Alder

“ I VY!” I scream in horror, watching helplessly as the edge of the avalanche hits and rolls Ivy’s SUV over until it’s barely visible.

“, I need you to stay calm. If you can't, we'll have to go down there and rescue your girl without you,” Nate tells me as he flies the helicopter at the fastest speed that’s considered safe. I just watched the woman I’m out of my mind for rolled over by a fucking avalanche, and he wants me to remain calm. I think I finally have just a small understanding of why women get pissed when they’re asked to calm down.

“I’m calm. I’m ready. Like hell, I’m not going down there.”

“Good. We’re almost there. We still have visibility on the vehicle, and we have everything we need to get to her. She’s going to be fine” Griffin tells me over the comm system. I knew there was a reason I liked him. We approach the spot where Ivy’s SUV is half covered.

“Lace up your boots, everyone. Another minute, and we’ll be on top of it.” Nate signals for us to get our gear and tools all situated. I sit down and give myself just a moment to steady my erratic heart. I need to check my emotions. I do my mental checklist like I do on every mission. I see the men around me doing the same. Touching their gear, physically checking it.

“Here’s your stop boys!” Nate yells to us. I stand and clip myself into the system quickly.

“I’ll go first. Keep us steady, Nate.”

“You got it. Go get your girl, Holloway.” He nods, and I start my descent. He got us into a perfect position. We can’t land, but he’s hovering only twenty-five feet in the air. I land with a thud, having rappelled as quickly as possible. I give the all clear with my hand, and the tether goes back up for the next person to clip in. I run to the overturned vehicle.

“Ivy, can you hear me?” I shout.

“?! Is that you? I can’t see anything!” she yells back to me. I feel like I could float away with the relief that courses through my veins at the sound of her voice.

“It’s me, baby! We’re gonna get you out of there. Is there anything obstructing your view?” I ask.

“You mean besides the upside-down car that’s entombed me and buried me alive in the snow? You mean besides that ?” she snipes, and I let out a strangled chuckle. “Shit, I just said I would be nicer,” she mutters.

“Be as mean as you want, princess. Just be okay,” I call to her.

“?” she asks as I start digging on her side.

“Yeah, Ivy?”

“Did you get my note?” she asks, voice breaking and hitting me right in the fucking chest.

“Yeah, baby. I got your note. I got here as fast as I could.”

“Okay, good,” she says. “?” she asks again .

“Yeah, Ivy?”

“I’m feeling a little dizzy,” she tells me.

“Just hang tight. We’ll get you out of there real soon.” I let her know. Griffin is at my side digging into the snow with me in the next second and soon after him is Ty.

“Ivy?”

“Yeah?” she answers, her voice weaker.

“You doing okay in there?” I question.

“I’m okay. My arm just really hurts. I think it might be broken,” she tells me. I dig faster. When we get the door uncovered, I ease it open and reach for her. I support her shoulders so she isn’t just hanging anymore.

“I’ve got you, baby. It’s alright.” She sniffs at my words. I unbuckle her seatbelt and cradle her as she comes down from her seat into my arms. I shift her so she’s upright on my lap and can’t stop myself from scanning her head and face. Needing the reassurance that she’s okay.

“Ah!” she cries out and holds her arm close to her chest.

“I’m so sorry. Let’s get you out of here, okay? Did you hit your head at all?” She shakes her head at my question.

“No, no, just hit my arm or something. It hurts, but I’m fine. I’m okay. You’re here,” she says the last thing like it means more than the rest. My chest explodes. I grab her face and kiss her. Hard. I pour all the adrenaline, all the anxiety, all the worry into it. She matches my frenzy with her own. She grips my flight jacket with her good arm and pulls me closer, moaning into my mouth. I hear a throat clear and smile as I continue to kiss the hell out of her. She smiles back but doesn’t break our kiss until she’s ready. I’d be happy to die here if this is how I go.

