25. Lake

LAKE

"Stay with me,"I urged in a soft, pleading tone.

Even through my clothing, sharp edges of stone bit into my knees where I was perched on the rocky hillside. Through the open passenger door, I held the hand of the woman trapped in a mangled vehicle that had careened off the winding road above.

The car had flipped, only stopping by the grace of God when it hit a big tree. The red Honda managed to land upright, but the crunched dashboard had the lady's legs pinned, not allowing me to free her from the unstable vehicle.

I was afraid it could slide at any moment, taking the woman and me with it as it barreled the remaining distance down the embankment. But I refused to leave with someone stuck inside, knowing there was a chance they could be saved, even if my colleague had practically begged me to. I could hear the worry in his voice, but I held steady. I had to.

I'd been to many calls just like this one and while I worked to compartmentalize my emotions so I could do my job as efficiently as possible, it was never easy seeing someone so scared and in pain.

Heaven forbid if they didn't make it. That stayed with me for a long time after. I knew I couldn't always save everybody but I would damn sure try.

The call had come in from inside the car—thank God for technology—from a hysterical husband who was screaming that he couldn't lose his wife on their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. It had taken a lot for the 911 operator to calm him down enough to get a location on where they were.

When we rolled up first on the scene, having been at another call not too far away as luck would have it, I vowed right then and there to do everything in my power to make sure the couple celebrated more years together.

Without hesitation, I grabbed my gear, turned on my flashlight, and dropped to my butt.

Slowly and carefully, I inched down the slope—my partner Dave right behind me—trying to keep myself from sliding right past the car. It wouldn't do any good if I got hurt and couldn't help those who needed it.

Sirens from the firetrucks and police vehicles echoed through the light wind that swirled through the dark night, yet I remained focused on assessing the passenger next to me.

She had a gash on her head, her left arm was lying at an odd angle, and she couldn't move her legs. Making quick work, I applied a C-collar for precaution, not knowing the extent of her injuries and unsure how quickly we'd have to move her. Then I cleaned up the gash on her head while Dave helped her husband and managed to remove him from the car.

The gentleman yelled his wife's name in agony, clearly beside himself with worry. I looked at his bride of twenty-five years who was in and out of consciousness. Her blood pressure had dropped a bit and she moaned something unintelligible out to her man.

"Hey, Emma, can you hear me?" I softly brushed my free hand across the top of the one I was holding.

As the words left my mouth, the vehicle shifted a tad, creaking as it did.

"Please don't leave me," she whispered.

My heart kicked up a notch and my inner voice implored whoever could hear me in the heavens above to keep us safe. I couldn't help but think of Stormi. She only had me. That inner voice started whispering again.

That's not true anymore. You have wonderful friends, a sister, and you have Bronson. You know he will do anything for you and Stormi.

"Lake, sweetheart, can you hear me?"

Whoa. Had the thought of him conjured him up? I heard him again, but realized it was real. Holy crap, Bronson was above me on the road somewhere. I couldn't see him but I heard the worry in his deep voice that drifted to my ears.

The Honda creaked and groaned again, shifting once more.

"Lake, you need to move away from the car," Dave said from the other side where he and the man stood a safe distance away from the vehicle. "The firemen are coming to put a winch to help stabilize it but it's not safe."

I looked over at the woman inside the car as her eyes fluttered open and her teary, ocean-blue gaze filled with panic pierced mine.

Her terrified voice made my stomach knot up with anxiety. "I know you have to go."

You name it, the emotions were barreling through me like a freight train. I was alarmed, worried, rattled, and more. But I steeled my resolve and squared my shoulders.

"Emma, I'm not going anywhere." With a lump in my throat that felt like the size of a watermelon, I kept my hand in hers as I continued talking to her. "I'll be right here with you and we are going to get you out."

At that, I heard another familiar voice. "Lake!" Huntley, one of the firemen I work with often, called out. "We're going to attach the winch now so you need to move back in case the car shifts."

Emma's eyes had closed again but her hands clenched mine at his words.

"I can't leave her, Huntley. Just do what you need to do so we can cut the dash and get her out of here."

Even with the wind and all the noise above us on the road, I heard him mutter something about a stubborn woman. It was that stubbornness that helped me get through tough times.

Thankfully the firemen got it hooked up without any incident and then made their way to the side of the vehicle where I'd remained with Emma. There was commotion all around us at this point. Some men were working to get Dave and Emma's husband back up the hillside, others were setting up so they could work their magic to free the fragile woman stuck inside.

"Your man is going to tan your hide when you make it back to the road," Huntley said.

The other firemen—like Huntley, who were also out of the same station as me—all chuckled. When I turned to give them all the stink eye, they tried covering it up with a cough. This roused Emma again and her pain-filled eyes latched onto me.

"Where's Daniel? Is he okay?"

"He's okay, Emma. My partner is helping him and there are many others right here to help get you out." I gave her cold hand a gentle squeeze.

"What about the other person?" she asked, sending a trickle of unease through me.

There was someone else? Where were they?

"Emma, what other person?"

Her eyes closed again and she didn't answer. Maybe she was just confused from her head injury.

She was holding her own, but the faster we got her out of there the better. I turned when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"We need you to move away so we can get this done safely and get her back up to the road," Huntley told me. "Someone will help you get back up there and we'll bring her to you."

Even weak, Emma's grip tightened.

"I'll wait and go with Emma," I told him.

"I should have known that would be your response," he replied.

With one more light squeeze on the sweet woman's hand, I leaned in and whispered, "I promise I will be right here when they pull you out of the car."

