The Final Omen: Second Sight Book Four by Heather Topham Wood Page B

recovered,” Jared instructed.
    “You made it, Kate. After months of thinking you were a goner, you’re still here. I’m sorry we didn’t get him before you got hurt, but we’re going to catch him before anything can happen again,” Declan promised.
    Kate nodded and turned her head to face the hospital wall. The assurances of her safety were thoughtful, but she had a feeling her ordeal hadn’t ended. Not only was her assailant at large but she was also helpless if he went after her again. Her body had been mutilated and it would likely be months before she’d heal. She couldn’t expect Jared to always be around to keep her safe.
    She pushed the depressing thoughts out of her head. She had too much to be grateful for and didn’t want her attacker to force her back into being scared for her life every waking moment. Between the three of them, the man who tried to kill her wouldn’t be on the run for much longer.

Chapter Eight
    Kate parked her Toyota at the curb of her house. It was a moonless night and the streetlights provided very little illumination. Her house was dark with only the porch light guiding the path to her front door. Surveying the driveway, she found her mom’s car wasn’t parked in her usual spot. Instead of exiting the car, Kate retrieved her phone from her purse and dialed Jared’s number.
    “You’ve reached Jared Corbett, please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”
    Kate groaned as she disconnected the call. “Where are you?” she hissed aloud.
    She punched in the code to her voicemail and replayed the saved messages. Jared’s breathless voice erupted into her ear. “Kate…I’m not sure what’s going to happen tonight, but I want you to know I love you and I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything I’ve done to ever cause you pain. I’ve been a selfish ass and you had so many chances to give up on me and walk away from us, but you haven’t.
    I made a promise to you when you woke up that I’d give my life to protect you. Keeping you safe is the most important thing to me, and on my life I swear no one will touch you again. I don’t regret what I’ve done to keep you from harm, but I do regret if we can’t be together because of it.
    I wish I didn’t have to say this on your voicemail and I’ll try to call you back. But I just want you to know how I feel in case the shit hits the fan tonight. I love you, Kate.”
    Kate tossed the phone on the empty passenger seat and slammed her palm against the dashboard. “Ow!” she cried as her hand began to throb. Tossing back her hair, she demanded to the air, “Really, Jared? You leave your girlfriend that kind of message and don’t pick up the phone?”
    Finally, she opened the car door and slid out of the driver’s seat. Her hand slipped around the mace she carried dutifully in her purse. She had a bad streak of getting jumped at her house and took no chances any longer. After a few seconds of shuffling towards the front door, she stopped in her tracks. She turned back towards the street, just in time to see a dark car careening down the road.
    The car came to an abrupt stop next to her Toyota. The engine was running and the headlights still on when a body burst out of the car door. Without a second’s hesitation, Kate was off and running.
    Launching herself into Jared’s waiting arms, she snuggled into his chest. “Thank God you’re here. How could you leave me a message like that? I thought you were about to jump off of a bridge by the way you were talking. Not cool, Jared…” She stopped rambling as she heard Jared’s labored breathing above her. Disentangling herself from his arms, she looked into his face. His eyes were distant, staring past her into the night. His dark hair was disheveled and he looked like he’d misplaced his razor days ago.
    Before she could question his countenance, she noticed a sticky sensation on her bare arms. Scrutinizing her arms by twisting them back and forth,