“Okay, you two. It’s a good show, but I’m going to need to cut it short. We need to get Ivy to the hospital to get checked out before our next round,” Nate says into the comms. Ivy pulls back, blushing, but she doesn’t look sorry. I nod and stand with her in my arms.

“I can walk, . It’s my arm, not my legs, which might be broken,” she teases, but her voice fades in and out a little. There’s a slur to her words.

“I don’t feel like taking any unnecessary risks with you tonight, Ivy. I’m going to need a full body scan just to make sure you’re alright.”

“I’m really okay, . I just think my blood sugar is getting a little low is all.”

“I’ll feel better once we get the okay from a doctor. Better safe than sorry,” I tell her as I put the sling around her, careful to mind her injured arm. “I am by the way. So sorry, Ivy. I should have done things differently, and I should have been honest as soon as I knew who you were.” I can’t defend my actions; I just want her to know that I know they were wrong.

“I know, hotshot. I know who you are. You may see me, but I see you too.” I kiss her head gently. I quickly hook us in securely, and then we’re in the air. When we reach the cabin opening, I get her in and situated as the others join us inside. She’s pale, which could absolutely be because of the ordeal she’s just been through, but I’ll need confirmation of that.

The ride to the hospital is short, thankfully. When we arrive on the landing pad at the top of the hospital, I pick Ivy up bridal style as soon as we touch down and carry her out to meet Mare. Nate called us in, but he didn’t give anyone’s name. Her eyes widen when she sees the redhead in my arms.

“Ivy?!” she exclaims.

“Hi, Mare,” Ivy says quietly.

“She has an injury to her left arm, and she’s weak. She has a history of low blood sugar. She doesn’t remember hitting her head, but I’m worried,” I tell Mare.

“Mmfinne,” Ivy mumbles.

“Get me a stretcher!” she yells to her staff. I look at her, and she meets my eyes before speaking. “I’m checking her out myself, . You have to wait outside.” I nod. I know the rules. I fucking hate them at the moment, but I understand. I walk as far as Mare will allow me to, holding onto Ivy’s hand in mine, and when they pass through the swinging doors, I drop down into a crouch and lean onto my knees, willing myself to breathe. If she isn’t okay, I don’t know what I’ll do.

I stand and walk to the waiting area. The helicopter and crew took off after they dropped us off, so it’s just me and all the other people waiting to hear if their loved ones are going to be okay out here. I sit, and then I pace, unable to sit still. I walk the hall up and down and then get a drink of water from the nurses’ lounge. I’m too keyed up for coffee.

“!” I look up to see my brother walking toward me. He grabs me in a hug, and I cling to him. “Is she okay?” he asks. I shrug.

“I think so, but Mare took her back to run some tests. She has a broken arm.”

“What do you need?”

“Just for her to be okay.” He nods his agreement. I look around him.

“Where’s Haze?”

“She’s with Mom and Dad, I was the closest, so I got here the fastest. You can expect the rest of us to be here shortly,” he assures me, and I smile. I won the family jackpot with this lot.

“Thanks, big brother,” I tell Knox.

“Of course.” Something catches his eye over my shoulder. I turn and see Florence, followed by Rhett and Winnie. When they get to us, I’m enveloped in a mass hug.

“We’re here,” Winnie tells me and holds me tight. This may be the only time in the history of knowing her that she hugs me, and Rhett doesn’t drag her off me. I hear a door swing shut and crane my head around to see Mare coming toward us. I spin with Winnie still holding my arm and Rhett with a hand on my shoulder.

“Is she okay?” I practically beg. She nods at us.

“She broke her arm in two places, but it’s set for now. We’ll cast it tomorrow. She’s okay though. She wants to see you,” she tells me, smiling. I grin and start for the doors. “Room 202!” she calls to me, but I don’t slow down until I reach her door. I knock.

“Come in.” I hear her raspy voice say, and when I see her it’s like my whole world clicks back into focus. Everything I’ve ever wanted, things I’m only just beginning to dream about, is right in front of me.

“Hey, Lover Boy.”