Free Out of the Shadows by L.K. Below Page B

everywhere.
    This time, he exited in a familiar neighborhood. She followed him to Underground, but waited outside the building. Seeing as she’d called in sick to work again today, she didn’t want to be caught on the premises. What sort of trouble could he get into at the club, anyway?
    Waiting brought a numbness to her sneakered feet. There wasn’t a lot of snow on the ground, just enough moisture to seep through her shoes. She needed boots, but she would break her feet trying to stuff them into her last pair. Boots and heavy winter jackets were expensive. But if she was going to be spending her winter nights doing this, she almost wanted to dip into her meager savings.
    Seconds turned into minutes, which would no doubt be hours before long. Heaven stamped her feet, trying to encourage circulation.
    Wait. Was that movement in the alley? A spotlight at the corner of Underground blinded her as she stared. Yes, definitely movement. She jogged across the street and laid herself flat against the wall as she eased her head around the corner. Careful…
    Somebody cried out in pain. A feminine voice. Heaven whipped her head those last few inches around the corner of the building to view the scene.
    Her target stood over Scissors prone form, fists raised. A red mark across Scissors’s chin, from whatever had likely thrown her to the ground. A garbage bag was open, contents strewn, clearing explaining her presence in the alley.
    As for the killer, he must have followed her out the back.
    The man fisted his hands in the long portion of Scissors’s jagged hair. “Tell me where he is!”
    “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him in weeks.”
    Terrence, most likely. Tears streamed down Scissors’s oval face, her skin preternaturally pale. Would she faint? Tell him anything . But Scissors wouldn’t lie.
    Heaven stood poised in indecision. Would she let yet another person die? Let alone someone as sweet as Scissors? No. Not this time.
    Empty beer bottles littered the ground, pouring from the torn garbage bag. Heaven knew firsthand how dangerous those could be. A plan of action formed in her mind. Crazy. She might not live through it. But no more people would die before her eyes.
    Digging her hand into her pocket, she pulled out the prepaid cellphone she’d found. Dialing 9-1-1 took seconds. She laid it on the ground as the man delivered another cry-wrenching blow to Scissors. No time to waste.
    Racing into the alley, she bent to fish a single beer bottle. One solid smack against the corner of the Dumpster broke it. The edges sharp. Heaven placed herself between Scissors and the murderer.
    “Go,” she said over her shoulder. “Get out of here.”
    From the scrape of shoes against the pavement, Scissors obeyed. Thank God.
    Heaven squared off against the man. A twisted sneer mangled his face as he pulled out a weapon of his own. A stake made of metal. Heaven swallowed.
    Could she buy herself enough time for the police to arrive?
     

 
    Chapter 8
     
    Frantic pounding sounded from Lori’s door. Devin again? But the voice which called out, although equally familiar, was in no way masculine.
    “Lori! Lori, please, are you there?”
    Crossing her room in two steps, Lori wrenched open the door. Scissors tumbled in, nearly knocking them both to the ground. Lori gasped at her appearance.
    Bleeding lip, swollen chin on one side, eyes puffy from crying and tears wetting too pale skin. “Scissors, what happened?”
    The faux-vampire couldn’t support her own weight without lines of agony etched into grooves around her mouth and on her forehead. Steering her over to the bed, Lori forced her to sit. Then she dashed into the bathroom for a paper cup of cold water.
    Scissors drank gratefully. Her shoulders still shook as she swallowed. When she held out the cup, Lori refilled it.
    Finally, her tears dried enough for her to talk. “What happened?” Lori coaxed, trying to keep her tone sympathetic. Comfort wasn’t exactly in her