Free Redemption (Jane #4) by Samantha Warren

PROLOGUE
     
    The world spun as I tried to
stand. At least it remained blurry instead of fading completely to
black. I realized after a couple seconds that standing wasn't going
to be an option. The most I could muster was rolling to my side. My
cheek rested against the rough pavement and I could smell blood--my
blood. A quick glance to the side told me that a lot of it lay on
the ground under me and the sight set my stomach pulsing.
    I coughed and more blood
splattered the blacktop. I placed my right hand on the tarred
surface and pushed, giving myself enough leverage to bring my left
elbow underneath me. I balanced there, fighting against the
nauseating twirl of the planet. A few deep breaths later and I had
my digestive system under control. Turning my head slowly, I
surveyed the scene.
    Several feet away, I could see
two vampires I didn't recognize. Both were laying on the pavement.
One, a female, looked like her neck was broken. She stared at me,
eyes and mouth wide, but didn't move. I couldn't tell if she was
dead or alive from that distance. The male was missing an arm and a
leg. He lay on his back, his remaining hand pressed to his chest. I
could see blood dripping down his side to join the ever-growing
pool beneath him. His chest rose and fell in jagged breaths while
his lips moved. If he was saying anything coherent, I was too far
away to hear him.
    A familiar boot off to my left
drew my gaze. I cringed as I recognized the man attached to
it--Jax. He was on his side, his back to me, unmoving. With his
armor, I couldn't tell if he was still breathing. A quick glance
around showed no others from my team, so I made it my goal to help
Jax if I could. Using what little strength I had, I pulled myself
forward, grunting with the effort. Something below my ribcage but
above my hips felt wrong and my legs wouldn't work properly. I've
never been one for biology and I pushed aside thoughts of permanent
disability while reminding myself that vampires can heal better
than any other species on the planet.
    After several agonizingly
painful minutes, I'd dragged myself the ten feet to Jax. His eyes
were closed, his face covered in blood. I leaned in close, sending
up a silent prayer. I almost cried aloud when I heard the faint,
gasping breaths echoing from his partially opened mouth. Shoving my
hand up under his body armor, I felt around for the cause of his
incapacitated state and found it quickly. In his chest, just under
his arm where the armor stops to allow freedom of movement, was a
hole. After a bit more searching, I found the accompanying exit
wound.
    As I reached for the first aid
kit on my belt, I heard a roar behind me. I jerked my head around,
cursing inwardly as the world tilted and my stomach heaved. My left
arm gave out and I landed heavily on my back, gasping for air while
I fought the urge to vomit all over myself. I turned my head to the
right, toward the growling sound that continued unabated. Felipe
lay pinned beneath our Humvee, his muscles bulging as he attempted
to push the vehicle off his lower extremities. My gaze was drawn to
his left, though, where a blood-covered female vampire stalked
toward him, her lips curled into a vicious snarl, makeshift stake
in hand.
    My nostrils flared and my eyes
burned with tears that were sure to shed. Donna. Her clothes were
in tatters, her hair a mess. I could barely recognize her through
the dirt and blood stains on her face, neck, and arms, but it was
most definitely Donna--the bubbly, dog-grooming fashionista who had
been my first friend at the sanctuary. And she was heading toward
my boyfriend with a very sharp, very deadly piece of wood.
    "Noooo." The voice sounded
hoarse, pained, and unfamiliar, but I knew it was mine. My body
moved before I thought to move, trying to draw itself toward the
fallen vampire. I reached out a hand, clawing at the black stones,
pulling myself forward. Felipe turned his head from the Hummer,
seeing the oncoming attacker, then tilted his