Steal the Light (Thieves #1)(65)

He laid his head down on the concrete. He’d used all of his strength to fly and shield us from pedestrians. He was no longer capable of fighting or even getting away. The bleeding stopped as his body managed to heal the wound, but he was so weak there was no way he could get somewhere to feed. If Stewart found us, Daniel would be a sitting duck, ripe for the plucking.

“The Benz is on the third level, and the keys are in my pocket.” Daniel’s voice was beyond weary. He shoved the package into my hands. “Take it and go. No arguing.”

I kissed his forehead and got up. He was right. Arguing was useless, and I would just do what I wanted to anyway. I took the keys and found the stairs. My legs burned as I climbed, lungs straining, but I didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop. I needed to get back to Daniel before someone called the cops. The last thing I needed was a Good Samaritan calling an ambulance. I had no idea what a defibrillator would do to a vampire, but I figured it wouldn’t be a good thing.

When I reached the third floor, I went to the middle of the level and punched the alarm button on the keys. There was a shrill beep, and I ran for Daniel’s car.

“Miss!” I heard a voice call. Before I thought about it, I stopped and turned.

A tiny elderly lady stood in the middle lane. She was dressed in a pale blue skirt and white shirt, a hat perched on her gray head as though she was ready for a Sunday sermon and fellowship gathering. She looked perfectly harmless. The enormous orange and black tiger twitching its tail as it paced back and forth behind her did not look harmless.

“Do you like this meat? It’s the fourth one I’ve gone through tonight. They just don’t last anymore. Don’t feel too bad for her, girlie,” Stewart said through the old lady’s mouth. “She poisoned two of her husbands, and she is really mean to her grandchildren. She was going to Hell soon anyway.”

The car was behind me, and I pushed the button to unlock the doors. I had to take the chance that I could make it into the car before that freaking tiger ate me.

“Oh, does my little friend here bother you?” Stewart petted the cat lightly with the old lady’s little white gloves. “I did mention I was a cat person.”

Further conversation with Stewart gained me nothing. I pivoted and jumped for the car, my hands shaking as I tossed the pack inside and threw my body into the driver’s seat. I slammed the door just as the tiger hit the roof. The car buckled and swayed, but the roof held. My hands shook as I shoved the key into the ignition, and the car came to life.

I slammed it into reverse just as the weretiger shoved his paws through the roof. Razor sharp claws skimmed my cheek. He pulled a decent-sized chunk of the roof off as I floored it in reverse and slammed on the brakes, dislodging him. I watched in the rearview mirror as his huge body tumbled on the concrete.

I shifted the car into drive.

The only problem was that little old lady standing right where I needed to go. Stewart smiled a sweet grandma smile with black-as-night eyes. If I went forward, I killed an old woman. If I went back…well, the tiger was already on his feet.

A familiar howl shook the air of the garage. I looked through the rearview mirror and saw a white wolf riding the tiger’s back, his teeth firmly planted in the tiger’s neck. Neil held on as the tiger tried to shake him off.

I turned back, ready to play a little game of chicken with a possessed old lady. Neil could handle one tiger all on his own. Hell, he’d probably get upset if I interrupted his fun. Stewart snarled my way. His eyes were firmly on me. He didn’t even notice that Dev moved behind him. I gave the now spectacularly angry demon the bird in order to keep those rheumy eyes focused my way. Dev held a nice tire iron in his hand. Stewart started walking my way just as Dev brought it down on his head. Stewart’s fourth body of the day crumpled and went limp. Dev hauled the now unconscious old lady out of harm’s way.

Dev jogged up the lane and slapped his hand against the hood of the car. He had a reckless grin on that gorgeous face.

“Get in!” I yelled through the open window.

“Can’t. I have to kill a tiger. Did I mention I love this job? Go!” He pulled his gun and ran back to help Neil.

And I went because I was no longer arguing with the men in my life.

I drove like a bat out of hell to get to Daniel, barely avoiding a Ford. The owner shook a fist at me as he drove by. He was headed to the third floor, so I was the least of his problems. I brought the car to a screeching halt at the entryway just in front of the unmanned security station.

He was so still, but I didn’t hesitate. I threw open the back door. He couldn’t be dead. He just couldn’t.

I got to my knees and put a hand to his face.

“Zoey, I told you to go.” He was weak, but I could still see the fire in his eyes. As long as he was pissed with me, there was still hope.

“Yes, you did.” He was so freaking heavy. I pulled at his jacket, trying to force him into a position where I could gain some traction.

“Damn it, Zoey, I can’t move.”

He could certainly move his mouth. I put my arms under his shoulders and tried to push. I managed to get him to sitting, but he was all muscle, and muscle is heavy. “You have to get into the car.”

“I can’t.” His jaw was a stubborn line, and his eyes drifted closed.

“Yes, you can.” The whole flying thing worked out, so I decided to play the damsel in distress again. “You either get into the car or a tiger is going to eat me.”