Read Runaway Vampire for Free Online Page B

managed to squeeze out of my cage and tried to open his, but before I could accomplish the task, we heard our captors coming and he insisted I get away while I could and get help.”
    Dante paused briefly, and Mary noted the muscles of his throat working, but then he continued, his voice almost flat. “It was a basement with high windows. I climbed out onto dirt and grass and saw the woods surrounding the building we had been held in. I started to run. I had no idea where I was, or if I was headed in the right direction to find help. All I could see were woods and more woods. I had not gone far when I became aware of someone running behind me. Afraid they would shoot me with their dart again, I put on a burst of speed and then the trees were suddenly gone and I was charging toward the road . . . and the side of this RV.” He patted the steering wheel with a grimace. “I tried to stop myself, but . . .” He shook his head, and then glanced to her and said, “The truth is you did not run over me, so much as I ran into, or under, your vehicle.”
    Mary stared at him silently. She was glad she wasn’t at fault for the accident. The knowledge relieved a gooddeal of the guilt that had apparently been clouding her good sense, because now she was thinking more clearly. Voice firm, she said, “You need to turn around and head back to the truck stop.”
    He glanced at her with surprise, then turned his gaze forward again and shook his head. “We have to lose our pursuers to ensure your safety when I leave you.”
    â€œYou’re not going to do that in an RV,” she said dryly. “These things are like me, built for comfort, not speed. That van—” she glanced to the vehicle revealed in the rear camera view to see that it was still stuck on their tail like a burr on Bailey’s butt “—is not going to lose us. And if what you say is true, the minute we stop, the men in that van will attack. But the waitress at the truck stop called 911. By now the police should be there. If they aren’t there yet, at least there are others there to help. Right now we’re on our own. Those men could force us off the road and take you again at any minute. In fact, I’m surprised they haven’t tried already.”
    â€œThey have not tried because the highway is busy and they do not want witnesses. So long as we stay on it we should be safe,” he said solemnly. “And if we lead them back to the truck stop, someone there could get hurt. It is important to avoid that. It is why I led them away to begin with,” he argued.
    â€œI thought it was to keep me safe?” she reminded him tightly.
    â€œYes. That too,” he agreed. “I wish to avoid any mort—innocents coming to harm.”
    â€œAny more innocents?” she questioned with a frown. “You mean besides your brother?”
    â€œ Si ,” he agreed quickly, but kept his gaze on the road ahead.
    Mary frowned, suspecting he hadn’t meant that at all, but unsure why she thought so. Leaving it for now, she asked, “Well then, what’s your plan? Are you intending to lead them to the police station in Kerrville in the hopes they can catch these men and go rescue your brother?” She paused and frowned, wondering if it wouldn’t actually be the sheriff’s office. In Canada and some of the northern states it was the police, but it seemed to her it might be sheriff here. She wasn’t sure though. She’d never had cause to call the authorities here before. Realizing that didn’t matter, she waved a hand and said; “Anyway, I seriously doubt your friends will hold off on stopping us until we reach the police station or sheriff’s department. Once we’re off the highway, there’s no guarantee there won’t be a stretch of road without anyone to stop them driving us off the road.”
    Dante scowled, apparently not pleased by what