Southern Storm (Southern 3)

I pretend to pay attention when I have another meeting, but I’m not even listening. I’m sitting in the chair, looking out the window when the phone buzzes and Bonnie’s voice fills the room. “Beau,” she says my name. “Tony is here for you.”

I get up and walk out of the office. “Tony,” I say, turning to see him sitting in one of the chairs. “What can I do for you?”

“You …” He gets up and grabs the folder that is on the chair next to him. “Can sign this paper.” He opens it and hands me the paper that is a bill. “It’s for the work that is being done and will be getting done.” I turn to walk into my office while I check to make sure he’s gotten everything there.

“You need to include the windows at her house,” I say, and his eyebrows shoot up. “Yeah, don’t ask.”

“What the fuck is wrong with people?” he asks, and I grab a pen. “She works her ass off. She stays out of all the drama. She’s a good person.” I look down and sign the paper. “By the way,” he continues, and I look up, “I got a not so nice phone call from the senior last night.”

I shake my head. “He has no control over anything,” I say and then make a mental note to call my father. “Trust me, you’re all good.” I hand him back his folder, and I’m about to say something else when I hear the sounds of the sirens, and I walk out of the office. Grady pulls up at the curb, then puts his car in park and gets out, running up the steps.

“What is happening?” Bonnie asks from her desk, and the only thing I can do is look at Grady and wonder if something happened to my mother or my father. Maybe even Liam. The last thing I’m expecting is what comes out of his mouth.

“Beau,” he huffs, his chest rising and falling. “You need to come with me.”

“What happened?” I ask. He looks at me, and I see the turmoil in his eyes, almost like he doesn’t want to say the next words.

“It’s Savannah,” he says. My heart stops in my chest, and I feel my body turn to stone. “Someone ran her off the road.”

Chapter Sixteen

Savannah

“Don’t move!” Jacob yells when I try to turn around to see if Ethan is okay. My heart is hammering in my chest. My hands shake so hard I can’t pick them up. I look around, seeing grass everywhere.

“Is he okay?” I ask, sobbing out. “Jacob, is he okay?” I try to look in the back, but I can’t move my neck.

“He’s fine,” he says, and I look to the side and see that Jacob is climbing out of the ditch with Ethan in his arms. “He’s all good.” He hands Ethan off to the paramedic that has just arrived, and then he comes back down into the ditch for me. “Okay,” he says, opening the door. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

I look down and lift my hand, and Jacob grabs a hold of it to stop it from shaking. “My neck.” I move my neck, and he winces.

“Seat belt gash,” he says, and I look over to see if I can see Ethan.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I’m so sorry. I tried to avoid it. Ethan.”

“Hey,” he says to me, and I move my eyes to his. “He’s fine.”

“I couldn’t get to him,” I say between sobs. “After I crashed, I tried to get to him, but the air bag …” I close my eyes. “It disoriented me.”

“Jacob.” Someone calls him, and when he looks over his shoulder, I see a fireman coming down the ditch.

“Blake,” Jacob calls him. “You got here fast.” He moves to the side. “Did Grady call you?”

“Yeah, I got the call and came right out.” He sticks his head in. “How are you?” he asks.

“I’m okay,” I say. “Forget about me. Check on my son.”

“Ethan is doing okay,” Blake tells me. “He’s actually very worried about you.” He unclips the seat belt, and I wince. “You’re lucky you were wearing that.”

“Yeah,” I mumble, and I lick my lips that are dry. “I’m not sure how you consider me lucky,” I try to joke out.

“I’m going to put this neck brace on you,” Blake says. “To make sure that you don’t move.” I nod my head.

“Um, Blake.” I call his name, and he looks at me. “I’m not trying to rush you and all that, but I’m starting to get a bit claustrophobic, and I really need you to get me out of here.”

He laughs. “It’s the adrenaline going through you.” He puts one hand under my legs, and before I know it, I’m being lifted from the truck. He walks up the ditch and puts me down on the stretcher that is there.