Page 73 of Eyes Like a Hurricane

“That’s all for you, sweetheart. We let your brother know. He, Leo, and Paisley are on their way.” He hiccups. “When I first saw the rubble, I thought I had lost you before I ever truly had the chance to be with you.”

His lips press to my forehead, and I squeeze him harder.

“Looks like you were right. Fate has big plans for us. Our story isn’t over, Lachlan. It’s just beginning,” I murmur into his skin.

He shivers at the feel of my warm breath, causing his hands to squeeze a little tighter.

The timbre of his voice is rough, “Let’s get you topside, Hellcat. I want your head looked at by a doctor. I can feel your blood soaking my shirt.”

I give the tiniest of nods against his chest. “Then will you take me home?”

He grunts. “I’ll take you wherever your heart desires.”

Chapter 48

Lachlan

At the base of the hill, I look up to see a bunch of silhouettes peaking over the top. The rain has turned into a mist, but getting back up the slope will be challenging.

“Sweetheart, I’ll slowly rotate you, so you are wrapped around my torso. I need both arms to climb the slope, and I’m hoping you can hang onto me with your arms and legs,” I explain in a calm voice.

I feel her head slowly nod against my chest, but the movement is stilted. I gradually move her so she is straddling my front. She releases a soft groan, and my heart clenches.

“Hang tight. We are almost there.” Calling over my shoulder, I say, “Edwin, I’m going to climb up first with her on my front. Can you and Noah follow close behind in case I slip or need assistance? I don’t want to risk—” My voice cracks, and I swallow to even my tone. “She can't hit her head again.”

I pull my leather gloves from my back pocket and slide them on my hands. Reaching for the rope dangling in front of me, I grab it tight with both hands. Taking a deep breath, I know I need to start climbing. I struggle to see the ground below meand fight to find the first open area to place my foot. Locating the path that we’ve been using, I slowly begin my ascent.

My forearms tighten as my biceps pull us upward. Taking small steps, I make sure my footing is stable before transitioning my weight to the next foot. My back burns between my shoulder blades as I continue to pull our weight upward. A rock slides out from under my toe on the next transition, and I slide a few inches. I flex, gripping the rope with all my strength to regain my footing.

Aislinn whimpers against my neck, causing fresh tears to prick my eyes. Come on, Lachlan, dig deep. You have to get her medical attention.

A few steps later, I feel Aislinn’s hold around my waist and neck loosen.

“Aislinn, I need your help. Can you hang on for a few more feet?” I plead.

There is no response. Her arms go limp against my chest, and my panic sets in.

“Edwin! Noah! I think she's lost consciousness. Are you right below me? If she starts to slip, I’m grabbing her with one of my arms!”

I glance up and see a few people with a rope tethered around their waists, leaning over the side of the slope. Only a few more feet, and they should be able to reach her. The toe of my boot digs into the hillside, and I grunt as we make it another step up the incline.

Edwin calls from just below me, “Lachlan, you are almost there. I see Dustin. You are only about a foot away from him being able to reach her.”

As we approach the ledge, Aislinn starts to slip down my body, and I thrust my pelvis back and clinch my knees at a 90-degree angle to catch her. My body is locked in the shape of achair, but I can’t move my legs in this position. My eyes look up and lock on Dustin.

“She is unconscious, man,” I choke out. “I’m fully seated to keep her from slipping, but if I let go, we'll both fall.”

“Hold my ankles,” he shouts behind him and then crawls over the ledge until he is hinged at the hips. His upper torso is dangling off the ridge as his arms reach toward us.

My body is shaking with exhaustion. My quads and shoulders are trembling from fatigue.

Dustin's hands grab Aislinn under her armpits. He wraps his arms around her upper body and places her head gently against his shoulder. I feel her weight lift off my body as he pulls her toward him. The loss hits me square in the chest, and I find renewed energy. I push off the slope and slowly climb so that her lower body is still loosely wrapped around me.

I shout to the top, “Pull Dustin back, he’s got her in a tight hold.”

We inch our way up the final three feet, and the rest of the members of the community who are waiting at the top spring to action. Dustin keeps her neck against his shoulder and continues to bear hug her from behind. Three others lift under her body, and as a unit, they walk her back toward the Gator, laying her across the back seat. I rush over to Thunder and grab a blanket from my other saddle bag. Sprinting to the Gator, I quickly tuck her in so she doesn’t get chilled and hop into the driver’s seat.

Edwin slides in beside me, and Noah calls out, “I have Thunder and Lightning. I’ll bring them back and get them cleaned up. Take care of our girl, okay?”

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