Page 39 of Killer Summer
“Why the hell would you want him to find you?”
A dark expression fell over Dani’s face. “So I can kill him myself.”
“Killhim? No, Dani, what about the police? You can’t be serious.” Ethan winced, the color draining from his face.
“They can’t help me. The only way I’ll ever feel safe is when I know for a fact Vickers is dead,” she said. “I’ve been fearing and wanting him to come after me again.”
“So did this guy escape from prison or what?”
“Yeah. Maybe. I don’t know, they think he’s dead.”
“Why didn’t the cops put you under protective watch?”
“I told you, they’re useless. The whole thing is being covered up,” she said. “I shouldn’t even know that he escaped. Thankfully, I have someone on the inside who is looking out for me.”
“So you were just going to pull a Rambo and take this guy out all on your own?” he asked. “What kind of artillery did you have back there anyway?”
“Rambo is an excellent reference, but I was going more for, like, Sarah Connor.” She glanced over at him and cringed. Even in the low light, she could tell he wasn’t looking good. “Stay with me, Ethan. Keep talking.”
“This is a lot to process. Ow, dammit!” Ethan winced. “So, wait. Is someone going to come after me too?”
“Possibly. That’s why I can’t let anyone know what hospital I’m taking you to.”
“Oh, fuck.”
“Oh, fuckis right.” Dani turned over the truck engine, backed out of the gas station and headed the opposite direction away from town. “Can you reach in the glove box and grab the phone that’s in there? I’m going to call my contact and make sure you have security at the hospital.”
“Oh my god.” He groaned. “My phone. My car. All of my shit is back at your place.”
“I know. I’m so sorry. I’m going to make this right for you, I swear.”
“This is unreal.” Ethan opened the glove box and rummaged around. “There’s no phone in here.”
“What? Look again.”
“It’s empty,” he said.
“Shit! I must have left it at my aunt’s house.” Dani chewed her lower lip, glanced at her smartwatch, ripped it off her wrist and threw it out the window. She didn’t need to have anything on her that could possibly help Matt track her—not yet anyway. “It’s fine. Just tell them everything that happened when I drop you off at the emergency room. They’ll make sure you’re safe.”
“When you drop me off! You’re not going to get checked out too?”
“I’m fine. I need to get to my aunt. Besides, he wants me. I already got you hurt. If I hang around the hospital, I’ll put everyone there in danger too.”
“You didn’t hurt me. That psycho did,” Ethan said, touching his knee. “Ow, shit this really hurts.”
“You're sweet,” she said. “I’m really sorry about all of this. I had a nice night with you though.”
“Yeah, me too.” Ethan chuckled. “Until I got shot.”
Dani sped through the country roads, her heart jumping into her throat at every pair of headlights that flashed by. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the sign for Southwest Coast Regional Hospital came into view. Dani pulled into the hospital drop off lane for the emergency room and hopped out. She met Ethan on the other side and helped him out of the truck and into a nearby wheelchair.
“I’m sorry I can’t stay. There’s going to be too many questions with a gunshot wound. I can’t risk being detained.”
“I get it. Where are you going?”
“I shouldn’t say. I’ll try to contact you when things wind down.Ifthings wind down.” Dani opened the back door of the truck and reached into her duffle. She pulled out a bound stack of cash and placed it in his hand. “This is a shitty apology, but it’s the best I can do for now. I’ll make this right for you, I swear.”
Ethan grabbed her other hand, his features contorted in pain. “What happens at the end ofThe Puppy and the Prince?”
