Page 147 of Rear View
The smell hit me a second later as it leaked from the tank on Ryah’s side.
I ripped at her door handle, but the warped metal blocked it from opening. There was a hollow sound, then a whoosh. Flames erupted, shooting from the engine.
“FUCK!”
I snatched a rock from the base of the cliff and reared back, swinging hard for the bottom left corner of her window—its pressurized weak spot. It exploded, glass flying everywhere.
Shoving the airbag aside, I leaned in and angled her face my way. “Come on, dream girl. Open your eyes.”
Nothing.
The fire’s heat was intense and getting worse. It sucked the air from the car and filled it with smoke.
“Is she breathing?” Alec asked.
“I don’t know.” I couldn’t tell if her chest was moving,butshewasn’t, even when I jostled her. Again, nothing. “Wake up, darlin’. Please, Christ. Wake up!”
Reaching down, I unhooked her seat belt. Sliding my hands under her, I lifted, but something caught.
Alec shook his head. “Her foot’s stuck.” He threw open the back door.
I twisted my head to see the imploded dash pinning her leg. The bone sat at a bad angle. Broken. Definitely broken. SHIT!
The wail of sirens got louder, the cop’s red and blue lights tracking across the road, through the car and reflecting off Ryah’s blood. The blaze burned hotter, melting plastic and creeping closer to us.
To the fuel all over the ground.
Alec climbed in behind Ryah.
“The hell you doin’? Get outta there!” I growled.
“I’ve got the seat,” he said. “You get her.”
Jesus! I hated it, but it was the only goddamn way. Reaching down, I grabbed the scalding lever on the side to manually shift the thing back. “Ready!” I crushed my eyes closed against the heat. “NOW!”
His face turned red when he jerked it hard. The seat gave, barely. But not enough.
“AGAIN!” Digging my feet into the ground, I shoved my shoulder against it, using every ounce of power I had.
We roared, our muscles straining hard. It clunked back an inch.
Good enough.
“Go!” I ordered him.
He burst from the back and bolted.
Grabbing my girl, I ripped her out the window, brought her to my chest and ran. Another whoosh filled the night when the fire caught the gas.
BOOM!
The explosion rocked me forward. Alec was knocked away as I locked my arms over Ryah. Pieces of car and stone and debris hit my back. I grunted when they sliced into me. Something jagged punctured my side. I kept moving, the spotlight from the helicopter chasing me as I ran.
The cop-car cherries blinded me as they closed in, the sirens muffled in my ringing ears. Their cars screeched to a stop. Doors were thrown open. Guns were drawn.
I glanced around for Alec but stumbled and dropped to a knee.
“HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!” the cops yelled.
