He could fight them, lie in wait to attack, but what if he failed? He’d lost his weapon during the crash. He couldn’t shoot any of them to even out the numbers. It would leave Trisha defenseless against them if he failed to kill all of the men before they took him out with bullets. Humans would have her at their mercy.
A soft snarl got past him as he spun to quickly return to her. He wouldn’t take any chances with her life. Bart didn’t strike him as a tough enough male to travel with injuries. As he moved quickly but quietly, to avoid alerting the men above him to his presence, he came to a grim decision.
He’d have to leave the human security guard behind if Bart refused to flee. Trisha might protest. She had a soft heart but regardless of what it took, Slade would save her.
Even if he had to knock her out and carry her over his shoulder. Determination made him travel faster to reach her.
* * * * *
“We have to move now,” Slade growled suddenly from behind Trisha.
She jumped and twisted her head, wincing. Her shoulder screamed in protest at the sudden motion. “What’s wrong?”
“Six men are on their way down to us. They have ropes and guns with them. I think that’s what took them this long to try to come down. It’s steep where we flew off the road.”
“Maybe it’s help.” Bart sounded hopeful.
“With shotguns strapped to their backs?” Slade snapped. “Give me a break. They will be here soon.” Slade spun. “Get up. I’m grabbing what I found that may be useful for us to survive and we’re going on the move. It will be dark soon and that will help us lose them.”
Trisha struggled to stand and tried to get Bart to take her hand to pull him to his feet with his good arm. He adamantly shook his head.
“No. I’ll stay here. It’s got to be those anti New Species people. I’ll just tell them I’m human and they’ll get me help.”
42
Slade
“Have you lost your mind?” Trisha gasped. “They tried to kill us and you think telling them you’re human is going to matter to those types?”
“They hate New Species and I’m sure that’s why we were attacked. Maybe they even thought I was driving Justice North. They really hate him.”
Slade came back carrying Trisha’s overnight bag. He moved to Trisha and dropped it over her head and under her arm similar to a sling without asking first. He avoided resting the strap on her sore shoulder. It surprised her that he’d obviously noticed her favoring that side. He looked furious as he glared at Bart.
“We’re leaving. I think they will kill you so get your ass up and move if you want to live.” Slade snarled the words. “You’re going to die if you stay here, kid. I don’t have time to hold your hand while you try to find your brain. I won’t lose my life or hers standing here reasoning with you. Get on your feet.”
Bart glared back at Slade. “I’m human and they aren’t going to hurt me. They will call me an ambulance.”
“You’ll die but I don’t have time to argue. You were warned. I tried and that’s all I can do for you.” Slade turned and cupped Trisha’s face in his large hand, forcing her to look up at him. His intense gaze met hers. “We need to move fast and put distance between us and them. You are limping and I’m going to carry you on my back. I’d put you in front of me in my arms but it’s rough terrain and I’ll need my hands free. Don’t argue with me, Doc. They are coming. We’ll die if we stay.”
Trisha had to agree. She had no doubt those men were dangerous. “Okay.”
Slade turned his back to her and crouched down. He twisted his head to peer at her and opened his arms at his sides. “Climb on.”
She hadn’t gotten a piggyback ride since she’d been a little girl. She didn’t hesitate though as she climbed onto Slade’s back. She wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, making sure she wasn’t about to choke him and he gripped her thighs at his hips as he rose. Trisha stared at Bart on the ground.
“Come with us. Please?”
“They aren’t going to hurt me. I’ll call Homeland when I reach a hospital. I’ll tell them what happened and they’ll send help for you.”
“Last chance,” Slade growled as he turned away from the SUV. “Follow us or die.”
He moved quickly through the dense trees, not waiting for Bart to respond. Trisha held on.
43
Laurann Dohner
Chapter Four
Slade shifted Trisha’s weight slightly. She looped her arms over his shoulders, trying to support her weight and not slide down his back. He had lifted her higher up onto his back, hooked his arms under her bent knees, and locked his hands together at his waist.
“You could put me down. I can walk. My knee isn’t that bad.”
“You’re fine. I want to make another mile before the sun is totally down. We’ll keep moving for as long as there is light for them to track us.”
The sky filled with pink streaks above them as the sun lowered. The wind picked up and blew chilly air at them from behind. Trisha was cold on her back but was toasty warm down the front of her body where it pressed against Slade. Her arms hurt from holding onto him and she tried to ignore the achy muscles between her thighs. She wasn’t used to straddling something for a long period of time.
“You have to be getting tired, Slade. Come on. Put me down. I’m heavy. I know you are strong but this is a bit much. You said that we’ve covered a few miles so far. At least slow your pace. You’re going to wear yourself out.”
“Shut up,” he ordered. “I’m trying to concentrate by telling myself you aren’t there.
You screw that up every time you talk.”
“Thanks.”
“That wasn’t an insult but you aren’t as light as a feather. I’m trying to forget you are there to convince my brain my muscles aren’t aching.”
She bit her lip. “Sorry.”
“Shut up,” he sighed.
She refrained from speaking as she darted a glance around the area. Slade really could move, walking faster than she could jog with his long legs. He only slowed down when they climbed uphill or if he had to get them both over a fallen log. They’d had to do that twice.
“BOOM!” Pause. “BOOM! BOOM!”
“What was that?” Trisha’s heart raced.
Slade stopped, tilted his head at a slight angle, and tensed. “They must have found Bart.”
“Those were gunshots, right?”
“Three shots. Yeah.” Slade started walking again. “I guess they didn’t care if he was pure human after all.”
44
Slade
Trisha couldn’t stop the tears that welled in her eyes. Those men wouldn’t have shot something unless they meant to kill it. Bart had been sure they’d care he wasn’t New Species. He’d just been a scared kid who hadn’t deserved to die.
“Don’t cry for him, Doc,” Slade growled. “I know this is tough but survive first and grieve later. You can’t do anything for him now.”
She fought the urge to weep, knowing Slade had a valid point. They would both die too if those men caught up with them. Slade moved faster as Trisha clung to him while darkness slowly fell. Slade slowed eventually but kept moving.
“How can you see?”
He breathed heavily now. “My night vision is better than yours. I can’t see really well but I haven’t walked us into anything yet.”
“You need to rest.”
Slade uttered a soft curse as he stopped. His arms slid out from under her knees.
Trisha groaned when he lowered her to the ground until her feet touched. Her knees held her weight and she released him but was a little shaky. It was so dark she couldn’t even see him. She jumped when his hands touched her waist.
“Walk this way. I’ll lead you. We’ll lie down for a little while to rest. They could still be tracking if they have flashlights but it would severely slow them down. I also walked on rocks as much as I could to hide our tracks and they didn’t have hunting dogs with them. We’re also downwind and it will be harder for them to scent us. That’s why I kept it at our backs.”