“Riley, I need you to do me a big favor right now. I want you to squeeze your eyes closed as tight as you can and hold your breath. There’s going to be a loud noise and then you can open your eyes and stop holding your breath. Are you ready?”
“Yes, sir,” she said.
“Okay, sweetie. Close your eyes and hold your breath, now,” Copper said. There was a brief pause and then the sound of glass shattering filled the truck. “Okay, baby girl, it’s all done,” he said and sounded much closer than before.
“I’m going to get Braxton out, and then we’ll get you out, okay?”
“Okay,” she said shakily and I could tell she was crying again.
“Riley, did you know that Copper and Bronze have pet snakes that live at the clubhouse? Their names are Slither and Squeeze and they’ve had them since they were kids. Would you like to go see them sometime?” I asked, hoping to distract her while they pulled her brother from the truck.
“No! I don’t like snakes!”
The truck moved and there was a loud scraping sound followed by a curse from Copper. “His name is Braxton Parker and he’s four years old. He’s been unconscious since the collision. His mother is already at the hospital,” Copper relayed.
“Thank fuck,” I whispered. If he was relaying Braxton’s details, then that meant he was alive.
“All right, princess, let’s get you out of here,” Copper said. “I need you to put your hands on Kellan’s seat and be very still. I’m going to cut your seat belt and you might move forward, but I’m going to catch you.”
“I can’t move my arm,” she cried. “It’s stuck.”
“Shit,” Copper grumbled. “It’s okay, honey. It’s just going to take us a few more minutes to come in a different way, okay?”
“Wait!” I called out. “Pass me that knife so I can cut myself out.”
“Savior, just give us—”
“No! We need to get her out of here!” I screamed. I was trying not to panic, but I needed both kids out of the truck before anything else happened to them.
“Okay, brother. Reach back and get the handle.”
I took the knife from him and sliced through my seat belt. I was able to raise the steering wheel, but I couldn’t move my seat at all. It took some maneuvering, but I was able to slide over to the passenger seat and turn myself around.
“Riley,” I breathed when my eyes landed on her. She seemed to be okay, except for her arm. “I’m going to get you out.”
“Please don’t hurt my arm.”
I grimaced. “I’m going to try my hardest not to.” I didn’t want to hurt her, but if I had to in order to get her out, I would.
Carefully climbing over the center console into the back seat, I wrapped one arm around her waist and held her steady while I sliced through her restraints. She screamed when her torso fell forward.
Looking over her shoulder, I could clearly see what the problem was. “Fuck, Copper. Her arm is pinned between the seat and the door.”
“One second,” he said and disappeared. Moments later he stuck his head through the back window. “Hold her steady,” he said firmly and held up a crow bar.
I tried to brace for what I knew was coming. Copper forcefully pried the door away from the frame, allowing Riley’s arm to slip free, which also allowed blood flow to return to the area with a vengeance. Her screams of pain broke my heart. “I’m so sorry, baby girl. I’m so fucking sorry.”
Reluctantly, I carefully passed her through the broken glass into Copper’s waiting arms. “Riley Parker. Six years old. She’s been conscious the entire time. Left ulna and radius are clearly broken. She’s a princess, so handle her with care,” he said.
“Kellan!” she screamed. “I want my Kellan! No! I’m not leaving him!”
“I need you to go with the fireman so I can get Kellan out. Okay?”
“Right now?” she asked.
“Right now,” Copper promised.
“Okay,” she sobbed.
Copper came back to the window and stuck his hand through. “Can I pull you out?”
“I’m not sure,” I said honestly. “I’m not sure what’s hurt.”
He nodded knowingly. “Adrenaline. Let’s not waste it.”
I reached out and firmly clasped his hand and used my other one to push myself up and out while he pulled.
“Fuck!!” I bellowed as pain ripped through my body, but Copper didn’t relent.
“Almost there,” he said. “I need a basket!” he yelled. “I’ll strap you in and they can pull you up.”
“Pull me up?” I asked.
“Your truck is hanging off the Lakeview Road bridge by the rear axle,” Copper said. “Come on; let’s get you ready to go up.”
I was all for letting them pull me up until I heard Riley crying for me. “I got it, Prez,” I said and used every bit of strength I had left to push myself the rest of the way through the window. I braced my feet on the window frame and my hands on the truck bed as I stood.
“Forget the basket!” Copper shouted. “He’s out and we’re coming up!”
Something wasn’t right. My vision was darkening at the edges and I was extremely light headed. The last thing I saw was Copper’s eyes filling with horror as I tipped sideways and fell from the bed of the truck.
28
Copper
“No! Fuck, no!” I bellowed as my brother’s eyes rolled to the back of his head and he plummeted to the water below.
I didn’t even think about it. I unclipped the line from my harness and jumped out of the truck bed to follow him down. My jump was intentional and controlled; I was going to be perfectly fine. Savior was going to be hurt worse than he already was.
It felt like it took forever to hit the water and the entire way down all I could hear were the terrified screams coming from a little girl who had no business watching what was happening.
As soon as I plunged into the cold water, I kicked and swam as fast as I could to the surface. “Where is he?” I bellowed.
