27. Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Meghan

As we near the port, all I can see are ambulances, police cars, and firetrucks. My anxiety is through the roof right now and I'm already shaking as I sit in the backseat of the car. No one dares to say a word as the chaos builds around us. Every news station has sent a reporter and right now, they line the streets just outside of the police barricade set up to keep the public outside of the port.

I have been spam calling Ryder's phone since we left the apartment, but he still hasn't picked up.

"I don't think I can go any further," Kirsten says, as she is stopped by a police officer.

"I will get out here," I say, already opening the back passenger door. As I jump out, an officer goes to stop me, but I sidestep and begin running past him. I can hear car horns and people yelling, but nothing is going to stop me from getting to that Port. I have to know that Ryder is alright.

My feet move fast on the pavement, I am sure I am beating any record for sprinting. The heat and smoke from the fire fills the air and my lungs burn, but I ignore the pain.

As I get closer to the tall, security fence, I spot Lance Salvatore with his team from Salvatore Security Forces. Rushing to them, I can barely breathe as I begin yelling out words.

"Where is Ryder? Is he safe?" I cry out.

Lance looks over at me like he has just seen a ghost. "How did you get back here?" he asks me, glancing behind him.

I am sure there is an army of police officers following me, but I don't care.

Panting, I say, "I ran."

Shaking his head, Lance grabs me by the elbow and pulls me over to where a white medic tent is set up. Everyone is talking and running around and my eyes dance around the area.

"Stay right here," Lance orders.

"Where is Ryder?" I ask again.

He looks at me and I can see it in his eyes that he knows I'm not going to stop asking until I get an answer. He runs a hand through his dark hair and sighs. "We don't know yet. After the explosion, I lost all contact with my men in there. Matt was just located by the south dock. He is being checked out right now by paramedics. He's got burns on his arms and a pretty nasty head wound, but he is alert and talking," he says.

My eyes travel to where Lance now looks and I see a guy covered in black soot. It is hard to tell his hair, skin, or eye color from all of the debris covering him. Without thinking, I ran over to him. Lance calls out my name, but right now, I know I am not his biggest concern.

I get to Matt and he eyes me carefully. "Meghan?" he asks, his voice scratchy and hoarse.

I nod and smile, tears streaming down my face. "Yess."

"Ryder hasn't shut up about you since you two met. He has shown me your picture a million times," he says, trying to laugh but he ends up coughing.

"Where is Ryder?" I ask frantically.

One of the paramedics holds up his hand. "Miss, I need you to step away from the patient. I need to continue working on his wounds," the man says.

"It's ok. Her husband is still in there," Matt says to the man.

I raise my eyes at the mention of my husband. I go to protest, but Matt gives me a look that makes me clamp my mouth shut tight.

"Oh, well, I guess just for a minute," he says, and then walks over to the ambulance.

"Husband?" I ask.

"If I said girlfriend or friend, he would have called for a cop to remove you. Besides, Ryder will marry you once he is out of there," Matt says.

My heart beats loudly in my chest. "I need him to be ok," I cry.

"Ryder is strong. He has been through worse than this. Just give him time. We never leave a man behind and I am not leaving this place until Ryder comes with me," Matt states firmly.

Everything in my being believes him. I just have to hold out faith that Ryder is somewhere in there, trying with all of his might to get out.

All I can do is stand there helpless, watching and keeping my eyes glued on the blazing darkness all around me. My ears are alert, listening for the sound of Ryder's voice.

Suddenly, I hear a loud commotion and I rush to the fence, my fingers touching the scorching hot metal.

"We have a body."

I hear and all at once, I fall to my knees.