Free Moon Bound by Stephanie Julian Page B

across the street to the parking garage.
    “What?” he asked over his shoulder.
    “She…she injected me with something. I’m not feeling too good.”
    He spared a look at Bella. Shit, she didn’t look good. “What do you mean? Injected you with what?”
    She stumbled and went to her knees before he could catch her. He pulled her to her feet, threw his arm around her waist, tangling momentarily with her small backpack, and made for the stairs.
    He tried to calculate where they were in relation to where his car was. His car was parked in C-lot and they were in E.
    “She had a hypo, got at least half of it in me before I got away. I don’t know what it was, but it’s making me sleepy.”
    They began to climb, Bella leaning more heavily on him with each passing minute. Diego wanted to stop and deal with the other woman but he had to get Bella somewhere safe first. “Come on. Stay with me a little longer.”
    “Sorry, Diego. Wasn’t expecting it.”
    “It’s alright. I shouldn’t have let you go alone.”
    “Can take care of myself…you big oaf.”
    “Yeah, and you’re doing such a great job of it right now.”
    He knew that one would hit its mark and, sure enough, she took a deep breath and put forth a little more effort as they ran.
    But the blonde was gaining on them. He was going to have to take her out, but he’d have to put Bella down to get the knives in his boots.
    He needed to find an alcove. He could put Bella there and—
    Something whizzed by his head. Something small and sharp. Not a bullet, something with…a tail?
    Tranquilizer darts. A shiver raced up his spine. Damn, he hated needles.
    Who the hell was this bitch?
    His gaze raked the area. There, a stairwell, straight ahead.
    “Come on, babe. Just a little further.”
    He heard Bella’s breathing get slower with each second.
    “Trying. Sorry. Stupid.”
    “Just stay with me.”
    Another dart raced by his ear as they ran into the stairwell. Then a thick pane of glass stood between them and their tail, who stopped in the middle of the parking garage and stared at them.
    The woman couldn’t be more than five-foot-two and probably wouldn’t crack a hundred on a scale. But the intent blazing from her pale eyes gave her delicate features weight and purpose.
    She looked like the all-American girl-next-door. Her pixie-short blond hair wisped around a heart-shaped face with a button nose, full lips and big eyes. Not beautiful but pretty.
    Especially when she smiled.
    Like she did right now.
    Except that smile held a wealth of ill will.
    What the hell had Bella done to this woman?
    And what the hell was she smiling about?
    The blow to the back of his head answered that one.

 
    Chapter Five
     
    “I’m on my way back to Philly.”
    Steven didn’t bother to identify himself. He knew Cole would realize who it was immediately.
    “What? What the hell’s going on?” Cole asked, his voice breaking slightly over a bad connection. “Are you okay? Where’s Bella?”
    “She’s still there. Something’s happened. Something I can’t talk about over the phone. I’ll explain when I get there but the Mal know about your congress .”
    “ Shit . How the hell did they find out?” Cole’s voice took on a low growl. “I do not need this now. And what the hell happened with you and Bella last night? She left me a message at the hotel this morning so she wouldn’t have to talk to me and now she’s not answering her cell. She told me she was on her way out here and she’d see me early tomorrow. What’d you do to my sister, you bastard?”
    Steven blamed himself for the frustration and anger in Cole’s voice. “I screwed up. But I’ll fix this. I’ll make sure Bella gets out there then I’ll take care of my problem.”
    “Problem? What problem?” Cole’s tone changed immediately. “Damn it, are you okay?”
    Steven took a deep breath, wondering the same thing. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
    “Then don’t worry about Bella. I’ve got Diego