Chapter 39
39
Grayson Hawk
“And another win?” I spin around holding my hands up in the air. Immediately Hayes and Fed start singing “We are the Champions,” waving their hands in the air as we taunt Atta, Myles, and Brax.
We have played three rounds of darts and every single time we’ve beaten the pants off them.
“We got next round.” Coop and Hollywood enter that common room with Oscar trotting close behind. “We’ll take Fed as a third.”
Just as they pull the dart from the board and turn around the bell rings.
“Rollover, two vehicles involved in a head on collision.” Dispatch rattles off the address and we all jump into our gear and climb into the rigs.
“Witness states a vehicle crossed the center lane, into oncoming traffic. The first car weaved to miss them but the second one didn’t notice in time. They collided flipping on as its side off the road into the ditch,” Hayes updates on the details of the report being shared on the wire as we all allow ourselves to mentally prepare for what we are about to see.
It’s dark, a light drizzle making the roads gleam in the flashing lights from the trucks. Rounding the corner, headlights shine through the trees from the car flipped up on its side.
Climbing out of our rig, we start gathering our gear and split our group, half going one way, the other half taking the vehicle flipped up. The sounds of screams echo in the darkness. Sounds that rip through me to my core.
When driving to a scene where everything is so unpredictable, we never know what we may find. Most calls come over with limited information, people are frantic when giving the details that it’s always so easy to skip over the most important details.
I walk around the back of the small SUV, accessing the damages. Looking into the best options for us to get to those trapped inside. Ensuring there is nothing leaking, no sparks or possible dangers that may risk the lives of our guys.
I begin to walk further, seeing that the roof of the vehicle is fairly crushed. I am halted when Hayes rounds from the front and holds his hand out in front of him.
“Hawk, I’ve got this.” He continues walking toward me, a look of concern on his face. “Come on, brother.” He applies pressure to my chest trying to back me up.
“What’s going on?” Looking over his shoulder I hear the sounds of glass falling as the guys remove what’s remaining of the windshield so they can gain better access to the victims inside.
“Who’s in there?” There is only one reason why Hayes would be trying to hold me back. I try to sidestep him and he moves quick.
“Don’t.” He uses his body to stop me, our chests colliding. “You can’t see this.”
“Who the fuck is in there?” My heart is racing, my mind getting away from me.
I watch as Hollywood moves in behind Hayes. I stand still feeling like everything is moving in slow motion. More screams, the guys hollering commands back and forth at one another. Fed climbing over the side of the vehicle, laying across the side, reaching inside the missing window of the passenger door.
“Who is it?” I say again this time my voice hoarse with so much emotion.
“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.”