Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey

Author:Dani Pettrey [Pettrey, Dani]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: FIC042040, FIC042060, FIC027110, Ecoterrorism—Fiction
ISBN: 9781441265159
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2014-12-09T16:00:00+00:00

16

Red lights swirled in disorienting patterns as Kirra sat in the ambulance with Reef, thick green blankets brought by the EMTs draped over her, their scratchiness incongruent with their sickeningly sweet floral fabric softener scent.

Reef’s arm was draped across her shoulders—shoulders hunched and trembling.

She was tired of being cold. Tired of being chased. Tired of being threatened.

Father, let this end.

Not yet, my child.

Why not?

It isn’t time.

She fought the urge to nuzzle into Reef’s chest and allow the tears buried deep inside to finally spring forth. After what had just occurred, any onlookers would attribute her reaction to the near drowning. But she couldn’t let go. Not yet.

Why wasn’t she ready to fully release all the pent-up sorrow and pain? Because she feared if she fully acknowledged what she’d been holding inside for so long, it would overwhelm her, flood her, and she’d break. She wasn’t strong enough. She was getting by, but healing took work, courage, strength she didn’t have.

Reef rubbed her arm. “You doing okay?”

She nodded. Despite the pain, despite the shame, she always managed to keep her chin up. Maybe she had a little bit of her grandma Alice’s hutzpah, as her aunt Sarah always called grandmother’s special strength and vivacity. Even in her death Alice had gone with style—the only person in the hospital to wear a purple silk robe over the required gown, and a rhinestone flower pin in her thinning hair. She’d held her own right until the end, when she’d whispered, “Off to the next adventure” with her last breath.

Kirra gazed around at the ambulance lights bouncing like red fireflies off the icy road’s surface. She supposed this—terrifying as it might be—was a kind of adventure. It was definitely a journey, and she was paired with the least-expected yet truly perfect companion. She couldn’t have asked God for a better one.

Kevin Hoffman hurried around the end of the steadily growing vehicle line and climbed into the ambulance. “Kirra, I came as soon as I heard.”

“That’s sweet, but I’m fine. Really.”

He squatted beside her, concern fast on his face. “What happened?”

“The steering went out,” Reef explained.

Kevin’s brows arched. “Malfunction?”

Reef looked down at Kirra, confirmation in his eyes. They were both thinking the same thing. Might as well say it.

“I . . .” She looked at Reef. “We think it was the man who’s been following us.”

“Following you?” Kevin said, confusion and alarm filling his voice. “You never said anything about someone following you.”

“We weren’t sure . . .”

“Until now,” Reef added. “I saw him standing on the bridge when we came out of the water.”

“You saw him?” Kirra asked, turning to look up at him. “But we don’t know what he looks like. Are you sure?”

Reef nodded. “When I saw him, how he was looking at us—angry and stiff—I just knew.”

“But you’ve seen him before?” Kevin asked.

“We didn’t see his face, but he tried to gun us down back at the race.”

Kevin’s mouth gaped. “Gun you down? Kirra, why didn’t you tell me?”

“It didn’t seem pertinent.

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