Blood Empire Reborn, page 29
Seeing the barrel sweep his way, Luke dove to the ground, grunting as he scraped his elbow. Maggie fired again. Glass shattered. The vampire screamed.
“Maggie, hold fire!” Luke yelled.
“Ok!” She sounded panicky, her voice rising a register.
He rolled onto his hands and knees and scrambled up, using the car door to pull himself up. The vampire Maggie had just shot writhed on the ground, trying to crawl away on one arm. Luke stabbed the fanger through the heart and pulled the gladius out with a grunt. The vampire dissolved into goo.
“Luke, this one back here’s trying to get out,” Maggie called.
Luke jogged around the back of the car, hobbling a bit as he went. When he cleared the trunk, he kicked out and caught the vampire in the teeth. He reached back and pulled the rudis from the scabbard on his back.
“Luke, someone’s coming,” Maggie said, stepping between him and whatever had drawn her attention.
Luke perked his ear up. Around the corner, headlights illuminated the road as a car crept forward. Luke’s shoulders fell as he shook his head. The sound of motorcycle engines joined the sound of the car’s engine.
“Back into the truck!” he called.
He took one last look at the vampire he’d not have time to drain, stabbed it so at least it wouldn’t rise to chase them, then took off, running as fast as his banged-up body allowed. He managed to put his gladius back in his hip scabbard as he darted around the end of the trailer. While running by, he bent down and snagged the rifle off the ground. Tossing the rudis onto the driver’s seat, he climbed into the cab, carefully handing Maggie the rifle. With his hands free, he moved his rudis onto the sleeper bed and pulled the door closed.
Putting the truck into gear, Luke pulled forward, the trailer grinding over the fifth wheel as he drove out from under it. When he was free from the trailer blocking the road and narrow shoulders, a hill on one side and a drop off on the other, he coaxed the truck faster. Without the weight of the trailer, the truck accelerated more quickly, though the added bulk of the trailer had been an effective weapon when bashing their way through the blockade earlier.
“That’ll at least block the cars. There’s not a road that’ll get them around for a while. They’ll have to backtrack quite a ways. Hopefully we can get some distance from them and lose ourselves,” Luke said. Maggie nodded shakily. He laid his right hand on her thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You’re doing great.”
He looked into the mirrors. A single headlight worked around the end of the trailer, and another one was trying to get around the nose of the trailer.
“Maggie, can you reload that shotgun, please? Those motorcycles are working around the trailer. I want to make sure we have options.”
She nodded again, grabbing the shells from her ammo belt and feeding them into the bottom of the shotgun. Despite her trembling hands, she reloaded the shotgun quickly. After she set the weapon down, she grabbed the radio from the cubby. “I should check in with Pablo.”
“Good to hear from you, buddy,” Pablo said from the radio Maggie held toward Luke. “You get rid of that pesky wagon you were draggin’?”
Luke chuckled. “Yeah. We’re bobtailin’ our way to you as we speak, although we’re about to have more company—motorcycles.”
“Do you need us to come back and help?” Concern tinged Pablo’s voice.
“Not for now. We’ll let you know. Your main task is still to get those kids across the border.”
Even though the truck was lighter without the trailer, the sport bikes were still faster and more maneuverable. Soon, the first two bikes were speeding after them. Luke swerved back and forth across the road as he tried to pick up more speed. The lazy side-to-side kept the motorbikes occupied on the narrow road. When Luke checked the mirrors, he saw a few more motorcycles. The trailer would block cars, but it would only slow down motorcycles briefly.
“Maggie, can you roll that window down?” Luke reached over and found the button to roll his window down. “Have your shotgun ready.”
“Shoot out of the truck?” Maggie sounded uncertain.
“If we need to.” Luke yanked the wheel hard, sending a bike swerving off the road. He chuckled as the bike disappeared into the darkness.
Maggie adjusted the shotgun, holding it in her left hand with her right hand on the pump so she could aim out the window. Luke swerved to the right. The biker, concentrating on getting around Luke, nearly ran into the truck but hit the brakes and skidded behind the truck. Settling in the middle of the narrow two-lane road, Luke looked back to see a cluster of single headlights moving about like a school of fish as they darted in and out and side to side.
