Chapter 13
Thirteen
TANNER
I didn’t want to leave the hospital, but I needed to get the car seat and Wryan’s bag. We didn’t have time to get all that before. I left my wife and daughter sleeping when I decided to make this quick run. Browser and a couple of Ridley’s men are on guard, protecting them.
I open my window to hear the waves crashing, unconcerned about the freezing rain getting in. I’m hoping the sound will help me stay awake. I look behind me in the darkness as lights approach me fast.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, asshole?” I mutter as I take the first curve along the cliffs. This is a no passing zone with only two lanes.
The car slams into the back of my SUV, jolting me forward. My tires slide along the wet pavement. I tighten my grip on the steering wheel and hit the phone button. If this is my last moment to hear her voice, I want to call my wife, but I don’t want to panic her.
“Call Ridley,” I say, and the sound of ringing echoes in the car. It’s late, so I expect my call to go to voicemail, but a tired voice answers.
“This better be good, Doc,” she grumbles.
“He’s trying to kill me. I’m along the cliffs heading to my house. He’s hit me once already.” Just then, the car slams into me again. “Make that twice.” I struggle to keep my SUV on the slick road. When he hits me a third time, I hear the metal screech as I slam into the guardrail and slide along it. A gun fires, and I know I don’t have much more time. “Tell her I love her. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise to wake up with her every day. Tell her to raise our daughter to love art and nerdy things.”
The car slams into the back quarter panel of mine as the gun fires again. A sharp, burning sensation erupts in my side, and suddenly my car is airborne.
“Fuck,” I yell seconds before the darkness of the water slams into the hood of my car. Airbags deploy, causing me more pain, and then the coldness of the ocean overwhelms me. “I’m sorry, kitten.”
I fight with my seat belt, pushing the airbag away from my face as water rushes in through the open window. As soon as I can, I slip out and make my way to the surface. In the darkness, I can’t see anything at first. Then I spot the lights on the road above, stopped and looking down. I pray he can’t see me as I let the waves carry me toward the cliff. Just before I slam into it, I see a small ledge.
I’m pulled back out by the wave, and this time, I kick hard and grab onto the ledge, dragging my body up onto it.
“Hey, is anyone down there?” a male voice yells, but I don’t respond. I’m not sure if it’s him or someone else. I force my eyes to stay open as I check over my injuries.
Wryan
I wake up and see Browser on his phone. His body is tight, and he’s typing away on his laptop.
“There is no camera on that stretch of road, but I have the vehicle’s GPS. Give me a moment.”
“What’s going on?” I ask softly, and he quickly turns toward me. His eyes are frantic, and panic hits me. I look around the room and don’t see Tanner.
“Where is he?” I ask.
Browser doesn’t answer me.
“She just woke up,” he says to whoever’s on the phone, and I sit up.
“Where is he?” I raise my voice, not caring if I wake up Noelle. I shake my head when Browser doesn’t answer me. He moves toward me, and I shove my fist in my mouth as I cry out. “No.” I shake my head back and forth. “No, don’t say it.”
“We don’t know,” Browser finally answers me. “He went to get a change of clothes, your bag, and the baby’s car seat.” He pauses. “Someone ran him off the road.”
“Is he okay?” I ask, calming slightly. He was just in a car accident, but the look in Browser’s eyes says so much.
“We haven’t found him. His GPS stopped before it crashed into the ocean.”
My head swims, and my eyes roll back. As darkness pulls me under, I know it’s not due to my heart, but because I can’t face the reality that Tanner is gone. I’ll never be the same again.