Page 35 of Dangerous Lies

I'm very disappointed.

Casanova cussed next to her. “Ginger's phone is going straight to voicemail. That man never turns his phone off.”

13

GINGER

“I'm sorry I broke your phone.” Tyler sniffled in the back seat.

Ginger understood mistakes, and kids made them, but he hated being without a connection to his team. Especially if something happened to Rose. He had no way toknowif danger lurked.

Shit just happened, and he needed to learn to roll with the punches.

He glanced in the back seat. Tears streaked Tyler's cheeks. He'd told the kid a million timesitwas fine. They had been at the soccer field, and Tyler wanted to take a photo for his mom. Ginger couldn't tell the kid no when he pleaded with his bright green eyes. The moment he handed the phone over, he took off running at a breakneck speed but didn'tseethe paver sticking up. The cellphone flew up and came back down right on the cement near the field.

“It'sokay, bud.” He pulled out into traffic. “I'll grab a new one later. How does your kneefeel?”

Tyler's lip quivered. “Ithurts, but Mom says I'm strong and can handle falls now.”

Rose did a fantastic job raising Tyler, and he had no plan to change that. He just wanted to be a part of their family. He just had to convince her.Ithad taken a long shower and some self-doubt before he’d decided he was the only person whocouldchange her mind.

“You did amazing.” He turned the car down Main Street toward the house.

Ginger enjoyed his time with his son, but his mind was on Rose and how things were at the station. Casanova had tried to talk him into taking her, but he'd been so pissed at the time he refused.

“Mom gets me ice cream when I do good,” Tyler said.

“Really?” Ginger asked, not being able to hold back the smile.

“Yes. Maybe wecouldgetsome for Mom too. She was crying in the kitchen, and I neverseeher cry.”

Ginger swallowed the lump in his throat. The tears had ripped at his already torn heart. “Do youknowwhat kind she likes?”

“Chocolate with gummy bears.”

He'd seen an ice cream shop a few miles away from her house. They were about to go over a large bridge when the SUV jerked. The screen alerted him to a flat tire. Ginger pressed on the brake, but the car accelerated. He reached for the emergency brake and yanked the handle. Nothing. He had Tyler strapped down in the back seat, if he could get to his boy, he would jump out of the car and into the ditch.

He concentrated on the road as another pop sounded, and the front tire blew. Tyler cried out in the back. Ginger didn't take his eyes off the road. He had to makeitover the bridge and to the field on the other side. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the wheel. They were almost halfway over the bridge. A quarter of a mile, and they would be in a safer area.

The wheel jerked with so much force, he couldn't stop the SUV as it crashed into the side of the bridge. Tyler screamed as the metal creaked against the concrete barrier, but the side of the bridge wasn’t strong enough to hold as the SUV jolted forward over the edge.

They free-fell straight toward the fast moving water. Ginger gripped the steering wheel, watchingthe surface come closer. The SUV jerked the second they hit the river and the airbags deployed. The white pillowsfeltlike a punch to the face as they threw him back in his seat. Tyler's cries filled the car once more. He wanted nothing more than to turn and tell his boy everything would be okay, but they were sinking, and he needed to assess the situation.

He tried to slide the window down, but the engine cut when they hit the cement side of the bridge. Ginger pushed the button of his seatbelt, butitwouldn't budge. Water was seeping in quickly, and he needed togetthem out of the vehicle beforeitflooded.

“Hang on, bud.” He tried to keep his voice even, but Tyler cried harder. “I need you to help me. You're a big boy, right?”

“Yes.” Tyler hiccupped.

“Okay, can yougetout of your seat and climb to the front?”

Ginger reached for his utility knife and pulleditout. The cold water filled the lower part of the car, and they were sinking fast.

“I'm scared,” Tyler said.

“Me too, but we can do this and then we can tell your mom how much of a helper you were.”

Ginger let out a breath as heheardthe click of the belt behind him. He worked to cut through the seat belt. A small hand rested on his shoulder as his boy climbed to the front.

---