“Maggie, they seem to be holding back for a second. I’ve got a bandolier of ammo under my hoodie. Can you unzip me and then unhook me? It won’t do us much good hidden away and my hands are busy driving.”
Maggie unbuckled her seatbelt and crawled onto her seat, then the center console. Reaching around Luke’s arms, she unzipped his hoodie, then pulled it off his arms so he could continue swerving. She pulled back the shoulder of the hoodie, slipped her finger under the leather ammo bandolier, and worked it around until the buckle was within reach. Once she unbuckled it, she warned Luke she was about to pull it around. While she removed it, he kept the wheel still, but as soon as she was back in her seat, he returned to the back and forth.
“They doing anything?” Maggie asked.
Luke took quick peeks into his door mirrors. “I can’t tell. I think they’re just tailing us for now. Nope. A pair are moving up, one on each side.”
“O-o-o-OK.” Maggie took several steadying breaths.
“Maggie. You can do this. Keep the gun low, point it out and down, then pull the trigger. If they don’t go down, fire again. Be sure to brace yourself, it’s going to kick.” Luke reached back and pulled his shotgun up, setting it on the dash in front of him where he could grab it easily.
Sweeping his eyes from the left mirror to the road in front of them then to the right mirror, Luke tried to keep everything in play. The two bikers were making their break toward the outsides of the road and as soon as they were lined up, they gunned the gas and shot forward.
“Luke, he’s pulling out a gun!” Maggie said, bracing herself and standing as best as she could in the limited space. She took quick aim and fired.
Luke took a moment to enjoy the bike flipping and tumbling onto the side of the hill. Reaching onto the dash, he grabbed the shotgun and slipped the safety off. With his leg propped up against the bottom of the wheel to hold it steady, he took his other hand off the wheel and pumped a round into the chamber, putting the hand back onto the wheel. He nestled the heat shield covered barrel in the crook of his left elbow, peeping out of his peripherals to track the upcoming vampire. Judging the road straight enough for the next bit, he took aim and fired off a round. The motorcycle flopped over as the shot tore into the rider, pushing him away. The bike skidded along the pavement, sending up sparks as it bounced over the asphalt, dragging its rider along with it. He pumped another round into the firing chamber and returned the gun to the dash, the smell of gunpowder smoke wafting through the cab.
“There’s a car blocking the road ahead,” Maggie called, pointing forward.
He had no idea how the car had made it between them and their other vehicles, but better this than blocking the whole caravan. They must have guessed the route and zipped around to find a cross road. However they’d managed it, the feel of vampire grew steadily as they closed the distance between them and the car blocking the intersection.
Luke checked the mirrors—the motorcycles were pulling back but not stopping. “Gun down, safety on, and buckle up!”
Luke grabbed the Winchester on the dash and flicked the safety on, handing the gun to Maggie to secure. Everything in place, he pushed the pedal down, picking up speed. He didn’t even bother reaching up to blow the air horn. He stared straight ahead, adjusting the aim of the truck slightly to the right.
They smashed into the front quarter panel, pushing the car forward as it spun, the rear slamming into the side of the truck. Every jolt shook them, bouncing them in the cab and drawing gasps and squeaks from Maggie. Once they blasted through the intersection, Luke focused on calming his breathing. He reached across the center console and squeezed Maggie’s forearm.
“Luke, I’m scared,” Maggie said, her voice small.
“Me too.”
She turned her head and grabbed his hand in hers. “Are we going to make it?”
“I’m going to do everything I can to make sure we do,” he replied.
When he checked the mirrors again, his tails were still there. After he dealt with the first few who’d tried making runs on them, they seemed content to merely follow and relay their position to their fanged comrades.
“Maggie?”
“Yes, Luke?
“Do you trust me?” Luke asked, squeezing her hand.
“Yes. Explicitly.” She picked up his hand and kissed the back of it.
