Page 66 of All Because I Found You

“Calm down, sir. We have someone on the way right now. Are you hurt?”

“No, I wasn’t in the car. But my girlfriend…” His voice cutoff as the word echoed in his mind. Raelyn wasn’t even awake to hear him. He should never have let her leave. He should have told her he loved her and that he would love their baby. He was a fucking idiot.

“Sir, are you there?” the dispatcher asked.

“Yes, I’m still here.” He wanted to yank Raelyn from the car and take her in his arms, but he was scared to move her, afraid if he did, he’d cause more damage.

“Are both drivers in their cars still?”

“Yes.”

“Do you see any smoke or smell anything burning?”

“There was smoke, but I think it was just all the fluids hitting the hot engines.” His gaze went back to Raelyn still unmoving, blood dripping down her cheek. “Where the hell are they?”

“Sir, they are three minutes out. We’ve only been on the line for two.”

“It feels like an eternity.”

“I know.”

“I can’t lose her. I can’t.”

“The ambulance should be there any second.”

Tears poked the backs of his eyes, the energy to hold himself up waning, but he needed to be strong for Raelyn, for their baby.

Red flashing lights cut through the darkness, and the tiniest bit of relief passed through him. “I see them.”

“Are you okay to hang up now?”

“I am. Thank you.” He ended the call, shoved the phone in his pocket and felt for Raelyn’s pulse on her wrist. He didn’t think she was dead, but he needed to be reassured that her heart was still beating. He got a pulse, but it was faint. Fuck!

The ambulance pulled up and two EMTs jumped out. Ryder hadn’t even noticed the people stumbling out of their houses in robes and pajamas, making their way to the sidewalk. They didn’t matter. All that mattered right now was Raelyn.

“Over here!” he yelled to the EMT who was jogging in his direction. “She has a pulse. I was scared to move her. I didn’t want to hurt her.”

“You did the right thing,” the EMT said. “Now let us do our job.”

“I can’t lose her,” he declared, needing everyone to know that she was his lifeline. If she was gone, then there was nothing left for him.

The EMT glanced at him. His hard features softened, and he nodded. “I will do everything in my power to keep that from happening.”

Ryder stumbled back as the other EMT ran over with a bag of supplies. Flashbacks mixed with present day and the harsh beat of his heart knocked the wind from his lungs.

More flashing lights showed up, creating a kaleidoscope of color, swirling around him, blinding him, making him dizzy, but he didn’t fall. He needed to be strong. He stood waiting for Raelyn. The EMTs got her out of the car and placed her on a stretcher.

“Raelyn!” he yelled, his voice breaking as hot tears pressed against his eyes and clogged his throat.

“Shit, it’s Raelyn,” the EMT said to the other EMT who both had panic slashed across their faces.

They knew her, they’d make sure she was okay. But that look of panic… that look… oh God.

“Hey buddy,” a guy in pajamas patted him on the back. “Your feet are bleeding. Are you okay?”

He looked at the man he’d never seen before and tears broke free, pouring down his face. “I can’t lose her.” He collapsed, and this stranger caught him before his knees could meet cement, holding him up as his world crumbled around him.

Chapter 25

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