Page 60 of Grayson

“Let them get her out.” I glance at Hayes and see the unshed tears in his eyes and that is the moment I know what I’m about to see will break me.

Glancing back I see movement, brown hair falling to the side, a neck brace securely in place, a backboard covering most of the body.

But when it’s completely up and they start to lower it to the awaiting team my legs grow weak.

Blood is smeared on the entire right side of her face but there is no mistaking Tori’s button nose. Bile rises in my throat and I feel like I can barely breathe.

They lower her to the ground, Hollywood moving in quick.

“Is she breathing?” I’m not even sure if the words came out. My throat is on fire.

“Is she breathing?” I yell, fisting my hands into Hayes’ jacket, trying to push past him only Myles has also moved in to help hold me back. “Is she fucking breathing?” My voice echoes over the darkened road, the red, blue, and white lights bouncing off the buildings and trees around us. Light rain is beginning to fall, making my hair fall on my forehead and stick to my skin.

“Tell me.” I scream this, as I fight against the hold the guys have on me.

“We’ve got a pulse,” Hollywood announces and that is the moment my legs give out and I crumble to the ground. I hadn’t even realized I was crying until hot tears drip down my cheeks.

“Hawk.” Brax bends down, gripping my arm looking around trying to figure out why I’m on the ground. “You good?”

“It’s Tori,” Fed yells out to everyone close enough to hear and it all clicks. They all know who Tori is. I talk about her all the time, sharing stories and gaining laughs. Some of the guys have witnessed firsthand what a verbal ass whooping feels like from Tori. They all know what she means to me. They all know that she’s my family and in turn that means she is family to them too.

Everyone springs into action, getting her and the other passengers loaded into the awaiting ambulances, just up the small hill.

“I have to call Skye.” I crawl up the grass making it to the road and start to search for my phone.

Pulling it out of my pocket, Atta reaches out and takes it from me. “I got this, brother.”

Coop then wraps his arm around me and starts to lead me to the truck just as I hear Atta say one sentence that throws me over the edge.

“Skye, it’s Atticus, from the station, we’re sending someone to pick you up. You’re needed.”

40

Skye Simmons

I was pacing the sidewalk as Scarlett’s car turned into the parking lot. My mind has been racing since I heard Atticus’s voice on Grayson’s phone. I swear my heart stopped, and I’m not sure its beat since. I can barely breathe, every scary thought I could have playing tug of war in my mind.

Was he okay?

I want to call Tori, but there isn’t a reason to worry her until I know what’s going on myself. I would need time to pull myself together.

Yanking open the car door, I get in quickly and look over to find her face splotchy and her cheeks stained with tears.

“It’s bad, isn’t it?”

She only offered me a nod as she backed out and we drove toward the hospital.

“Was it a fire?” I ask, staring out the windshield. “Is he alive?”

When she doesn’t answer me I turn to look at her and can barely see through the tears pooling in my eyes. “Just tell me if he’s alive please?”

“Skye,” her whisper echoes all around me and I hurry to wipe away the tears. But no matter what I do, they just kept coming. My chest hurt so much, my hands shook as I fisted them in my lap.

“It’s not Grayson.” It took a moment for her words to register. “It’s Tori.”

My world stopped!

I didn’t think I could feel any more pain than I was already feeling, but I was wrong. I broke, everything around me crumbled, and I broke.

---