The Lasaran (Aldebarian Alliance #1) - Dianne Duvall Page 0,22
over them.
Brad tugged the panties up to her hips, then added black leggings. He was amazingly adept at dressing her.
Next he grabbed socks and shoes off the bed.
More pops sounded, closer this time.
Lisa balanced on one foot, then the other as he shoved the sneakers on, careful despite his rush. “What’s happening?” she asked. Dragging a long maternity tunic over her head, she smoothed it down over her belly and hips. “Are they looking for you?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. I was still finalizing our plans when all hell broke loose.” Rising, he freed her hair from the back of the dress. “Here, put this on, too.” He handed her a rumpled white lab coat. “I think they were right. I think more vampires have come to break out the ones these dumbasses captured.”
Lisa’s heart slammed against her ribs as she stuffed her arms through the sleeves. The coat was too big, so she pushed the sleeves up to her forearms to hide it.
Pain tore through her stomach. Crying out, she grabbed her belly and doubled over.
Brad clasped her shoulder and steadied her. “You okay?”
She nodded, breathing through it. “It’s been doing this ever since I woke up from the coma.”
He waited in grim silence.
When the hard cramps subsided, she straightened.
“Okay?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Then let’s get the hell out of here.”
“Wait.” She caught his hand when he moved away. “There’s another prisoner here.” They had to save Taelon.
“There are a lot of prisoners here.”
“But I need to find this one and—”
“We don’t have time, Lisa. Those vampires are tearing this place apart. We need to get out while we can. And we’ll be lucky if we make it out alive.” He started to tug her toward the door.
She dug in her heels. “Brad. Even if we can’t save the others… I can’t leave until I see the alien.”
He whirled to face her. “What?”
She shook her head, her whole body trembling. “I have to see it.”
“No.”
“I need to see it.” She touched her belly. “I need to know what’s inside me.”
He cast her a look full of pity. “Lisa, I don’t think you—”
“Please.”
He shook his head. “They keep it in the biohazard section. That’s way at the back of the building. There’s no way we could make it there and make it out alive. The only entrance and exit is at the front. I’m telling you we need to go now.”
Beep.
Eyes widening, he whirled to face the door.
The door swung inward. A soldier in green camo stood in the doorway. As soon as he saw Brad, the soldier raised his semiautomatic rifle and fired.
Brad jerked and stumbled backward, blood spurting from his chest.
A tall, dark, indistinct figure with glowing amber eyes abruptly appeared behind the soldier and yanked him off his feet. The soldier screamed.
The door swung shut.
Brad sank to the floor.
Chapter Four
“Brad!” Lisa knelt beside him.
His shirt bore several holes. A red stain rapidly spread across the fabric. More blood pooled on the floor beneath him, spreading at an alarming rate while he fought for breath.
Panic overwhelmed her. “Brad?”
He stared up at her with wide eyes full of fear and suffering.
Tears spilled over her lashes. “What do I do?” Grabbing the discarded hospital gown, she wadded it into a ball and pressed it to his chest.
“Fr-Front pocket,” he whispered.
“What?”
“Fr-Front p-pocket,” he repeated.
Lisa tucked a hand in his left front pocket and found nothing.
“Other one,” he moaned.
She searched the other and found a key card and a piece of paper that was folded around a wad of cash. The paper bore a phone number. “What—?”
“Help.”
She nodded. “I’ll find help. We’ll get you—”
He clamped a hand on her arm when she would’ve risen. “No.” He glanced at the paper and back. “Help you.”
She swallowed hard. “No. You’re going to help me. I’m not leaving without you.”
He shook his head. “Go.”
“I’m not leaving you!”
“Go!” He coughed. Blood sprayed her and speckled his chin.
Blinking, she wiped her face with shaking fingers, then took his hand in her free one. “Brad?”
He stiffened. Then his breath whooshed out in a sigh as his hand went limp in hers.
Lisa stared down at him, her whole body trembling. “Brad?” she called softly, already knowing he wouldn’t respond.
His eyes no longer blinked. His chest no longer rose and fell.
Automatic gunfire erupted out in the hallway.
Lisa lowered his hand and pressed quaking fingers to Brad’s throat but found no pulse.
A sob catching in her throat, she climbed awkwardly to her feet. Stuffing the paper and cash in one