Alice made a decision. If she was going to put their lives in danger by driving them around, they would at least be heading in the right direction. Hope Haven Medical Center couldn’t have been more than five or ten minutes away from here.
She looked at Sebastian one final time, taking in the long dark eyelashes, his straight nose, thin lips. The long sideburns were an interesting fashion statement, but the short, thick hair kind of went with the whole James Dean look he had going. The white silk shirt hidden beneath a black leather jacket similarly matched the tight leather pants he wore. Silver-tipped black boots rounded out the ensemble, and Alice was certain of his playboy status. Nothing about him said “cheap” either, especially not his ride.
“You’d better be worth it, pretty boy,” she muttered.
The engine hummed to life, and Alice exhaled. She closed her eyes, luxuriating against the gentle vibration beneath her body and the soft cushion of the leather seat as it engulfed her. Classical music eased from the speakers, relaxing her even further. Drug dealer or not, Bast had nice taste.
Hand on the gearstick, she shifted then pulled away from the parking space. Just like riding a bike. Man, the car drove like a cloud. If she touched a pothole, damn if she could feel it. Hell, she could probably run over some roadkill, push a button a second later and car wash attendants would rain down from a helicopter to clean the tires. Rides like this didn’t happen every day for sure. Nice.
She chanced a few glances at him during the drive, in between straining her vision for any cops who might be out and about. No matter how she tried to convince herself they wouldn’t know she didn’t have a license, it didn’t stop her heart from thumping into her throat.
If she wanted to keep her sanity, nothing like finding something else to do to help. Even the gorgeous car couldn’t ease her anxiety completely. “So, Seba—Bast,” she said to his unconscious form, “how’d a guy like you end up in a place like this?” When he didn’t respond, she kept talking. “Me? Just looking for some dinner. It’s amazing what people throw away, especially near some of the trendier places.” She kept wishing he would say something. “People like you don’t worry about money or making your dollar stretch. People like me? Well, we have to count every penny.”
“Why?”
Alice bit back another shriek. “Don’t do that!” She chanced another look at him. No improvement in his pallor. Sweat-slickened hair clung to his forehead. “Either be conscious or unconscious, not slipping in and out. And especially give a girl some warning before you start talking out of nowhere.”
Bast leaned forward, his soft groan increasing her worry about his condition. “Sorry.” His eyelids looked like they might close at any moment and not lift again. “Where are we?”
Alice returned her focus to the road. “Hanover and Forty.”
A pause. “Wrong direction.”
“I know, but...listen, whatever you’re going through, you need some medical help. I know someone who tried to handle DTs on his own once—”
“DTs?” Bast laughed, a dry hacking sound. “Lady, I’m not in DTs.”
“Then what’s wrong with you?”
“Hungry.”
She frowned, certain she hadn’t heard him correctly. “I suppose that explains the blood and the fever?”
He shifted in his seat. “Might.” Bast twisted, peering into the back window. “Turn around. Go to Lincoln and Fourth.”
“But—”
“Please. I’m asking you nicely. Please go to Lincoln and Fourth.”
She would regret this, seriously hate herself for giving in later, but Alice slowed at the next intersection and did a quick U-turn, almost swiping a parked Toyota in the process. If Bast noticed the near miss, he didn’t mention it. Her nerves however, went into overdrive.
Watching the street signs, she bit her lip, willing their destination to get here sooner rather than later. The more she thought about what she was doing, the more her stomach began to hurt. “Maybe you should keep talking. Might help keep you from passing out.”