Free No More Running by Jayton Young Page B

saved me and helped me escape Chuck in the first place.  “Think back on it, Claire.  I think the bullet was aimed at you.  I got hit as you pulled me behind you.  This is exactly how he did it last time.  He hurts those around me, then he’ll come after me, but I know it couldn’t be Doc.”
    Garret came into the room as I was saying that.  “I just found out he was brought into the ER a couple of hours ago.  He had an accident in his car.”
    “Oh no!  Is he alright?”
    “Yes, he’s okay.”  He answered coming to my bed slowly.  I could see the bags under his eyes and could tell he was still feeling weak.  “They’re trying to get him to stay overnight for monitoring; he has a slight concussion, but he said he knows the symptoms and that he’ll be fine.  He wants to come check on you, and should be here in a little bit.”
    I relaxed hearing that, but I was getting angry.  Here, if I’m right, was an attempt on three people around me.  I had to figure something out to stop him.
    “It’s not your fault, Dina,” I looked at Garret and saw the sincerity in his eyes.  “And we will figure something out.”
    “I don’t agree that it’s not my fault, but I will agree that we will figure something out.”  I told him.  “I won’t let that asshole hurt anymore of my friends.  Speaking of which, will someone go talk to Mr. and Mrs. Davis and let them know to keep a look-out?  You’re keeping tabs on Mrs. Chambers aren’t you?”
    “Yes, Margie is still with Rose, and I’ve got some people watching her house.  I’ll have somebody check in and keep an eye on the Davis’.  They do know something happened, though.  They were here to visit both you and me earlier.”
    “Thank you.”  I grabbed his hand.  “I’m so sorry that this happened to you.”
    “I’ll only say this one more time, and I better not hear you say it again.  This. Is. Not. Your. Fault.  You can’t help the fact that someone is after you.  I’ve got someone working on figuring out where Chuck is and what he is doing.  Once we figure that out, we’ll be able to decide what moves to make to stop him.”
    “Good.  I would love for this to be over.”  I looked over to Claire and Stefan to include them in the conversation.  Claire was standing beside Stefan, holding on to his arm.  They looked like a couple.  Then it hit me.  All the little gestures I’d seen between the two of them; they were a couple.  If not, they wanted to be.  I lifted one brow at Claire as I continued whispering to Stefan, and she blushed when she saw me.
    “Well when can I sign myself out of here?  I think we should hurry and settle wherever we’re going to be and set up security.”  I concentrated on Stefan to let him know I was directing the next statement at him.  “I’m going to rest for a day, if possible, and then I want to get back to training in self-defense.  I might not be able to be the best fighter, but I really want to be prepared next time he comes.”
    They all nodded, Stefan went to get the Doctor for my release papers and the rest of us talked about ways to prepare us all for direct and indirect confrontations, because we all knew there would be something else coming; probably sooner rather than later.  Stefan joined us again saying the doctor would be in after his rounds.
    There was a knock on the door, and Doc came walking in.  By the look on his face, I knew whatever he had to say, I wasn’t going to like.
     
     
    Chapter 9
     
     
    “I was run off of the road, Diana.  It was not an accident.”  Doc told me gravely as he came over to stand next to my bed.  He walked stiffly and I could tell he was still hurting.
    “Did you get a look at the car?”  Stefan asked.  I could tell he was still skeptical as to whether Doc was innocent, but he would have to deal with it.  Doc was my friend, just as they were, and I trusted him no matter what they said.
    “Not really.  I was able to give a