Best Friends (New Species #15)(35)

He was hurt.

That didn’t help ease her terror.

Her car key was the biggest on the ring and, despite her hands shaking, she managed to shove it into the door and heard the lock click. She yanked it open, dove in, and hit the lock after she slammed it closed.

The man reached her car and tried to open the door. She threw her free hand on the steering wheel, pressing on the horn, and didn’t let up as she tried to get the key into the ignition.

She flinched when he punched the window next to her head, but the glass held.

He cursed. “You’re going to answer my fucking questions!” he yelled over the blaring horn, punching the glass again.

She got the key in and twisted. The engine started, and she threw it in reverse, slamming her bare foot on the gas. She was thrown forward from the force of the movement. She backed away from him a good fifty feet and hit the brakes. Incredibly, he stumbled toward her.

She threw it in drive and punched the gas again, gripping the wheel tight.

Her attacker realized she was going to hit him, and he threw his big body out of the way.

She wasn’t even sure if her car hit him or not. She was too flipped out and panicked. She didn’t even stop to leave the parking lot but instead kept her foot down, twisting the wheel hard as she hit the street.

One glance sideways as she drove away showed him picking himself up off the pavement. He was alive.

She wasn’t sticking around. Big fat tears slid down her face, her heart raced, and she was shaking all over. Her foot and hands hurt. Her arm throbbed from where she’d had stitches. It made her wonder if she’d popped them but she wasn’t going to take time to look or check to see if she was bleeding anywhere. Not until she got to the sheriff’s station.

*

Snow shifted his stance as he stood on the wall, ignoring the sweat that tickled down his back. He didn’t mind wall duty but it bored him. He’d been assigned to overlook a section that revealed miles of woods. Only the wind in the trees and an occasional animal moved. He glanced at the watch on his wrist, checking the time. Fifteen more minutes and he’d call in to Security again.

His radio crackled. “Snow? Do you hear me?”

He unclipped it from his belt and lifted it to his mouth. “I’m here, Tiger.”

“You’re being relieved. Come to Security.”

He frowned. “Why? I’m on duty for three more hours. What’s wrong?”

“We couldn’t reach you on your phone. Sherriff Cooper called. Don’t be alarmed, but your female is with him. She’s unharmed.”

Snow tensed. “Mel? What happened? Is she hurt?”

“I said she’s unharmed. Just come to Security and I’ll fill you in. The female is safe. Your replacement should be there soon. There’s no need to wait.”

He clipped his radio back to his belt, ran to where the rope hung, and quickly climbed down. He sprinted to the Jeep as soon as he reached the ground. Worry had him driving faster than he usually did.

What had happened to Mel? Why would she be with Sherriff Cooper? Had she been in a car accident? Was the diner targeted again by humans? The worst scenarios played through his head.

He parked at Security, barely remembering to turn off the engine before jumping out of the vehicle.

Tiger exited the building before he reached the door, meeting him halfway. “Your female is fine.”

“What happened?” He tore off his helmet, gripping it to his chest with both hands.

“A masked male broke into her apartment. She got away from him and isn’t hurt.”

A snarl tore from him. “I’m going to Mel.”

Tiger lifted his hands, palms out. “Easy, Snow. I understand. I have a mate. A team should be here soon to escort you. I need to ask you a few questions first while we wait. They will be here fast. I promise.”

He had a few questions of his own. “Are you certain she’s unharmed? Absolutely sure?”

“I don’t want to panic you.”

“Tell me,” Snow snarled.

Tiger took a deep breath and blew it out. “Sheriff Cooper said she fought the male off when he tried to grab her, but she wasn’t severely injured. She used her fists to punch the male, so they are a little tender, and so are her feet. She was barefoot when the attack took place. At most, she’s going to have bruising. She refused medical attention when offered to be taken to a hospital, swearing she didn’t need to go. Sheriff Cooper said she’s mostly shaken up but fine.”

Snow shook with fury.

A male had attacked Mel? She’d had to fight a male? He wanted to kill someone. She was a little thing. No male should ever try to harm her.

“I thought the task force said those two males weren’t working with others?”

“That’s what the task force was told by the captured males. They will be questioned again. Did you leave anything at her home?”

“No.”

“You visited her there a few times, correct?”

“Yes. I have been to her apartment three times. I took her food once, then picked her up and dropped her off after she visited me here. Why does it matter?”

Tiger hesitated. “Someone must have seen you there. It may have made her a target because it links her to the NSO. The attack may have nothing to do with the shooting. But…a man assumed to be a reporter was also in town, asking questions. It seems someone leaked what happened at the diner.”