Luke drew in a breath and held it, releasing it slowly. “We’re never going to outrun them in this beast. We need to draw them away from our people. If they think we’re bringing up the rear, they’ll keep following us. We’re probably out of range of Pablo on the radio. Turn it off. Send them a message that they’re on their own and should make for the border as fast as they can.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Can you turn my phone off? Let’s save the battery on it.”
“What’s your plan?” Maggie asked.
“How would you like to visit Luxembourg?”
“If I’d known, I’d have packed fancier clothes. I hear it’s pretty swanky,” Maggie replied.
Luke chuckled, glad Maggie could make a joke under the circumstances. “I love you, Maggie.”
“I love you, too.”
“I’m hoping they won’t mess with Luxembourg. The pack there is pretty wealthy. Pieter told me they’re involved in a lot of high-end banking and loans for the various European packs. I’m guessing the local packs won’t want to mess with their financiers and persuade their masters to not rock the boat.” Luke checked the mirrors again. “Although, it won’t do us any good unless we can shake these assholes.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN
With Maggie’s help, he found a patch of road along their northeasterly trajectory that would work well for Luke’s purposes. He went over his simple plan with Maggie, ensuring she knew her part and how to best help him. Maggie took the opportunity to reload the shotguns and slide a new magazine into the Steyr, though he doubted they’d need it.
Since they had a good straightaway, Luke depressed the pedal to get some distance on the bikers, but with their speed, he knew he wouldn’t keep it long. But he didn’t need to keep it long, just long enough.
“Ready?” Luke asked
“Yup.” Maggie braced herself.
Luke locked up the brakes. The truck screeched to a slow halt, shuddering and shaking, on a stretch of dark road lined with trees. As soon as they stopped, Luke put the truck in park. They scrambled out of the cab and around to the front. Maggie looked at Luke, making eye contact.
“Go,” Luke mouthed to Maggie. In French, he yelled, “Go, runaway, go wolf and run as fast as you can.”
Maggie broke cover and ran off the road and into the trees. The high whine of a motorcycle engine revving to life contrasted with the low rumble of the semi’s engine accompanied by the scream of a tire gripping. Luke pumped a shell into the firing chamber and brought the shotgun to his shoulder, raising the barrel. A moment later, a motorcycle ripped past the truck on Luke’s left side.
Luke tracked the biker. As soon as the bike slid to a halt, its rear swerving wide, he fired, taking the biker in the chest and knocking biker and bike over. A second biker, using the first as a distraction, peeled by from the right side of the truck. Grunting, Luke staggered forward, the crack of a gun washing over him. Luke spun around and fired, most of the round sending up the din of metal on the plastic and metal of the motorcycle.
Something must have hit the biker; he staggered, dumping his bike. Luke chambered another round and took aim, firing. The vampire dusted, leaving empty bike gear. Through short gasps, he worked his way to the first biker, his head on a swivel, checking to ensure the vampire was still down and no new bikers were coming around.
The bike must have broken the vampire’s leg when it fell on him. He tried to crawl away, but the motorcycle pinned him down. Luke ended him and spun around as another bike screamed to life. Yanking the bike up, Luke jumped over it, using it as a shield as he crouched behind it. When the fourth motorcycle emerged from behind the truck, it had a second rider on the back, holding an automatic weapon. The biker unleashed fire at Luke as the motorcycle looped around the truck.
A round or two penetrated the bike and slammed into Luke’s armored chest. He fell backward, the bike flopping onto him. He groaned, trying to catch his breath. The smell of gasoline leaking onto the road inspired him to shove the bike off as he pulled himself up, his ribs throbbing under his armor. He ran back toward the front of the truck, ineffectually holding his ribs. With his back to the front of the truck, he grabbed some shells from his pocket and fed them into the magazine of his shotgun.
