it is,” I whispered, looking at the trees as we drove. I could hear Heath already on the phone, rattling off the meeting as I considered Jabari’s words.
Home sounded good.
Then our ride flipped as something slammed into the side of it.
31
Chapter Thirty-One
I couldn’t think. This was my second time in a flipping vehicle, and even as a werecat, it wasn’t a pleasant sensation, fear pumping through my veins. My head hit the ceiling, the door, and other parts of the car, rattling painfully as it still remembered being hit with a rock only a couple of nights prior. I heard the crunch of metal and the groans and yells of pain from the men in the car with me.
I couldn’t think. I barely registered that I needed to protect my head, finally trying to wrap my arms around it, hoping I broke an arm before I cracked my skull.
It was all too similar, all too much.
It settled after three rolls, rocking as it rested upside down, skidding a little further.
I couldn’t think.
Outside the car, other sounds could be heard—rustling in the bushes and trees, a wind blowing hard.
A small part of me wasn’t in rainy Washington anymore. Part of me was on that little tropical island with the rain coming down, hoping I would be able to get out of the car.
“Shane?” I whispered. “Shane, are you okay?” He had to be okay.
A groan was all I heard in response.
Not again. No. This can’t happen again. Not this. Anything but this.
I fought to free my legs from between the seat and the dashboard. The airbag had gone off, and I fought against it as well. I snarled as I finally freed my first leg.
“Shane?” I called again, my voice not as loud as I wanted it to be. Then my brain started to function again, thanks to my nose. Werewolf and werecat, both male and bleeding. Not Shane. This wasn’t Shane. He was dead already. Dread made my throat grow tight. Not Shane, but two other very important people. “Heath? Jabari?”
A louder groan.
More rustling outside the car. Something or someone trying to pry one of the doors open. Talking, but my ears were ringing, and I couldn’t make out any words. Something about that made me desperate to get moving. The impact had been on the driver’s side, where Jabari and Heath were, which meant I had more space. I didn’t take the brunt of the accident, which meant I had to get moving. They could be dying for all I knew. Desperation made me fumble with the seat belt, finally getting it to release as the door behind me flew open.
I fell to the ceiling and growled, trying to turn to see what was in the back.
I could barely think, but I could feel. I could feel the pain of the accident, the need to defend the others, and the need to figure out what had just happened.
A blur was all I saw in the backseat, and I tried to grab for it, fumbling as my vision spun, and my coordination made me fall onto my belly. Something dripped down on me, and I looked up slowly to see Heath’s grey-blue eyes. He was conscious, and I was in the way. Blood was dripping off his left arm, but I didn’t see any other injuries.
“Who’s Shane?” someone asked. I turned to the open door and saw red eyes in a pale face.
“My dead fiancé,” I answered, not sure why I even wanted to answer. “He died in an accident like this one. Almost killed me too.”
“You should have died with him. Divine retribution, then.” The vampire smiled. “No one threatens our nest and Master.”
I grinned back, knowing there was blood in my mouth because I could taste the rusty thickness of it. I probably bit my inner cheek or tongue during the accident.
“I’m not going to die tonight,” I promised. Reaching up, I tore out Heath’s buckle, then dodged as he fell to the ceiling. I didn’t look back at him as I scrambled out of the open door and tackled the vampire who hadn’t thought to get away. I snarled as I got my hands on its head and twisted as hard as I could, listening to the clear and perfect snap of its neck breaking.
“Don’t stop,” Heath growled as he climbed out after me. “Tear its fucking head off and finish it.”
I obliged, using my weight to hold the limp vampire down and continued to twist. Muscles