The Hob (The Gray Court 4) by Dana Marie Bell Read Free Book Online

something in the redcap’s face that had him screeching like a troll giving birth. Kael, released, reeled back, sucking in air and coughing.
    Leaving Michaela open for the blow the redcap almost landed.
    Almost.
    Robin grinned up at the redcap as he squeezed its fist, breaking every single bone and joint with a brutal crunching sound. His eyes were a shining, iridescent green, and he didn’t care. Either the sunglasses shielded them or they didn’t. “Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to hit girls?”
    The redcap fell to its knees, in too much agony to even scream.
    The sound of limping footsteps had him glaring in the direction of the redcap’s fleeing partner. A car blew past the entrance to the side street, sending the redcap flying.
    “Crap.” Michaela took off once more, this time in the direction of the accident, a determined expression on her face.
    Robin was stunned. The woman was insane. There was no other explanation.
    Robin didn’t even hesitate. He eliminated the redcap at his feet, and then raced after Michaela as if his hair was on fire, leaving Kael to destroy the remains however he saw fit.
     
    Michaela dashed through the crowd and landed on her knees at the victim’s side. “Call an ambulance!” She quickly assessed the damage, praying the ambulance would arrive in time to save him. It didn’t matter to her that just moments ago he’d been attacking her and her friends. His life was in danger, and Michaela would do her best to save it.
    “He just ran right in front of me.” The panicked tone of voice made it clear that the speaker was the driver of the vehicle who had hit her patient. Michaela didn’t even look up. She didn’t have time. She began CPR, counting out thirty compressions before she pinched his nose, tilted his head back, and breathed for him. She kept it going despite the ache in her wrist causing her to see spots before her eyes.
    Definitely a bad sprain, one she’d have to wrap. She’d have to find a nice colorful bandage the kids would enjoy.
    Time to breathe for him again. She barely noticed the protective stance Ringo had taken up behind her and to one side, or the sound of Kael keeping the crowd back. She had a patient under her hands and that was all that mattered.
    “They want to talk to you.”
    Michaela nodded absently at the stranger and accepted the cell phone. She balanced it between her shoulder and her ear as she kept the compressions going. “This is Michaela Exton, I’m an RN with Philadelphia General Hospital. I’ve got a patient on the ground, nonresponsive. Performing CPR. Vic ran out into traffic and was hit by a car. I need the ambulance to come in hot.” She handed the cell phone back to the stranger. “Thanks.” She breathed for him again, two quick breaths that barely moved his barrel chest.
    She bit back the urge to spit when she was done. What was that funky taste in his mouth? It was like old mushrooms. Blech. She’d have to avoid ordering mushrooms on her pizza later.
    She heard sirens in the distance and knew help was almost there. Even better, the man beneath her began to breathe on his own. Michaela took his pulse, and while it was not as steady as she would’ve liked it was there. If they could stabilize him in the ambulance he stood a good chance of surviving.
    “Why?”
    Michaela looked up at Ringo, most of her attention still on her patient, monitoring his breathing and heart rate. “Why what?”
    “Why did you save him?”
    She didn’t like it, but she understood why he asked. Most other people wouldn’t have hesitated to leave their attacker to his fate, but Michaela just wasn’t built that way. “This is who I am.” She looked down at her patient, smiling when she saw his eyes were open. She stroked his cheek, knowing that simple human touch would reassure him despite the pain he must be in. “Hey. My name’s Michaela and I’m a nurse. You’re going to be just fine, okay?”
    The man studied her for a moment,