Creeping around the front, he leapt around the corner, leading with his gun. Instinctively, he ducked when he heard the loud blast of a shotgun. Looking behind the truck, a group of vampires on at least four motorcycles scrambled as another shot rang out. Luke smiled to himself and broke into a run. He started firing toward the cluster. More shots rang out from the trees lining the road. Two vampires went down, dissolving into goo. Luke wasn’t sure if they were his shots of Maggie’s. He only had a few more. When he’d emptied them, he dropped the shotgun and pulled his gladius, charging forward.
Maggie continued firing, only stopping to reload. One of the vampires realized Luke was running at them and turned, pulling a gun. Before it could fire, a shot hit it, blasting it into dust. Luke was on the group before anyone else could react.
He took the first vampire in the chest with this gladius, yanking it out then spinning to deliver a backhanded slash that separated a head from the next vampire. Maggie fired off another round. As several vampires ducked, one at the opposite end of the group fell backwards, writhing.
Luke kicked out, catching one of the ducking vampires in the face and sending it tumbling. Luke swung up with his sword, cutting into the vampire’s side. His gladius caught a rib, so he yanked back and kicked out at the same time. His gladius dislodging, he ducked when Maggie fired another shot. Using his involuntary response, a vampire tackled him, pinning his hand with the gladius to the ground.
Luke tried to scramble back from the gnashing teeth of the vampire fighting to reach his neck. He attempted to punch the vampire in the side using his left hand but couldn’t get any power into it. When he felt the weight shift off his right leg, he brought his knee up between the vampire’s legs. The fanger recoiled, pulling back from Luke a short distance. Using the space, Luke bashed his forehead into the vampire’s face. The impact sent sparks through his vision. The vampire fell back; Luke punched it in the face. The final hit dislodged the vampire’s vise-like grip from Luke’s sword hand.
He plunged the sword into the vampire’s chest.
The weight on Luke disappeared as the vampire dusted. Clamping his mouth shut against inhaling the remains of the vampire, Luke scrambled away until his back bumped into one of the fallen motorcycles. Looking around for the last few vampires, he saw them working their way toward the line of trees where Maggie hid. The pair had left their friend to finish Luke, turning their backs on the dangerous predator in their midst.
Luke picked his way through the debris until he cleared the mess of tumbled bikes then sprinted at the vampires, a loud growl emerging from his throat. The sound halted the fangers’ progress as they turned to see what was behind them, their eyes going wide once they realized it was him. A shotgun fired, and one vampire exploded into goo, spraying Luke. The last vampire tried to run away, but Luke tripped it. When the vampire went down, Luke finished it. He looked around, making sure it was indeed the last of the fangers.
“Luke? Did we get them all?” Maggie asked, still hidden in the line of trees.
“I think so.” Luke reached inside the hoodie to investigate a burning sensation on his arm. He felt a thick slickness. When he pulled his fingers free, they had blood on them. He wished he could drain a vamp, but they’d been too thorough.
“Are you OK?” Maggie asked, drawing close.
“I think so. It’s nothing serious. We can investigate it later. Are you OK?”
Maggie nodded. “I got some scratches, but that’s it.”
“Let’s go.” Luke turned and jogged toward the truck, stopping to pick up the shotgun.
Once they were buckled back in, a wicked grin spread across his face.
“What’s that grin for?” Maggie asked.
He put the truck in reverse and hit the accelerator. As the truck’s dual set of rear wheels crunched over the motorcycles, Luke’s grin grew bigger. When he thought he’d hit them all, he put the truck into gear and aimed for the couple of bikes downed in front of the truck.
Maggie shook her head but had a grin on her face.
“What? You’ve got to take pleasure in the little things or this all gets very tedious,” Luke said.
“Like taking a big thing and crunching little things?” Maggie replied.
Luke loved the twinkle in her eyes. “Exactly.” He sighed, returning to his serious face. “We still have a ways to go though. I think we can change our course now that we shook our tails. By logic and evidence, we should be taking the fastest route out of Belgium into Germany, not winding through country roads toward Luxembourg.”
“Do you think they’ll fall for it?” Maggie asked.
“I hope so. Right now, our job is to buy more time to ensure the team gets the kids to safety. It’s not a big country, so they should be close at this point. What time is it, anyway?”