No one answered me.
“Where the fuck is he?” I yelled even louder.
Still nothing.
I frantically turned in the water, scanning the surface for any sign of him.
“Kellan!” I called. “Kellan!” No, this couldn’t be happening. Not on my watch. I inhaled deeply and dove under the water to search. When I came up to take another breath, I noticed Bronze, Judge, and Coal had joined me in the water.
“I can’t fucking find him!”
We all turned to the sound of a splash. Before Batta’s head had fully surfaced, he was yelling, “I got him! I fucking got him!”
The five of us held a still and silent Savior on top of the water and quickly swam him to the shore where the first responders were waiting to take him. Splint immediately started CPR as they ran with the stretcher to the waiting helicopter. I didn’t have a clue when the fuck that arrived.
I didn’t waste any time pulling myself out of the water and running for my bike. “Sir, I need to make sure you’re okay before I can let you leave.”
“The only person who won’t be okay will be you if you try to stop me,” I growled and roared away from the scene. A quick glance in the mirror confirmed my brothers were right behind me, as I knew they would be. And I knew they’d be praying for Savior, Riley, and Braxton, just like I was.
We pulled into the parking lot and stormed into the waiting room as a unit. “We’re Kellan Ward’s family,” I told the receptionist. “He was just brought in via helicopter.”
She clicked around on her computer and nodded. “Yes, sir. Have a seat and the doctor will update you when they can,” she said and turned back to her computer.
“I’m not finished. Riley and Braxton Parker were also brought in. If their mother isn’t here yet, I’m going back there,” I stated.
“Only family—”
I held my hand up to stop her. “Save it. I’m their uncle. Where are they?”
“Just a moment, sir,
” she said and picked up the phone beside her.
“Family of Riley and Braxton Parker,” someone called from behind me.
“Right here,” I said and stepped forward with Bronze by my side.
“Follow me, sirs.”
“Has someone gotten in touch with their mother?” I asked. I knew Avery was in the hospital with her own mother.
“I don’t believe so, sir.”
“What? Avery is here in the hospital with her mother. Can you find out where Claire Cameron is?”
“Of course. I’ll check in just a moment.” She stopped in front of a room with an open door and gestured inside. “This is Riley’s room. Braxton is in the one beside her.”
“I’ll go to Braxton,” Bronze said and clapped me on the shoulder as he passed.
“Little Princess!” I said and tried to sound cheerful.
“Mr. President!” she cried. “I want Mommy and my Kellan!”
“I know, sweetheart. The nice nurse is going to find your mommy right now,” I assured her and gave the nurse a pointed look.
“Where’s my Kellan?”
“He’s here, but the doctors are giving him a checkup right now, so it’ll be a little while before you can see him. But, I’m going to hang out with you until then if that’s okay.”
“Please don’t leave me,” she cried and reached for me with her uninjured arm.
“I won’t leave you. I promise,” I said and scooped her into my lap.
“You’re all wet,” she said.
I hadn’t even realized it until she pointed it out. “Sorry, Riley,” I said and placed her back on the bed. “Let me see if I can get someone to bring me something dry to wear.”
I picked up the phone in Riley’s room and called my woman. I don’t know how she knew, but Layla was already on her way to the hospital with Leigh, and they were bringing dry clothes for all of us.
Not even two minutes later, I knew Avery had arrived in the ER. I heard the scream of pain that erupted from her outside of Braxton’s room. “My baby!” she sobbed.
“Mommy!” Riley screamed. “Mommy! Mommy!”
I turned to look out into the hall and froze as I watched the scene in front of me play out in slow motion. I quickly blocked Riley’s view as Avery bent forward and clutched her stomach. Then, her knees buckled and she dropped to the floor. Two nurses were there instantly helping her to her feet. And that’s when everyone except Avery saw the blood trickling down her legs and onto the floor.
“Ma’am, how far along are you?”
“I’m thirty weeks. It’s false labor. I just wasn’t expecting it,” she said.
“Let’s get you to a room and see what’s going on.”
“No! I need to make sure my kids are okay. My son and daughter were just brought in,” Avery insisted.
“Avery,” I called out. “I’m with Riley, and Bronze is with Braxton. We won’t leave them.”
“Kellan?” she asked and her fear was evident.
“We don’t know anything yet. But I’ll make sure someone updates you as soon as we know something,” I promised.
She grimaced and clutched her stomach. “Shit,” she cursed.
“Ma’am, we really need to get you upstairs. I think you might be in labor,” the nurse said carefully.
“This is my third child. I know what labor feels like,” she grunted.
“Call labor and delivery. Let them know we’re coming up with a woman in premature labor and visible bleeding.”
Avery gasped at the nurse’s words before she turned back and met my eyes. “Please take care of my kids.”
“I will. I’ll bring them to you as soon as they’re released,” I promised.
“Thank you,” she said and reluctantly sat in the wheelchair waiting to take her away.
“Is Mommy having her baby?” Riley asked quietly.
“I’m not sure, sweetie. But the nurses upstairs will take good care of her and we’ll go see her as soon as they make sure you’re okay.”
