Chapter twentyTwo
A few hours later the rain started again and this time it was worse than it had been all week. I could have stayed there with Adrian forever and I think she would have happily stayed with me too. But we had no food there, and Adrian had no clothes with her, her suitcase was at mine in her truck.
After we dressed and showered for the third time that evening for me at least, we headed out to my car. She stops at the car and turns and kisses me. "I love you" she tells me and I do a little dance on the inside, I love hearing that, it's never going to get old. "Have I told you that today? Because I do ok?" she says.
"I love you" I tell her then kiss her, it grows heated until I'm pinning her against the car in the pouring rain but neither of us care. We break away to take a breath and she starts to laugh.
"This is ridiculous we're like a couple of teenagers" she giggles and I smile at her.
"I haven't seen you for two months; I'm getting my fill while I can" I say against her ear then nip at it, she squeals and shoves me away.
"You've had your fill, twice, can you behave for two minuets?" she asks, I pretend to ponder it for a moment then grin at her.
"No" I say then attack her neck with kisses.
"Riddoc! Stop it" she laughs "Come on I'm starving let's get pizza" she says.
She starts walking over to the passenger side door when something sickly sweet hits my nose. I freeze where I'm stood and grab Adrian's elbow so she can't go any further.
"Oh my God you're incorrigible" she laughs turning back to me and moving to kiss me, I put my hands on her shoulders and hold her still. She stops laughing and a flicker of concern spreads. "Riddoc what's wrong?" she asks. I hold my finger up to her lips as I swivel my head scanning the area. I can't see anything yet but I can smell them. I hear a branch break in the distance and I know it wasn't accidental, they're messing with me. I spin in that direction pulling Adrian protectively behind my back. "What's happening?" she asks me and I shush her.
"Quiet" I tell her and she does instantly.
About thirty seconds pass, scanning the tree line and listening carefully when two figures emerge from the forest on the other side of the lake. I quickly reach into my jeans pocket and pull out my car keys, as fast as I can I shove them into Adrian's hand and usher her towards the car.
"Riddoc stop! What is going on? Who are those guys?" she demands catching herself against the roof of the car to stop me from forcing her inside.
"There's no time to explain, just get in the car and go" I tell her but she doesn't move
"I'm not leaving you, Riddoc?"
"I can't protect you like this Adrian you have to leave now"
"Riddoc what's wrong? Tell me I don't understand you're freaking me out"
"I need you to do what I tell you right now, I need you to do exactly as I say and not hesitate, and not question it" I say trying to keep my voice calm for her, she stares at me like i've lost my mind, then her face changes suddenly as if she understands.
"What do you want me to do" she whispers
"Get in the car and drive away from here as fast as you can, don't go home go somewhere crowded, don't go anywhere alone with anybody and don't talk to strangers. As soon as your in a public place call my Dad or Seth or Embry or any of the guys and tell them I need them. You have to trust me" I say, I push her into the car and she clambers into the drivers seat and turns to me with tears in her eyes while she fumbles with the keys.
"I can't I don't want to leave you, just get in with me?" she begs, I couldn't if I didn't hold them off she'd never get away.
"Go! Now!" I bellowed, she flinched away from me and I hated every second of it because I knew it was hurting her. I slammed the door shut on her and as I did the two vampires jumped the lake landing on this side with a dull thud. I see Adrian looking in the rear view, her mouth falls open and I know she'd seen it. She reaches across the car to the passenger door but I reach out and grab the handle before she can crumpling the lock in my hand so when she tries the door it won't open. She looks up at me with wide eyes. "Go" I mouth to her and she finally gets how serious I am. She nods once then starts the car.
I turn and walk towards the two vamps as she drives away. "Aw why did you send the pretty girl away?" one of them asks me and I feel my blood boil.
"We were going to have so much fun with that one" the other says
"You're not going to touch her" I tell them and they laugh. The one on the left zips forward punching me in the chest and sending me flying backwards, I phase and land on four paws. They storm me at once and they're quick, much stronger than any vampires I've ever fought before. One of them slams his knee into my flank and I feel a couple of ribs break. The other grabs me by my neck and flings me across the ground I roll and tumble a few times before I hit a rock bringing me to an abrupt stop. I feel a sharp pain in the back of my head and things start to blur. One of the vampires walks over to me and crouches down by my head.
Jake: Riddoc! Riddoc? Talk to me are you alright? Riddoc listen to me you have to get up
Embry: Jake is he ok?
Jake: I don't know!
My Dad bellows snapping his jaws at him and I feel Embry shy away.
Jake: Riddoc we're coming. Shila? Stay on Adrian.
Me: Adrian?
Jake: get up Riddoc!
"I think we lost him brother" one vampire says to the other "I don't think there's anyone in there" he laughs then grabs me by the snout and shakes me. "Are you sure this ones the Alpha?" he asks his brother. I realise I'm not the one they want, they want the Alpha, they want my Dad. I muster all the strength I have left and lunge at the one closest to me catching his head between my jaws and snapping it clean off. I spit it out then look to the other, he looks shocked almost scarred. He glances frantically from me to his dead brother before snarling at me and running.
I phased out only long enough to take the matches from my ankle cord and burn the body before quickly phasing back and hitting the road. I was in so much pain I wasn't sure how I was still conscious I guess I was just running on pure adrenaline.
Jake: you need to stop now you're gonna hurt yourself
Me: I'm fine, just get after that vamp
Jake: you're not fine, Riddoc don't make me order you
Me: try it, it won't work you know I'm stronger than you
And then I blocked them all out all I cared about right now was finding Adrian. I'd told her to drive and call my Dad she'd obviously got that far but Dad had told Shila to stay with Adrian what did that even mean? I could have asked but they wouldn't have told me. I ran harder and focused my mind letting only Shila in.
Shila: duck you're ok.
Me: where is she?
Shila: don't worry about Adrian I think she'll be alright
Me: what do mean you think? What happened?
I turn the corner in the road and that's when I see it, my car upside down in a ditch.