Darkness (New Species #12)(62)

“She saved me,” Missy sniffed. “She blew up the house because I think Mason was going to kill me.” Her shoulders rocked as she fought tears. “She threw us through the window before it blew up,” she gasped, crying. “She put herself between me and the glass. We hit the ground and she rolled on top of me. When the house went, it just tore her away. I should have held on tighter. I should have…” She stopped talking, dissolving into gut-wrenching sobs.
Darkness realized he should try to comfort the female but he couldn’t. He turned his head, staring at what once had been a home. The entire back side of the house was exposed to show the burning interior. The roof had collapsed inward where it hadn’t been blown outward. Kat had done that to save her friend. He wanted to kill Missy. Pure rage hit but he didn’t strike out at the blonde. Kat had to love her to sacrifice her own life.
Moisture filled his eyes, making his vision blurry. He leaned down, getting close to Kat’s face. He detected her breathing against his lips. It was shallow but she lived. He just didn’t know for how long. She would die. Sirens stopped nearby. His brain began to function and a new target for his rage surfaced. He leaned up and turned his head, grabbing hold of Missy’s shoulder. He shook her once.
“Where is Mason?”
She lifted a shaking finger at the destroyed house. “We were in my office. He was near the door. He smelled the gas and walked toward the hallway. He shot at us when Kat threw us through the window. It blew up.”
He could see she was in shock. He was torn between going to hunt for Mason, if anything remained, and staying by Kat. His legs decided it for him when they refused to work. He just stayed on the ground next to her. He didn’t want her to die alone. Not Kat. He bent, pressing his face close to hers.
“I’m here, Kat. Don’t leave me.”
“Over here!” Trey yelled. “This way.”
“Please open your eyes,” Darkness urged, watching, hoping she’d do it. “You’re a tough female. Don’t let that bastard win. He wins if you die.”
Something heavy crashed next to them and Darkness jerked his head up, snarling at the threat. A human female in a dark blue uniform was on her knees on the other side of Kat, a medical kit gripped in her hand. Her eyes widened and she paled.
He glanced down, realizing what kind of uniform it was. “Help her. You’re a medic.”
She nodded, seeming to snap out of the fear he’d instilled. “What’s her name? Do you know?”
“Kat. She’s mine. Don’t let her die.”
Trey gripped his shoulder. “Darkness, back up. There are more of them. They need access to her and you’re in the way.”He looked up at the male. “I can’t.”
“You have to.” Trey bent, staring into his eyes. “Let them help her.”
“My legs won’t work.”
Trey glanced down him. “You broke something?”
“I can’t move. I can’t leave her.”
Pity flashed in the male’s blue eyes and he bent, wrapped an arm around Darkness. He hoisted him up, grunting a little in the process. “Fuck, you’re heavy. Lock your knees.”
Darkness did as he said, found himself standing again. Trey kept hold of him and forced him back. Three more humans crouched around Kat, shoving debris away from her to get access. Two more humans helped Missy move about five feet away, asking her to lie flat so they could examine her.
Book showed up. The male had dark smudges under his nose and around his mouth, as if he’d breathed in a lot of smoke. He carried a dog in one arm and a kitten in the other. They were alive but seemed too petrified to move around. They just lay on the male’s forearms, clutched against his chest.
“You went in there after them?” Trey shook his head. “Crazy fucking Species.”
Book frowned. “Missy was hysterical and worried about them.”
“I can’t believe they survived.” Trey eased his hold around Darkness’ waist. “You good now?”
He remained standing. “Where is that helicopter?”
“It’s waiting.” Trey released him. “You didn’t hear it? Darren set it down at the end of the street. He didn’t want the blades to affect the fires here.”
“We need to get Kat to Homeland.”
Trey hesitated. “They’ll want to transport her to the hospital.”
“Homeland,” Darkness snarled.
Trey walked away and crouched next to the paramedics, softly talking to them. He couldn’t hear the words. A bunch of humans were yelling and he turned his head, staring at the ones he hadn’t noticed until then. Firemen were putting water on the house and police were moving debris, looking under it for other victims.