River and Kennedy came running through the doors and I’d never been so happy to see another female who wasn’t my woman. “Copper, what do you need us to do?”
“Can you find out what’s going on with Braxton Parker and Savior?”
“Of course,” she said and disappeared into the fray.
To my surprise, Kennedy was the one who came back with an update. “Braxton has a concussion and is going to be admitted to the hospital for overnight observation. He’s awake and talking,” she said and shook her head. “Well, he’s talking to everyone except Bronze.”
“What about Kellan?”
She cleared her throat. “River’s in there helping them prep him for surgery,” she said and looked down at her feet.
“Kennedy?”
She shook her head. “He’s in bad shape,” she whispered.
“How bad?”
“Bad enough that they’re considering waiting for his grandfather to get here because they don’t think he’ll make it through surgery,” she whispered.
“No!” I bellowed and got in her face. “You go back in there and tell him he has to make it. His baby is being born right now. He has a little girl and little boy sitting here in this hospital crying for him. Go tell him that. Right now!”
With tears in her eyes, she nodded and went back to the room. Kellan flatlined thirty seconds later.
29
Savior
“Avery’s having the baby,” someone said in the distance. “Riley and Braxton are asking for you.”
“Good. They were all okay,” I thought and felt my body relax.
30
Avery
I cradled my stomach as they wheeled me up to the labor and delivery unit. The pain was getting worse and I could feel blood pooling underneath me. I was losing everything. My children, my love, my unborn child.
“Ms. Parker,” someone called. “Can you hear me? Ms. Parker!”
“Get her to the OR, stat. We’ve got to get this baby out before we lose them both. Does she have family here or on the way?”
“They’re in the ER with injuries from an MVA.”
“Ms. Parker, if you can hear me, we’re giving you anesthesia to put you to sleep while we deliver your baby.”
I may or may not have nodded before I faded away.
31
Ranger
When Phoenix called, he told me the last thing I ever expected to hear. Savior had been in a car accident and they didn’t think he’d survive.
“Can you pick up his grandfather and bring him to the clubhouse? Shaker will be waiting in the bird to take you both to Devil Springs.”
“Yeah, Prez,” I rasped. “We’ll be there soon.”
I didn’t want to be the one to tell Mack about Kellan, but I also didn’t want anyone else to tell him either. Kellan was the only thing that helped him get through the loss of his daughter and son-in-law. He wouldn’t survive losing Kellan, too.
I knocked on his front door twice before I pushed it open and announced my presence. “Mack! It’s just me.”
“Ranger! I wasn’t expecting you,” he said cheerfully, but the smile dropped off his face when he saw the look on mine.
“No,” he said and took a stumbling step backward.
“He’s hurt, but he’s alive. I need you to come with me. One of the brothers is going to fly us to Devil Springs.”
“No,” he said and shook his head.
“Yes! We don’t have time for this. Let’s fucking go!” I roared and that seemed to snap him out of it.
He grabbed his keys and his shoes and bolted for his truck.
“I’ll drive,” I told him and ran to the driver’s side.
We hopped in and I peeled out of his place leaving a cloud of dust behind us.
“What happened?” Mack asked.
“I honestly don’t know. Phoenix called and said he had a wreck. Then he told me to get you to the clubhouse. We’ll find out more when we get there.”
�
��I can’t…”
“I know, Mack. I know. Let’s not go there yet, okay?”
He nodded and we rode the rest of the way in silence. I didn’t stop in the forecourt when we arrived. Instead, I drove the truck straight to the field where Shaker kept his helicopter.
Phoenix ushered us to the door and climbed in behind us. The moment we were strapped in, Shaker was lifting us off the ground. I reached forward and patted my grandbaby on her shoulder before I put my headset on. I should’ve known she’d be with Shaker. She and Kellan had become good friends when he was her assigned bodyguard.
“Do you know anything?” Mack asked.
Phoenix shook his head. “Not much. Layla called and told me he’d been in a bad accident, but she didn’t know any details. I haven’t been able to get any of the Devil Springs members to answer the phone, and the hospital won’t tell me shit. What I do know is from the little bit on the news station’s social media page.”
Phoenix grimaced and braced his hands on his knees. “Kellan picked up Avery’s kids from school. On the way home, they were hit by another vehicle. The truck rolled and went up over the guardrail, but the rear axle got caught and kept them from going all the way over. He got the kids out, but he fell when he climbed out.”
“How far? Where?” Mack blurted.
“They were on a bridge that runs over a small lake. He fell about forty or fifty feet into the water. He wasn’t in the water long…” Phoenix said and trailed off at the end.
“But what?” Mack asked.
“Someone commented and said he wasn’t breathing when they pulled him out, but I don’t know that to be true. I’m sorry, Mack. I should’ve kept that part to myself.”
“I’d rather know how bad it is up front, to be honest,” Mack said.
“He’ll be okay,” Keegan said confidently.
“I hope you’re right, sweetheart,” I said and something occurred to me. “Where’s Gabby?”
Savior (Blackwings MC - Devil Springs Book 3) Page 14
