“What is it?” Roy demanded, keeping pace with him. “She sounded fine.”
“Someone’s got a gun to her head. She never talks like that!” Austin barked.
He paused for a second, gulping in breath. “Fire,” he said. “In my visions, I saw Savannah on fire.”
He quickly dialed the town fire department. “There’s a fire at To Dine For, and there’s a man holding people hostage inside. He’ll be armed,” he barked. He hung up before they could question him.
“My motorcycle will be faster!” Roy yelled, pointing at a Harley that was parked next to Austin’s truck.
Roy scrambled on. Austin hopped on the back of the bike, and the two of them raced towards Savannah’s house.
It should have taken them fifteen minutes. They got there in five, screeching around curves, almost wiping out several times. The wail of sirens told Austin that the trucks were on their way, but would they be fast enough? As they got close, they could see black smoke curling up in the sky, terrifying, evil.
Austin was sick with fear and rage. Savannah. He couldn’t lose her. He couldn’t live without her.
He’d had no right to judge Roy for acting like such a psycho. If he lost his mate, he’d fall into a thousand pieces.
When they pulled in to the parking lot, the fire department truck was already there – and the entire front of the restaurant was in flames.
Austin wanted to just rush in blind, but that might put Savannah at even more risk. Instead he slid off the motorcycle, stood perfectly still, and summoned up more self-control than he’d ever thought possible.
He closed his eyes, shuddering all over with the effort that it took to keep from running straight into the flames. He pictured the inside of the restaurant.
Savannah. Her mother. Niall, Anthony, Jessamine. All knocked unconscious and lying somewhere dark…shelves with jars and boxes…
Jason pacing around inside the kitchen, crazed, waving a gun… Roy falling…
He rushed towards the back of the restaurant. The storage room was back there, and in it was the door that led down to the basement. Roy was right behind him as he ran, breathing down his neck.
“They’re in the basement!” Austin shouted. “Roy, you stay out here! I see Jason shooting you!”
As Austin kicked the back door open, Roy sent a blast of power into the restaurant, which would force anyone in there to change.
That should help Savannah and her family; everyone healed faster in their animal form. If they had been shot with some kind of tranquilizer, they’d flush it out of their systems faster. And it would disable Jason, at least temporarily.
Roy was right behind Austin as he rushed into the storage room. “Roy, stay out!” Austin coughed on the smoke. Roy ignored him, the stubborn bastard.
When they raced in, they were hit by a blast of heat and acrid, choking smoke. Austin’s eyes watered as he quickly scanned the room. Jason, in wolf form, was crouched low on the floor, in front of the door to the basement. His ears were flattened against his head. His eyes were rimmed with red, his black lips lifted to reveal white fangs and dripping saliva.
Austin lunged and snapped. Jason refused to retreat. He had nothing left to lose.
Roy came hurtling past Austin, in wolf form now, and Jason launched himself at Roy, hurling himself through the air.
Austin rushed past them. The two wolves were rolling on the floor, crazed, snapping at each other. Austin didn’t stop; he couldn’t. He had to get to Savannah.
He clawed open the basement door and headed down the stairs.
It was pitch dark in the basement. He saw bodies everywhere, sprawled on the floor. Savannah lay on her back, completely still, and for a moment he thought his heart had actually stopped.
No. He wouldn’t give up.
He gathered Savannah and Jessamine in his arms, and ran awkwardly up the stairs with them, nearly falling backwards a couple of times. He raced out onto the law and dumped them on the grass.
They were breathing.
Savannah was breathing.
He returned for Niall and Anthony, barely able to make it through the thick, choking smoke this time.