She didn't respond but I felt her hand relax against mine in acceptance. Reluctant but knowing it's what needed to happen, I let go of Emma and moved back from the vehicle. The team was amazing and with great care, they freed her in not much time at all.

And I was right there like I said I would be.

Following protocol, we had Emma safely back up to the road where her husband stood waiting for his wife. While he should have been in the back of one of the ambulances being tended to, if he denied treatment there wasn't a lot we could do.

He did look to be in decent shape, his wife's side of the car seeming to take the brunt of the impact somehow. I also knew he wouldn't hesitate to jump inside the back with his wife when she was loaded.

As they started to wheel her in that very direction, I was gently yanked into a muscled chest, Bronson's strong arms wrapping around me and holding on for dear life.

"You scared the shit out of me, Cupcake."

I couldn't help but wrinkle my nose at the endearment. I secretly loved it, but if all the guys heard it I'd never live it down at the station. As his warmth seeped into me though, I decided I didn't give a rat's ass. Bronson felt too good and could call me whatever he wanted.

That was until he started to speak again. "Next time you need to let someone else—"

Pulling free from his embrace, I moved back and planted my hands on my hips. "Don't you dare tell me how to do my job. I was doing it long before you came back into my life."

He winced, guilt flashing across his handsome face in the moonlight. "I'm sorry, baby. I can't stand the thought of anything happening to you." He moved closer and put his hand under my chin, lifting it so we were looking into each other"s eyes. "I just got you back."

My tough demeanor crumbled and melted on the spot. "I'm okay."

We found ourselves hugging again and while I knew it wasn't very professional, I couldn't find it in me to let go or do anything else. Until Dave approached and told me that Emma wanted to see me.

Bronson let me go and I walked to the second ambulance that had made it to the scene. Emma lay inside, her husband Daniel sitting next to her, their hands clasped together much like hers and mine had been.

I climbed into the back and lightly touched Emma's other hand. She turned to look at me, her voice weak when she spoke. "Thank you. I don't know what I would have done without you."

"We don't," Daniel added. "Either of you," he said looking at me, then Dave who stood outside the emergency vehicle.

My eyes stayed on Emma. "I'm so glad you're okay." Gently patting her hand, I added, "You take care and I think you both deserve an anniversary do-over once you are better."

She nodded, then her eyes started to close. They had her hooked up with pain meds and comfortable, but by the looks of things she had a bit of recovery in her future. I was sure her arm and at least one of her legs was broken on top of a concussion.

It could have been a hell of a lot worse.

"I'm sorry, we need to get to the hospital," the EMT said.

Nodding, I made my way out of the ambulance but Daniel asked a question that had my head snapping back to him, my eyes wide with shock.

"Is the guy that was on the road okay and talking to the police? I don't know what he was doing or why he threw something at us, but I didn't hit him. I swear. I swerved and that sent us off the road."

I didn't know what to say or what the hell was going on but something didn't feel right. "I'll find out, I'm sure they have it under control."

He nodded and turned back to his wife. With one last glance inside I saw Daniel staring at his Emma. While he looked worried, love was written all over his face.

Turning away, I ran into a brick wall. Bronson's hands came to my upper arms, holding me there in front of him. My gaze met his and I sucked in a harsh breath at what I saw.

I'd just seen that look a second before.

Bronson's eyes were filled with love.

My heart drummed faster and I soaked in the way he made me feel. I felt safe in his arms, but I still couldn't forget what Daniel had just said. I knew the police would be talking to them but they had to get to the hospital first.

I was about to tell Bronson what he'd said when someone called out his last name, breaking the moment.

"Caddell! You need to see this."

He let go of my arms. "I'll be right back." Bronson gave me a quick kiss on the forehead and then made his way toward a group of policemen.

I watched as he and a couple of other cops spoke as they studied something on the side of the road. The ambulance behind me started up to leave and Dave sidled up to my side, dragging my attention from Bronson and the others.

"What was Daniel talking about? He said someone was in the road and threw something at them?"

Dave shook his head. "Not a clue. He mentioned that when I got him out of the car but as far as I know, nobody has seen anyone else. The cops will figure it out."

After pulling in a deep breath, I blew it out. Maybe both Emma and Daniel were mistaken. But did I truly believe that?

"I'll meet you at the rig after you're finished talking to him," Dave said, nodding toward Bronson who was starting back my way.

I moved to meet him halfway. His face was a mask of concern and anger.

"What is it?" I asked, not liking what I was reading in his eyes.

I wanted the look back I'd seen minutes before. That loving look was far better than the one I saw now.

"Lake, I don't think this was an accident."

"W-what?" My voice was shaky as I tried to wrap my head around what he was saying. "Y-Your saying someone caused this on purpose?"

That was exactly what he'd just said but I couldn't wrap my head around why someone would do something so cruel, that could've killed more than one person.

My phone rang before he could say anything else, the whole moment feeling like something out of a scary movie. I wasn't sure how to explain it—a sixth sense maybe?—something just felt off. When I pulled my phone from my pocket and saw the screen flashing, Unknown Caller, a chill swept down my spine.

"Hello, " I said after hitting the button to answer.

Bronson watched me carefully while I waited for someone to say something. The few seconds of silence added to the intensity of the situation, rattling me even more.

And then…

The voice that came through was full of malice. "You should have worked that hard when I needed you to." Fear raced through me. "Next time it will be a lot more personal."

The line went dead but not before I heard something else. It was the sound of a siren. It echoed through the phone but also from right behind me simultaneously.

My body shook as I scanned our surroundings.

Bronson reached out and grabbed one of my hands. "Hey, what is it? Who was on the phone?"

I drew in a breath and clenched his palm.

"He's here," I whispered. "It's him. He did this and he's watching us."