Chapter Six

 

 

 

 

 

Returning to her seat, having more fun than she’d ever expected, Ashlynn took a long drink of her iced, disguised as beer in a Corona bottle compliments of Sampson, as Leslie came bouncing her way giggling like a schoolgirl. “Damn Ash, I didn’t think you had it in you. Getting spanked by a Dom in a leather mask? What will the other doctors say?”

“Who gives a shit? It’s a party,” she whooped, drinking what was left of her tea before slamming the empty bottle down on the table and laughing, “So, tell me Dr. Party Pants, how am I doin’?”

“I’m givin’ you an A for attitude with a positive outlook for a clean sweep on the rest of the night.”

“Have you been able to persuade tall, dark and hooded hottie to go home with you yet?” Ashlynn asked, having witnessed her friend’s dogged pursuit of a certain Dom with smoky grey eyes and a tattoo of a black panther covering the left side of his chest.

“I’m wearing him down, Ash. Ya’ know what they say, the best part of getting the guy is the chase.” Leslie laughed out loud, setting her empty glass on the table alongside her others. “And girl, I’m havin’ a damn fine time.”

“Get ‘em, Les,” the young doctor hollered at her friend’s back as the phone in her back pocket began to vibrate.

Pulling the red-and-white-heart-covered device from her pocket, Ash immediately read ‘911’ on the screen and headed for the door. Typing and sending her response as she went. ‘On the way. ETA 15 minutes.’

Reaching for the knob, her hand collided with another much larger, much colder one. Looking up, ready to yell at whoever was in her way, Ash tried to remain calm as her eyes met Sampson’s. Holding up her phone, she explained, “Gotta go. One of my patients just took a turn for the worst.”

“Oh shit,” he responded. “Do your friends know?”

Feeling horrible that she hadn’t thought about Leslie, Cecily or the others, Ashlynn shook her head and started to turn, but Sampson’s free hand on her shoulder stopped her in her tracks as he spoke into his headset, “Hey Axel, when this part of the act dies down and the ladies are waiting for the last set of guys, can you tell Leslie and Cecily that Ashlynn had an emergency at the hospital.”

There was a second of silence before Sampson nodded, “Will do, Brother. Thank you.” Wrapping the hand that had been on her shoulder around her hand, he opened the door with the other and pulled her along, calling over his shoulder, “Come on, I’ll get you out of here as quick as I can.”

Jogging to keep up with the long strides of the man she would always think of as ‘the Viking’, Ashlynn typed, ‘Need vitals’ on her phone and hit send as they traveled down one hall, made a left, and headed towards the soft, sensual music of the dancefloor at the front of the club.

Stopping just short of running into Sampson’s back as she was reading the message on her phone, Ash pushed up onto her toes and with her mouth close to his ear asked, “What’s the holdup?”

Turning to the side, she saw the frown on Sampson’s face as he gruffly replied, “Looks like Security’s breaking up some kind of scuffle. Thankfully it doesn’t happen very often. Mostly because if you cause any kind of disturbance you’re banned for life and Alaric, the owner, has a really long memory.”

“Is there any other way out? I hate to be a pain in the ass, but I need to get to Children’s Medical Center down off Harry Hines Blvd as soon as possible.”

Without answering, the Viking touched the button on his headset and ordered, “Get me a taxi. Have them out front and ready to roll in two minutes. Tell them there’s a hundred-dollar tip in it for them if they can get the fares to Children’s Medical in ten minutes.” 

Astounded that a man she’d just met, a vampire to boot, would help her in such a way, filled Ashlynn with hope. Her mom had always said she should look for signs of faith at work, and that when she found them, it meant there were more to come. Ash could only pray her mom had been right and that the good fortune she was having would spread over to her patient.

“Hold on,” was the only warning she got before Sampson lifted her feet off the floor, placed her over his shoulder and in a loud booming voice announced, “Outta the way people. Make a path. Injured guest needs medical attention. Make a path. Make a damn path, will ya’?”

Not putting up a fuss because he was getting her through the crowd, Ash still couldn’t help being embarrassed that her butt was in the air while being carried out of the hottest nightclub in Dallas by a really good-looking Vampire. Keeping her eyes closed tight, not wanting to ogle her new friend’s backside, she knew the second they’d crossed over onto the dancefloor when the clomp of the heels of Sampson’s boots could be heard over the loud music.

Praying to God, no one recognized her or rather her ass, what Sampson had said before throwing her over his shoulder finally registered in her otherwise occupied brain. So, it was true. Alaric, the elusive millionaire or billionaire or insanely rich man, however, someone described him in one of the many articles written about him, was a Vampire. She guessed that explained his elusive nature and the mystical look he exuded in every photograph she’d ever seen. It was probably easier to stay out of the limelight whenever possible, even though Vampires had been ‘out of the coffin’ for years.

They were blamed for any and every crime committed, at least in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio where she had hospital privileges and tended to be. It really was a shame that Vampires were treated so badly after admitting that they truly did exist. She’d always been of the opinion that if they felt more comfortable, maybe some would come forward and consent to have their blood studied. Who knew, maybe there was something in there that could be synthesized to help others of their kind, as well as humans. But as it was, she knew there was a real danger of them becoming little more than lab rats to some overzealous, megalomaniac hell-bent on world domination.

Pulled from her thoughts as Sampson put her feet on the floor and turned her towards the door, Ashlynn spoke over her shoulder as she rushed to the waiting cab. “Thank you so very much, Sampson. You’ve been a lifesaver. I owe you lunch or coffee.”

“No problem, anyt…”

“Sampson!” The roar came from somewhere behind them cutting off whatever the Viking was about to say. “Sampson! Stop! Now! Get her back here.” The voice continued as Ash jumped into the cab and Sampson slammed the door, pounding on the trunk of the bright yellow vehicle as a signal for the driver to go.

Squealing away from the curb, driving well over the speed limit, Ash reached for her seatbelt and took a glance out the back window, wanting to at least mouth another ‘Thank you’ to Sampson. What she saw had her turning completely around and getting on her knees to make sure her eyes weren’t deceiving her.

There, in the middle of the street, was Sampson holding back an obviously pissed off Alaric, aka, sexy club owner. Trying to look more closely as the taxi sped away, Ashlynn attempted to read the Vampire’s lips, but sadly, she was too far away.

Taking her seat and buckling her belt after nearly being thrown onto the floor when the cab driver took a corner on two wheels, Ashlynn forgot about whatever was happening at CRAVE as her phone once again alerted her to another text message. Reading the words, ‘Prepping for Surgery. Stent is malfunctioning.’, she could only pray that she got there in time. Her only priority at the moment was saving Timmy James, not a night out with friends, not a new friend, not even a millionaire Vampire she almost got to meet.

“Life and death never takes a break. Hold on Timmy, I’m coming.”