Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
“Sir, I can’t—”
Without thinking, I shove him aside, my panic overriding everything else, and run like hell toward the ambulance.
“Sir!”
Two paramedics take notice as I stop in front of the gurney. “I’m sorry. I need to know who’s under that sheet.”
“Sir, we can’t—”
“I need to know!” I yell in panic. I can’t breathe. “I need to know if it’s my girlfriend.” The question burns like acid up my throat. “Please. I need to know.” They exchange a glance, weighing their options. The woman shifts her attention back to me, her expression filled with sympathy. “Is it a female?”
She stares at me for a beat and shakes her head. “The deceased was a male.” I grab my chest, release a garbled breath, and lean forward, fighting for air.
It’s not her.
It’s not her.
I stand straight. “The female—where did they take her?”
“Chicago General. I would hurry.”
I nod and twist, running like hell back to my car.
“Dad!” Noah’s voice pulls my attention. “Right here!” He waves me toward him. “Get in!” I jump in Noah’s car, and he takes off down a side street.
“How’d you—?”
“Craig called me.” He’s pale, with tears staining his face and bruising from when I slammed him to the ground already starting to form. God, I can’t imagine what I look like. “Dad, is she going to be okay?” He glances at me, wanting me to give him an answer I can’t.
“I don’t know.”
The drive to the hospital is a blur. We park in the emergency circle and leap out, fighting the crowd to get inside. I hit the check-in desk first. “Georgia Price was brought in. Car accident.”
The woman types in her name. “Are you family?”
I stall, about to say no, when Noah steps in. “Yes. Dad and brother.” The woman nods and types in more info. “She’s currently in surgery. Take a seat. A doctor will be out to speak with you when they have an update.”
I don’t move. “I can’t take a fucking seat. I need to know if she’s okay!”
“Sir, I don’t have any further information and won’t until she makes it out of surgery—”
“What do you mean? Is she not gonna make it? You know more and aren’t telling us!”
“Dad.” Noah grabs my arm, pulling me away, and leads me to a chair, pushing me to sit. I do so, numb. How can I sit here not knowing what’s happening? What is she going through? Why is she in surgery? Dark thoughts race through my mind, and I grab at my hair.
“You need to take a breath.”
“I can’t.” I can’t fucking breathe.
“You’re not going to be any good to her if you’re a mess.” I lift my head and look at my son. He should hate me, but here he is, sitting next to me, consoling me about his ex, who I’m fucking in love with and have no idea if she’s going to live.
“Fuck…” I drop my head. What have I done?
“I love her too, you know.” I look back at him, the pain in his eyes another stab at my chest.
“I know. She’s hard not to love.”
I shouldn’t have said that. Everything is still so raw. His eyes flash with anger and hatred, and he stands abruptly. “Need a drink… or something…” He walks off, leaving me with my thoughts. I watch in a daze as people come and go. A woman breaks down, learning her sister didn’t make it out of surgery. A husband lost his wife during childbirth. I’m not sure how much time has passed—maybe hours. The sound of a girl yelling snaps me out of it, and I glance toward the check-in desk just as a petite girl slams her fist against the counter.
“Tell me, or I’ll rip your ponytail out of your scalp!”
“I told you I—”
“Check again! Georgia Price! She was brought in hours ago!” Tears stain her flushed cheeks. I notice the similarities, and it helps me recognize who she is.
“Lettie?” I call her name, and her head whips in my direction.
“Do I know you?”
“Yes—no. I’m Jack—Mr. Blake. I’m Noah’s dad.”
She takes me in, her suspicion evident. “What happened to you? Were you in the car accident with her?”
“No. I got into a… nothing. She’s still in surgery. They haven’t given us any updates yet.”
She blinks, and tears slip down her young face. “What happened? I don’t understand. No one will tell me anything.” She falls into my arms and breaks down. “The hospital called my mom—she’d been in a car accident. Next thing I know, they’re forcing me on a plane, which I’ve never even flown before! And then your Uber people were total jerks, and—and my sister, oh my God—”
“Dad?”
Lettie pulls away as Noah walks up, his eyes on Georgia’s sister. He stalls when he recognizes her. “You!” She stabs her finger into his chest. “What did you do to her?”