Page 65 of Sinner's Sacrifice
Yvgeny sat in the front passenger seat of the limo. The back was full of medical supplies, clothing that was loose enough to fit the average woman, and nutrient drinks. He was fairly certain Sam’s friend hadn’t been eating well for a long time. She’d need better fuel if she was to recover from what was done to her.
The doctor at their clinic had agreed to come and evaluate Darlene’s wounds in a couple of hours. Of course, he wanted to talk to Sam again as well. The man was desperate to find out her family history and locate any living relatives who might have similar genetics. Given Sam’s defense of Darlene, he didn’t think talking to Sam would be a problem. Getting the answers the doctor wanted out of her was another thing entirely.
His phone buzzed with an incoming call. He pulled it out to see who was calling. Sam.
He answered immediately. “All done at the—”
“Shut up and listen to me,” she barked into the phone.
Her tone stabbed him in the gut, sending pain radiating through his body so viciously he almost dropped his phone.
Sam was breathing hard, but behind that, in the background, the shrill cries of fire and car alarms twisted the knife in his guts, stalling his breathing for a long moment. He couldn’t even think. His mind stuck on the implications of all that noise.
Had she been hurt?
Where was Baz? Was he hurt?
Her voice finally penetrated his panic. “...exploded in front of the clinic. The building is on fire. Darlene and I escaped through the back door, but Baz stayed inside to try to help.”
Of course he did.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, we’re fine. We were far enough from the explosion to escape injury.”
“I’m on my way,” he said, not caring that he sounded like a drill sergeant. “Don’t go anywhere. Stay with other people.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m eccentric, controlling, and weird.” He ended the call. “We need to get to that free clinic as fast as possible,” Yvgeny told Mason. “It’s on fire and Baz is inside trying to rescue people.”
Mason changed lanes and turned the nearest corner. “Coincidence?” he asked.
“Unlikely.”
“What could anyone gain by setting a free clinic on fire?” Mason asked.
“I can’t thi—” Yvgeny cut himself off. “It didn’t happen until Sam and Baz got there.”
“If they’re the targets and they’re separated...” Mason said slowly.
“Fuck,” Yvgeny snarled. “This could be the first part of an attack or another kidnapping attempt.” He pulled out his phone and called Magnus. He quickly explained the possible situation and what he wanted done. By the time he hung up, he and Mason were close enough to the clinic to hear emergency vehicle sirens.
“Shit,” Mason said. “There’s nowhere to park in this part of the city.”
“Park on the damned sidewalk if you have to. I’ll have one of the taxi drivers come to take the limo back to the hotel. We’re going to need the medical supplies. They can leave the cab and we’ll drive that back.”
Mason frowned as he parked about a block away from the burning building. “Will that give us enough room?”
“It will have to. Besides, something is telling me we need transportation that’s a lot less visible than this boat.” He sent another text to Magnus to arrange for the vehicle switch as he got out and strode after Mason toward the building with flames and smoke spewing out of the top of it.
“You take the front,” Yvgeny said to Mason. “I’ll take the back. We need to focus on locating Sam, her friend, and Baz.”
“Yes, sir,” Mason answered.
They split up. Yvgeny darted down an alley so he could approach the rear of the building. A large group of people were standing around, watching it burn. He looked for Sam’s ponytail and black uniform and found her standing behind someone in a wheelchair.
He strode toward her, but briefly lost sight of her as an ambulance pulled up and parked in the alley. By the time he got around the vehicle, Sam was gone. The wheelchair was still there, with a panicked looking Darlene in it, but Sam was gone.