Song for the Dead: An Ada Palomino Novel, стр. 28

It feels even darker here, the road turning to gravel, the car bouncing over the rocks until one of them flies up and hits the corner of the windshield, creating a small spiderweb of a crack.

“That fucking does it!” Max roars, spinning the wheel around so we’re doing a donut and I’m pressed against the window as we spin and spin on the steep road until we’re facing the way we came, the demon car illuminated in our headlights.

Max slams the car into park and then throws open the door, hurrying out and going to the trunk.

I’m caught between staring out the windshield at the demon car and the shark-mouthed lady, and watching Max in the back. I can’t see what he’s doing until he’s marching past the car, heading to the demon car, a fucking sword in his hand.

“Max!” I scream, frantically trying to unbuckle my seatbelt. What the fuck is he doing? That bitch is going to run him over.

As if on cue, the demon car, a Kia of all things, lurches forward, the back tires spinning and spitting out gravel, speeding up the hill toward Max, who isn’t getting out of the way.

“Max!” I scream again, fighting with the seatbelt, watching with horror as he faces the car, sword in his hand. This is fucking insane!

At the last minute, he somehow manages to launch himself up in the air, flipping his giant frame around until he lands on the roof of the Kia, denting it, the sword stabbed straight down into the driver’s side, going straight through the old lady’s head.

The car continues to speed forward, causing Max to let go of the sword and roll off the back of the Kia and onto the road behind, as the demon car speeds toward me.

I stare in a silent scream, watching the demon woman snap her shark teeth, a sword impaled through the middle of her head, blood pouring out red to black until it turns to dust, leaving only the sword behind.

And then with her gone, no longer driving the car, it just kisses our fender before starting to roll backward.

Toward Max, who is lying on the road, trying to get to his feet.

Finally, the seatbelt lets me loose and I throw open the door, scrambling to get to him before he gets run over.

“Max! Move!” I yell, running as fast as I can as the Kia starts picking up speed on its roll backward down the hill. I run for the door, throwing it open and jumping inside the car, nearly cutting myself on the sword as my feet try to find the brakes, knowing this thing is about to run him over.

I manage to find the brake and the hand brake at the same time, slamming down on one while I yank up the other, the wheels grinding to a halt, locking, sliding down along the gravel until it stops with a bump.

Fuck!

I get out of the car, my heart in my throat, running and slipping on the gravel to the back of the Kia, to see Max on his knees, his shoulder pressed up against the trunk.

“Max!” I drop to my knees, ignoring the rocks cutting into my leggings, putting my hands on his shoulder, on his face. I can barely see him in the shadows. “Are you okay?”

He nods, licking his lips. “I’m fine.” He pulls away from the car and holds his shoulder that was pressed against the back. “Might have a sore shoulder tomorrow. Nothing some Advil won’t fix.”

“Jesus, you’re insane,” I tell him. “You almost got run over by a car. Twice.”

He gives me a strained smile. “Good thing I have you around.” He groans as he tries to get to his feet and I put my hand under his arm to help, even though I know I’m pretty useless when it comes to hauling him around. I’m strong but not that strong.

We both get up and he shakes out his shoulder, walking up the hill to peer in the Kia. He shakes his head and then reaches in, taking back his sword. “Knew this would come in handy,” he says, raising it up in the headlights, flipping it back and forth, the blood gleaming red before turning black. Then he looks back at me. “Can’t believe you jumped into a moving car. More so the fact that you just sat down in demon ash.”

“What?” I turn around in a panic so my ass is facing the headlights, looking down to see ashes all down the back of me.

“Ew, ew!” I cry out, trying to wipe it away. I wasn’t even thinking when I jumped in there.

Max rests his sword against the hood and walks over to me. “Allow me,” he says, running his palms down my back, my ass, the back of my thighs and calves. It would feel nice if the circumstances were different. It’s been a long time since someone’s touched my ass, even in passing.

“There,” he says, wiping his hands on his jeans. “Might wanna burn those clothes though, unless you want to wear demon residue.”

“My favorite sweater,” I whine.

“I’m sure you have other options,” he says tiredly, then reaches out and grabs my hand, holding it tight. Heat travels from his palm up through mine, igniting something in my veins that makes me feel shaky. “Thank you, by the way. Not sure what would have happened if you hadn’t been here.” He pauses, then smiles sheepishly. “Actually, I know exactly what would happen if you weren’t here. So I guess thank you for that too.”

I give his hand a squeeze right back. “You’re welcome,” I tell him, but my words come out hushed.

He keeps holding my hand, leading me back toward the car, letting go only when he goes to his side. He glances at the crack in the windshield and shakes his head. “Total horseshit,” he says. “I promised I