my shoulder.

"I'm fine." I move my arms to show Ryker.

"What are you going to do for food?" Zeke asks.

"No offense, brother, but I'm not planning on being on the menu," Drew jokes.

"You're an idiot." Ryker laughs.

"Just putting it out there," Drew answers.

"There are blood banks in almost every city," I answer Zeke's question.

"You're going to rob a blood bank?" Drew asks.

"Of course not," Everlee gasps.

"We just have to find the vampires that control the blood bank and ask nicely," I supply. I remember Ryker is a new vampire and turn to him. "Have you eaten yet?"

He looks uncomfortable but nods.

"Do you have enough gas to make Santa Fe?" Drew asks.

"Full tank," Ryker confirms. "Head there and then figure out the rest?"

"Sounds good," Drew replies. "See you there."

He disconnects.

"I still don't get how you knew Ryker and the guys were out there," Everlee says to me, "but I finally understand that you were screaming and carrying on for distraction, right?"

I nod. "I heard Ryker talking in his car. You couldn't hear him?"

Everlee shakes her head.

"Huh." I shrug. "I was making noise to draw their attention to me, so Ryker could move in without being heard."

Ryker squeezes my hand. "I hope you don't mind me crashing the party."

Everlee sits back in her seat and scoots towards the window, trying to give us even a small modicum of privacy.

"I was so relieved when I heard you," I admit. "I didn't want to think about what it meant."

"I was already planning on asking you to leave The Community," he says. "Even if it meant we would have to run away."

"I had never taken the time to think about what happens after Sato, but once I realized the possibilities, I was going to leave The Community and talk to you about what that could mean. For us." I smile shyly. "I never expected it would go down like this though."

"I suppose it has its perks." He glances at me. "You won't have to worry about my soft human body getting myself killed at every turn. No more pushing me out of the way of gunfire."

I know he's remembered the scene at Sato's house. I blush and hide my face. "I panicked! He shot you!"

"In the vest." He frowns at me. "That I wore. Because I'm not an idiot."

"Here we go." I roll my eyes. "I suppose next time you won't let me go without it. And now you just might be strong enough to stop me."

"You're damn right." He smiles at me. "Next time you're wearing full tactical gear. That'll be sexy as fuck."

"Oh my God." I smack his arm. "You think women in tactical gear are sexy?"

"Not usually." He frowns. Then a slow smile appears as his eyes rake down my body. "But you… well, you'd probably be sexy in just about anything. And especially in nothing."

"You're terrible." I glance back at Everlee, who's staring intently out the window.

"Get used to it, baby." He smiles. "You're stuck with me for a while."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." I return his smile. "I'm really glad it's all over." I'm referring to the years I've spent obsessing over Sato and the time wasted in The Community and the time away from Ryker.

"This is just the beginning," Ryker says.

I lean over and kiss his cheek.

He raises my hand to his lips and kisses the back. "I can't wait until we stop in Santa Fe, and I can kiss you for real. I've missed you, Emma."

"Not nearly as much as I missed you," I say. "It was a very long few days, waiting for you to wake up. Do you remember everything now?"

"Most of it. I remember Sato shooting me, then you. I remember Drew shooting Sato. I remember you saying something to me just before you died." He gives me a knowing look. "I remember cutting myself to try to bring you back. Is that most of it?"

"Yes, that's the highlights." I nod. "You missed the part where you died, and I brought you back. The guys had to carry your big body downstairs, and Drew bitched the whole way. There were seven girls in the house. I'll have to tell you about Serena sometime."

He nods, and we sit quietly for a minute.

"I know you said you heard me," I say. "But just so you know it wasn't in the moment or anything like that, I love you, Ryker."

His smile lights up his face. "Thank fuck."

"If you guys are going to be like this the whole time, I'd like to switch cars," Everlee teases, and we laugh.

"Don't lie." I can't resist teasing her back. "You want to be in the other car so you can talk to Zeke."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she says as a blush stains her cheeks.

"I thought it was pretty interesting that Zeke was talking about you so much," Ryker says and winks at me, and then he looks at her in the rearview mirror. "And he's the only one that got your number."

"You gave him your number?" I gasp. That's huge, Everlee has a strict 'no humans' rule.

"He asked." She shrugs. "It was after we turned the phones off, so I knew it wouldn't do any good anyway."

"That was days ago," I point out. "Look at everything that's changed already. You never know what tomorrow will bring."

"I'm hoping it brings a bed," Ryker jokes, giving me a playful wink.

I giggle, and lean against his arm. I don't even care what happens tomorrow. Ryker and I are together, and we'll figure everything else out as it comes along.

The End.