Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jace
A loud crash echoes over the shop and both Oliver and I spring into action. Coming from the back I know my first thought is someone broke in. Rushing down the hall we are met with Daxton who is losing his shit. I've never seen him in this state. Not even when his ex was creating hell for him, it was never this bad. Glass was scattered all over the floor, like something had come through the back door from the alley.
"What the hell happened?" Oliver asks as he tries to block Dax, but he is pushing againsthim. "Talk to me."
"The line went dead." His hands go up, as he fists his hair. "She was there and then there was a scream," his eyes were wide in horror. "And then the line went dead."
I feel like I've been punched in the stomach. "Bree?"
He nods as tears pool in his eyes. "We were talking about dinner; she said they were on their way back."
I grab my phone from my pocket and text Aurora.
Jace: Are you okay?
The longer I wait the harder it is to breathe. It could have been seconds or minutes and there is no response.
I dial her number and with each unanswered ring I feel my legs grow weaker.
Zac and Luna join us as we all move out to the front of the shop. Luna calls Craig, Oliver and Zac are on the phone, making calls.
"I'm going," Dax grabs his keys, his hands shaking uncontrollably. His voice is shaky and I know what he's feeling, because I'm feeling it too. Like the ground has disappeared beneath my feet and I'm free falling with nothing to grab hold of.
"Where the hell you gonna go?" Oliver doesn't back down from Dax, he never has. "Sit your ass down, because the last fucking thing we need is another situation on top of the current one. You are in no condition to drive."Oliver is on the phone with his buddy from the local police department, as he does his best to control Daxton at the same time.
"She's here." Dax crumbles to thecouch, holding out his hand with his phone in it. He is defeated and hanging on by a thread. "Her location has been the same for more than five minutes." He points to the screen and I grab his phone before anyone else has the chance.
"They're on I-25," I say, tapping the screen and zooming in.
"Mile marker?" Oliver asks as he relays what I've given him. "Anything," he adds, "street names, businesses, whatever you can find."
I read everything on the screen, names of side roads, gas stations, everydetail I can find. My heart is beating so fast and hard my chest aches from the exertion. Everyone is occupied on their phones, making demands, but what I did know was I couldn't stand still. Without another thought I'm turning on my heels and out the door, the sounds of my name being hollered but doing nothing to stop me. Jogging across the street, I'm climbing into my car and peeling down the street. Looking up in my rearview mirror I see Zac running after me waving his arms and punching the air angrily, but all I do is push the gas a little harder.
Hitting close to a hundred in some areas, I ignore my phone ringing at my side.
My stomach is twisting and turning with thoughts of what I may find when I get there. Aurora's smile flashes in my mind, the sounds of her laughter, even her sassy attitude from me pissing her off, which I have done often. I'd give anythingto find her safe, both of them. Because I know Daxton will never be the same if the outcome isn't good. None of us will.
Flashing red and blue lights come into view as my car clears the final hill.
My stomach sours, slowly pressing on the brake to ease up. Not caring or even considering where I am I turn the wheel and feel the front of my car drag against the gravel and grass at the side the road.
Jumping out after slamming it in park, I cross the road and am immediately met with officers and the try to keep my back.
“There’s been an accident here sir, and we need you to stay back.”
“No,” I bark pointing toward the vehicle that I know as Bree’s. Its smashed and twisted up and instantly I feel sick from the sight of it. “That’s my sister down there, and my girlfriend.”
“You need to let them work.” The two officers stand before me, each ready to shift depending on my next move.
“Please.” My voice is raspy as my emotions get the best of me. For the first time since this all happened, I feel my adrenaline ease and fear take over. “Are they okay?”
The taller of the two looks back over his shoulder and then back to me. “They are both breathing, one is unconscious, the other very confused and hazy.”
I nod, unsure of what to say as I step back and watch the firefighters and rescue personnel work to free the girls. My is heart racing, my legs growing weak as I lean back against my car.
This can’t be happening.
They have to be okay.
I don’t know how much time passes, but I know it feels like hours when the first gurney is wheeled up onto the road. Blond hair, stained with red, and the familiar gray sweater Bree was wearing when she showed up at my place to get Ror comes into view.
Unable to control it any longer, wetness covers my cheeks; I take a step forward and find it hard to breathe.
Then a second gurney is lifted, and long black hair drapes over the white sheet, and my legs gives out. She isn’t moving, and as they pause at the back of the ambulance a man leaps into action, placing his palms onto Aurora’s chest, pressing hard onto her chest with his joined hands, one after another, as she is loaded into the back and the doors close.
The officers from earlier move to my sides, reaching down to help me up. Guiding me backward, again I lean against my car and watch as the vehicles begin to pull away.
The officers are speaking, but everything sounds muffled. It’s like I’m in bubble wrap, and it’s getting tighter and tighter around me.
“Sir?” I look over at the officer to my left. “Can you hear me?” I nod. “Sir?”
“Yes, I can.” The words feel like sandpaper as I force them out.
“They are taking them to Foothills.” Again I only nod. “Are you okay to drive?”
“I just need a minute.” I feel like my entire world has just been rocked. “I’m okay, I just need a minute.” Finally I’m able to stand and take a deep breath and open my car door.
“Thank you,” I tell the two officers, knowing they did their part to get the girls out safe.
They each offer me a nod, backing away to the scene behind them and continuing on with securing the area.
Climbing into my car, I take a few minutes once again to calm myself, tapping the screen and calling the only person I know I can talk to without losing my shit.
“Where the hell are you?”
“Following the ambulances with the girls in them.” I can hear a lot of conversation taking place around him.
“They okay?” His question hits hard, and all I can offer in honesty.
“I have no idea.” I’m doing my best to keep myself from falling apart as I put the car in drive as start to drive. “Bree is in one, her hair had so much blood in it. They were giving Aurora CPR.”
Chaos erupts in the background, loud crashes and yelling.
“We’ll meet you there,” Zac assures me. “We are all on the way.” The call ends, and I’m left with fears as I try to catch up.