Page 90 of John’s Yearning

While he touched her back to feel if Viktorov had run any wires underneath or across the ties that held the vest in place, he looked back to where Savannah and Viktorov were standing. Viktorov now held a gun in one hand, aiming it at Savannah, while he pressed his thumb onto a device in his other hand.

Logan had approached them and was close enough to examine the device. When he turned his head toward John, he mouthed, dead man’s switch.

John understood immediately. If Viktorov let go of the device and removed his thumb from the spring-operated switch, the vest would explode.

“You promised to let her go if I came to you,” Savannah said, her voice desperate.

“I don’t always keep my promises,” Viktorov replied. “Now get in the fucking car!” He lifted his hand holding the dead man’s switch as a threat. “Or I’m gonna blow your precious little girl to bits.”

Slowly, Savannah approached Viktorov.

John made a sign to Logan. It was now or never. John got to work on Buffy’s vest, carefully cutting through the three fasteners that tied the vest in the back. They were no obstacle for his claws. But Buffy’s arms were in armholes. It would take too much movement to free her from the vest, and Viktorov would notice from the corner of his eye and know that something was afoot. John had to go about things a different way.

“Buffy,” he whispered in her ear, “I’m going to cut the vest along your sides, underneath your arms now, so lean back against the pole again and keep your head up. When I’ve cut through it and give you the command, you’ll drop down on the ground, and I’ll pull the vest up. Make yourself into a ball, okay?”

She nodded.

“Good girl.”

He cut through the thick material on one side, holding on to the vest with the other hand, so it wouldn’t drop to the floor. Then he did the same on the other side. Buffy was now essentially free of the vest.

Logan stared at him and Buffy from his spot near Viktorov. Their gazes connected, and John nodded, giving him the sign. Logan took a step toward Viktorov, reached his hand out, nodded at John, then clasped his hand over Viktorov’s fist holding the dead man’s switch.

Viktorov cried out in panic. “What the fuck?”

“Now, Buffy.”

Buffy dropped to the ground, while John pulled the vest off her and flung it to the other end of the parking lot. The vest was still in the air, when John dropped down and covered Buffy with his body, shielding her from danger.

A gunshot echoed through the night.

John spun his head around. There, near the car, Logan was fighting with Viktorov, one hand still on his fist holding the detonation device. Blood was seeping from Logan’s shoulder, and judging by Viktorov’s reaction, Logan was now visible. And a few feet from him, Savannah held her hand to her side. Blood was seeping through her fingers.

“Fuck!” The bullet had gone through Logan and struck her too.

And with Logan’s left arm incapacitated, and his right still holding onto the dead man’s switch, he couldn’t fight Viktorov. John tossed a look in the direction he’d flung the vest. It had landed at the edge of the parking lot, near an embankment covered in bushes and trees. Far enough away.

“Logan!” John screamed. “Let go of the switch.”

Still covering Buffy with his body, he watched as Logan followed his command, then slammed his now available fist into Viktorov’s face, before gripping the gun.

John stayed down on the ground for another few seconds, but nothing happened. There was no explosion. He turned his head to look at the vest. It still lay there intact.

He lifted himself off Buffy and ripped her blindfold off, before lifting her into his arms.

Logan was now pinning Viktorov to the ground and Savannah had picked up the gun and was pointing it at her assailant, though it was clear she was hurting.

With Buffy in his arms, he ran to her.

“I’ve got her,” he said and dropped Buffy to her feet.

Buffy immediately wrapped her arms around her mother, and John took the gun from Savannah’s hand. She cast him a weak, but happy smile. Then he pried her hand away from the wound at her side and looked at it.

“He only grazed you,” John said with relief. “I’ll heal you once we’re done with him.” Then he stroked over Buffy’s hair. “Take care of your Mommy for me, okay, Buffy?”

“Yes.”

He turned to Logan and stared down at Viktorov. “You can let go of him now, Logan. I’ve got him. Thanks.” He lent Logan a hand to help him up while he pointed the gun at Viktorov. “The bullet went right through you. I’ll give you blood to heal the wound if you want.” He knew Stealth Guardians healed fast, but vampire blood would speed up the healing process even more.