Page 27 of John’s Yearning

Nicolette! Are you okay? What happened? Please talk to me!

Nothing. No reply.

No!

He reached the valet, snatched the key a guest was just handing him and jumped in the car, slammed the door shut, and took off.

John.

The word sounded so weak in his mind, but he heard it clearly.

Nicolette, I’m coming. Hold on, my love. I’m coming.

John. Again the message was weak. Hurry.

He raced down the narrow road and slammed the gas pedal down as far as he could.

I’m almost there, love. Almost there. Just a few more minutes.

He turned onto the public road, the tail of his borrowed car spinning out, but he kept the vehicle under control.

I smell something.

Panic hit him. No. Please, don’t let it happen!

You’ve gotta get out of the car! Get out now!

There was silence for a few seconds, seconds that were too long. Then he heard her again.

Can’t… seatbelt is stuck.

He tried to calm himself, not wanting to make Nicolette panic.

Try to wiggle the seatbelt. Try to loosen it. See if you can slip out.

I’m sorry.

No! he responded. Don’t give up!

He came up on a curve. Behind it was the exit ramp from the freeway, the one Dean would have taken. He raced toward it, took the curve, and felt his heart stop.

I’m here, my love.

The front of the limousine was wedged against a low concrete wall and the tail of a big rig. A big rig that had taken the exit ramp at too high a speed and lost control.

The gas…

Nicolette didn’t finish her thought.

A split-second later, the limousine’s gas tank exploded, engulfing the car and its passengers in flames. John screeched to a halt only yards away from the inferno and jumped from the car. He ran toward the flames, despite the heat that felt as if it was melting the skin off his bones. But he didn’t care. All he cared about was saving his woman and his child.

With supernatural strength he managed to reach the car. The windows had shattered, and flames were shooting out from them. But flames wouldn’t stop him. Not now, not when he was so close.

His hands burned. Excruciating pain shot through him as he wrenched the passenger door open. He couldn’t see anything but flames inside. Running on pure adrenaline, he willed his hands to turn into claws and reached inside. There, Nicolette. He felt her big belly, felt the seatbelt restricting her, and sliced through it with his sharp claws. All the while, the fire was burning the clothes off this body and the hair off his head.

He grabbed Nicolette and heaved her out of the car, brought them to the ground and rolled several times to extinguish the flames.

“Nicolette, I’ve got you.”