Trey returned to his side, looking grim. “She’s critical. They can’t find any breath sounds from her left lung. It’s the side she landed on. She might have possible crush injuries. Internal bleeding.” He paused. “Her vitals are bad.”
Darkness kept his knees locked. The paramedics laid out a backboard, put a cervical collar around Kat’s neck and turned her against the board. They used restraints to wrap around her head and body, even her legs, to keep her immobile.
“Darkness,” Trey murmured, “they don’t think she’s going to make it. I’m so sorry, man.” 
NO! He shoved Trey away and stomped to the humans lifting Kat on the backboard. He glared at the female he’d frightened. “You have an ambulance in front?”
She nodded.
“Trey, team, grab Missy. Let’s go.” He turned, studying the animals in Book’s arms. “Bring them too.”
“You can’t all ride in the ambulance with her,” the human female informed him. “There’s not enough room.”
“They are going to go to the helicopter and wait for your ambulance to drive Kat to them. I’m staying with her.” He shot Trey a furious glare. “You don’t take off without us. Inform Homeland we’re coming. I want all our doctors on standby and tell them to get the healing drugs ready.”
Book stepped forward. “She’s human.”
“She isn’t going to die,” Darkness snarled. “I won’t allow it.”
Trey paled. “Do as he says.”
“I can’t allow you to do that,” the human female protested.
Darkness snarled at her next. “What is your name?”
“Heather.”
“I’m your worst fucking nightmare, Heather. Realize that and stop arguing with me. Do as I say. You come with us in the helicopter. I insist. You can work on her and keep her alive until our doctors have her.”
“Fuck,” Trey muttered. He raised his voice, deepening the tone. “That’s official NSO orders. We have jurisdiction. We’re taking over the scene and your ambulance.” He pushed forward and stopped before Heather. “You are working for the NSO now until further notice. Let’s go. You heard him.”
Darkness glanced at Trey. The male shrugged. Both of them knew they were overstepping their bounds but he appreciated the male backing him up. Darkness inclined his head, acknowledging the debt.
“Tim and Justice are going to hand us our asses,” he muttered low enough that only Darkness could hear. “But what the hell. That’s your woman.”
Darkness stayed with Kat as they loaded her into the ambulance and drove her down the street. The helicopter had come down in a four-way intersection. Cars were lined up, traffic blocked. A lot of them were outside their cars. Darkness ignored them, yelling out orders for the paramedics to carry Kat to the helicopter. Heather looked frightened but she boarded with them.
Missy sat next to Book. He held her against his body, as if she had a hard time sitting upright without assistance. Two of their males had her pets on their laps. The dog looked fine but the kitten appeared terrified, its claws digging in Jinx’s vest. He petted its back, his face lowered, lips moving as if he talked to it.
Darkness took the floor after helping secure the backboard along the bench seat. He kept close to Heather since they couldn’t buckle in. He gripped the underside of the bench and glared at her.
“I’ll make sure you don’t fall. Keep your attention on Kat. Don’t let her die.” He had to speak loudly to be heard.
“This is insane!” she yelled. “She needs to be taken to a hospital.”
Trey closed the side door and crouched next to them, grabbing a strap since there was nowhere to sit. He snatched a headset, yelled at the pilot. “We’re a go. Fly like you’ve never flown before, Darren.”
The helicopter lifted straight up, fast. They banked hard. Darkness hooked an arm around Heather when she swayed but she fisted the sides of the backboard, clinging to it. He focused on Kat’s face. She was breathing but her complexion was too pale. She had to survive until they reached Homeland.
Heather drew his attention when she gripped his hand. He turned his head, peered at her. She moved it to her belt, making it clear he should hold her there. He fisted it at her spine. She opened her medical kit and began an IV. He admired her courage and skill as she worked under pressure.Fury believed he’d been drawn to Kat because she was a brave female. He felt no attraction to Heather, despite her pleasing appearance. Memories of Kat surfaced. She’d drawn him like no other. It wounded him, seeing her lying on that backboard when other images were so fresh in his mind—her laughing and even glaring up at him in anger. Such life had sparked in her eyes.