“I’m meeting you there. Torque is going to ride with you in the meantime, okay?” I see something in his eyes; they’re darker than usual. And his face is tight.
Anger.
“Are you mad at me?” I ask as they begin to load the stretcher I’m on into the back of the ambulance.
Gripping the cushion so I don't move, Reed leans down to place a soft kiss on my lips. “Never mad at you, pretty girl. Never. I’ll see you soon.” I nod at his words and watch him until the doors of the ambulance close.
“You’re going to be just fine.” Torque smiles down at me, and I reach for his hand. I need something to hold onto because I know Reed is going to learn about the baby now, and not in the way I was going to tell him tonight.
Reed
I’m just pulling out of the mall when my phone rings. Seeing Luca’s name flash on the screen, I answer immediately.
“Hey, I’m just leaving lunch with your sister.”
“She’s been in an accident.” My heart has never ceased to beat before.
“Where?” I pull into traffic, heading the way she would have to get home, and as Luca talks, not sure where she is, I see it. “Fuck,” I hiss. I have to park three blocks away because firetrucks have cordoned off the intersection. “I’ll call you back once I know anything,” I tell him amidst his cursing.
Running to the scene, I flash my badge to the firemen, and they let me through, all the while texting Colby to get his ass down here.
“What the fuck happened?” I bark at the fire captain, directing his men.
“From witness reports, the car plowed right into the SUV where she was stopped for a red light. We're waiting on the patrolmen to get here to do a breathalyzer because the vehicle smells like alcohol.” His words only fuel my anger.
Reaching the drunk driver who's being supervised by a fireman, I command, “Stand up. Hands behind your back.” The man wobbles as he does what I say. Cuffing him, I order, “Sit. Don’t move.” He falls to the ground. “Officers will be here soon; he doesn’t go anywhere. Speaks to no one.”
“Got it,” the fireman says, and I rush to Hope’s car, where they’ve pulled her out and now have her strapped to a stretcher, encouraging her to open her eyes.
“Pretty girl,” I murmur, gripping her hand. “Come on, open those beautiful eyes for me.” I watch with bated breath as she struggles to get her body to cooperate. “There’s my pretty girl.” Her eyes are glassy and unfocused. Pain radiates off of her.
After getting her settled and in the back of the ambulance, I take a deep breath and turn to look at the scene laid out behind me.
Glass fragments and bent and broken aluminum pieces everywhere; parts are scattered around the vehicles. And the more I stare, the angrier I become.
“Reed!” I see Colby over by the driver who hit Hope, and I know if I go over there, after just seeing her, I won’t be able to contain my rage, so I tighten my fists. He nods and leaves the man with the two officers as they conduct their intoxication testing.
“How is she?” he asks.
“I have no fucking clue. Likely a concussion for sure. Nothing looked broken, but fuck.”
“Get going, I’ll deal with this. We’ll get Hope's statement later.” I nod and start the short jog back to my truck.
Hitting the sirens, I call Luca back. “How is she?” he rushes out.
“Alert but groggy. She’s on her way to the hospital now; I’m following." I watch the ambulance from three cars behind as we both weave through traffic.
“What the fuck happened?” Luca hisses, his own worry turning into anger.
“Fucking suspected drunk driver.”
“Jesus Christ! I’ll see you there. I’m about an hour away still.” He sounds pissed about that.
“See you soon.” Hanging up, I park my truck in the visitor’s lot of the hospital, and by the time I get into the emergency department, she’s already been taken back to be examined.
“Sir, you can’t go back there.” A nurse stops me.
“I’m here with Hope Carson. I’m her boyfriend,” I tell the woman, but she won’t budge.