“What is going on?”
“Demons have Valerie,” I whispered and continued down toward the other end of the hall. I wanted Naomi out of the building before they figured out our game, but I had no idea how I was going to get Valerie away from the bastards. I stopped at the next exit and leaned against the door, running my hand down my face before meeting Naomi’s gaze.
“I wish she had let me take the gun,” I said, pushing the fear down into my already knotted stomach.
“What are we going to do?” she asked and her hand went into that protective reflex, covering her abdomen without knowledge of the move.
“We aren’t going to do anything. You are going to stay here and I’m going to take care of those bastards,” I said and I recognized the shadow that traveled over her features before they hardened into that stubborn aggravation I was used to. I shook my head before she opened her mouth to argue. “No. You’re carrying my child. You aren’t going out there until I know it is safe.”
Naomi’s lips thinned and she turned her back on me, crossing her arms and surveying the hall. She glanced over her shoulder, sending a glare at me before she marched away. Halfway down the hall sat a fire alarm box and when she reached for it, I almost laughed. Leave it to my wife to find a valid way out that wouldn’t leave us alone in the parking lot with the enemy.
She pulled down and as the alarms broke out, wailing throughout the building, she passed in front of me and pushed open the door leading to a set of stairs on the opposite side of the floor. We joined a group of people clearing the building in an orderly fashion.
We exited at the far side of the parking lot and I didn’t want to leave Naomi alone in the crowd. At least one of the demons knew what she looked like and if I left her alone, I’m sure that’s when all hell would break loose.
“Follow me,” I whispered and started to navigate the parking lot, which was easier than I anticipated, especially with all eyes on the building, including the demon bitch that sat in the passenger seat.
Valerie sat still, her gaze locked in front of her, unfocused, even as we passed her line of sight. Her waxy skin glistened with sweat and I wondered what the hell held her in place. When we were a car away, I pulled Naomi lower.
“Stay here.”
She glanced at the truck and then back to me, her eyes pleading in that way that made me hesitate, but I put my hand up and turned, focusing on the truck. From our vantage point, we couldn’t see the building and I had no idea who else was working with the demon bitch of a nurse holding Valerie hostage.
I did a quick scan and then stepped to the side of the truck, yanking the passenger door open. The bitch’s head snapped in my direction, but I reacted faster than she did. My fist connected, breaking her nose before she had a chance to remove the knife buried in Valerie’s side.
The anger that flared pulled a growl from my lips and I yanked psycho nurse from the car, twisting her neck as I turned. The sickening crunch of bone bounced off the car and I dropped the limp body, turning toward Naomi.
“Hurry,” I said and as soon as she was in the car, I closed the door and ran to the driver’s side. Without thinking, I slid Valerie to the middle of the bench seat and turned the key hanging from the ignition.
The truck revved to life and I hit the gas, tearing through the parking lot as fast as I dared. The hospital emergency room wasn’t far and I chanced a glance at Valerie. The girl still stared out the window almost like she was already...
I shook the thought out of my head. “Check her pulse,” I ordered.
Naomi’s shaking fingers reached into my peripheral vision, landing on Valerie’s throat as I took the turn into the emergency room entrance.
“Does she have a pulse?” I barked and glanced around Valerie, meeting Naomi’s frightened stare.
“I, I don’t know,” she said. I slammed the brakes, stopping the vehicle within a hair of the ambulance sitting in front of me and jumped out.
“You can’t park here,” a heavy-set officer said as he stepped out of the sliding doors.