Chapter 38 #3
No, it’s Zeke. What the hell happened? I look to my right to see bright orange flames and smoke bellow out of my car and towards me. It all comes rushing back, and when I don’t immediately see Ezra, I choke up.
Oh God…we crashed? I look forward to the airbag again.
My heart starts to pound in my chest, and my vision throbs with every strike.
The baby… I grasp my belly tightly, like somehow that will protect them from anything.
My mind starts to race, and all I can think of is how Damien always had his hand there when he drove me. I get why now.
“Ashia?! Hold on, we’re coming!” I hear Alex scream.
“Zeke? Alex?” I try to call out for them, but it only comes out in a whisper…
I can’t fucking breathe… I’m frozen. The smoke starts to make its way into my throat, and I instinctively use my shirt to cover my mouth.
It helps some, but I start to cough. My eyes water as they continue to burn.
I can feel the sting in my sinuses, and it flares up with every pound inside my head.
My door flings open, making me jolt and pulling me back from the ledge.
Zeke reaches across and unbuckles the seat belt before he drags me out.
I feel Daisy’s fur brush against my leg, and the second I’m clear of the car, he picks me up and carries me to the sidewalk.
She continues to bark loudly, but quickly follows.
I grip Zeke so tightly that my nails dig into his skin, because I’m terrified of what will happen if I let go.
My other hand continues to cradle my baby as he sets us down on the sidewalk, holding me between his legs…
Please be okay… Please be okay…
Alex appears in front of us, and he wipes his hand over my forehead before ripping his shirt off. I’m taken aback by it for a moment, not expecting to see my husband’s best friend without a shirt on, but then he holds it to my head as he brings his phone to his ear.
“You’re okay, Ash. It’s going to be okay. Are you hurt?” Zeke asks.
“I don’t—I don’t know. Zeke, I'm scared…” I whisper out, unable to control my tears.
He moves his hand on top of mine as I begin to cry and breathe heavily.
Daisy presses herself against me and lays her head on my chest. Somehow, the weight and warmth keep me grounded.
I quickly glance at her and thankfully, I see that she’s unharmed.
“I know you are Ash, but it’s going to be okay. You said you’ve been able to feel the baby move, right?”
“Yeah…”
“Okay, do you feel it now?”
“I don’t—I don’t know…” My voice squeaks. He gently shushes me as he runs his other hand over my head, careful not to get in Alex’s way. I sink back into him, desperate to feel a hold that I can pretend is Damien’s.
“Just try to relax and take deep breaths. I know this is scary, but you need to try and stay as calm as possible, okay?” he coaches me.
I nod my head and try to breathe like he said, but it’s so damn hard.
After a few failed attempts, I remember Damien calming me the first night I met him—how he pressed his forehead to mine and made it look so easy.
He instantly became my rock, and I didn’t even know it then.
The memory comes back so vividly that I can almost feel the shower water around us.
I know it’s probably just ashes or something, but I swear it’s almost there.
I'm suddenly able to draw in a deep breath, and the muscles in my chest start to ease. “Good, that’s good. Now concentrate for me, okay? Do you feel the baby moving?”
I close my eyes and focus, not immediately feeling anything.
My heart takes a drastic nosedive to my stomach.
After a few terrifying moments, I can feel the erratic and strong kicks inside my belly, and my heart almost explodes with relief.
My entire body relaxes. I gasp softly and I let out a small sob.
“Yeah, it’s moving,” I notify him softly.
“Okay!” he says excitedly as he lets out a relieved sigh.
“That’s good. That’s a good sign. You two are going to be okay, yeah?
” I nod again, and he rests his head on top of mine in a relieved way.
I didn’t even notice his heavy breaths before, but now I can hear them next to my ear, and his chest heaves against my back.
“Where’s Ezra?” I ask quietly and start to look around. I see Grease, Viking, and few other of the MC members near my burning car, but I can’t see much else. Alex looks at me before cutting a quick glance at Zeke, and then he turns his attention back to me.
“He’s going to be fine, too...” he says in that melancholy tone, and I know he’s lying.
My heart sinks. “The explosion came from the front of your car, but the other guys are tending to him.” I feel my eyes begin to sting with more tears, but Alex gently grabs my chin and forces me to look back at him.
“You need to stay calm, okay? We’re going to get you looked at, and then we’re going to the hospital, alright?
” He turns to yell at someone. “Over here!” I faintly see the siren lights get closer.
“No! They need to take care of Ezra first!” I yell, but Alex shakes his head.
“The first ambulance is already getting him out, Ash. It’s going to be okay.”
I relax against Zeke as the paramedics rush over.
Alex moves out of the way, but I’m relieved when my brother refuses.
He holds onto me just as tightly as I need him to, and he might be the only thing keeping me grounded besides the flutters in my belly.
I can’t help but watch my car become engulfed in flames, knowing one of Damien’s men—a guy I considered a friend—is most likely dead.
My mind is swirling, wondering how everything could’ve gone so wrong so quickly.
One second, we were having a normal day and laughing over his clumsiness, and the next, this disaster takes place.
What the hell happened?