Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Greer inhaled, glancing over at Chase. Wondering if she’d simply willed the sound into existence. Chase snapped his gaze to the bank, shining his light along the mud until he zeroed in on a spot several feet downstream.
He lunged forward, crouching low. “I’ve got a knee impression and more blood.”
She followed, breath held, her flashlight covering as much area as possible.
A gurgling rasp.
Low. Weak. Like someone breathing through a straw and failing.
They inched along, caught a hint of movement off the side of the bank.
Chase removed his medic bag, propped it on the bank, then jumped in.
The surging current tumbled him forward a few steps until he leaned back — braced himself.
He moved along the edge, stopping at a tangle of roots, clumps of moss and old leaves collecting along one side.
Churning in the current as it eddied around the wood.
He leaned down, highlighting a large hollow cave stretching beneath a massive spruce, one black boot poking through the weblike structure. “Eli.”
Greer scrambled to the edge, slipping into the dark water. Branches clawed at her legs as she moved in beside Chase, spying Eli’s face barely cresting the surface.
Chase held her back. “Stay here. Keep as much light on him as possible. I’ll check for wires, then get him free.”
She nodded, teeth already chattering, the beam shaking as she shivered from the cold. Chase drew in a deep breath, then dipped beneath the surface, the water quickly closing overtop his head.
Time ticked away, every second dragging on until she started searching the surface.
He should be up by now. Grabbing another breath. Telling her it’s clear, unless…
A surge of panic before she shoved it down. Focused on keeping Eli pinned in the center of the beam. Trusting Chase was simply stronger than her. Better prepared.
Eli whimpered, mouthing what looked like her name before he bobbed beneath the surface, reappearing a moment later in front of the roots, Chase cresting the water beside him.
Chase dragged him clear, his head balanced on Chase’s shoulder until they reached her. “Can you guide his head until we’re back to where I left my bag?”
“Sure.”
She swung the shotgun across her back, then cupped one hand beneath Eli’s hair, keeping his face above water as they fought against the current, finally backtracking to the opening on the bank.
Chase motioned for her to jump out, somehow maneuvering both him and Eli out of the water without having to hike the other man over his shoulder.
He carried Eli back to the main trail, then eased him down, shoving his wet jacket under Eli’s head. “Easy, brother. I’ve got you.”
Greer hovered nearby, shotgun sweeping the landscape, her stomach tied in knots. Images of Troy played in her head, that same helpless feeling flooding her system.
Chase did a quick body sweep, then rolled Eli onto his side, wincing when the man cried out. “I know, just bear with me. I need to see what I’m dealing with.”
Pink bubbles frothed from Eli’s shoulder blade, the odd fleck of blood splattering across his uniform.
Chase eased him back, then went to work, slapping on sponges and setting up an IV. He waved her over, pointing to the massive wound on his lower abdomen. “I need pressure. A lot, so use your knee.”
She hesitated, her gaze flying to Eli before she shifted — pressed her knee into his stomach. He jerked, clawing at her for a few moments before his hands fell limp at his side, his eyes rolling back.
Bile crested her throat, but she willed it away, holding one of his hands in hers. Something to anchor him. Keep him this side of the light.
Chase checked his cell and cursed. “Still nothing. We’ve got to go. Get him back to the Bronco. We’ll call once we’ve got a signal. See if someone can meet us along the way.”
She nodded, moving when Chase did his best to pack the wound. Thick dark blood stained the ground as Chase heaved the man onto his shoulder, shifting Eli’s position until most of his weight centered over that wound — kept it from bleeding out.
Chase waved, and Greer took off, lighting up the path while checking for danger.
Another sniper shot or a trip wire they hadn’t noticed.
Or one their perp had added after they’d passed by.
A twig snapped beneath her boot, everything inside her jumping before she pushed it all down. Picked up the pace.
Chase followed behind, moving so fast, she wondered how his legs didn’t buckle beneath the strain. His breathing measured. Strong.
This was the real Chase Remington.
The man beneath the easy banter and stunning smile. The medic who’d brought his brothers back from behind enemy lines. Who’d given everything, even when he’d suspected it was a losing battle.
The guy who never quit.
They reached the edge of the tree line as sirens sounded in the distance, more blue lights flickering in the fog.
They charged across the field, Greer checking for more wires until they reached the cruiser, then over to her SUV.
She flung open the back, just like with Rhett, helping Chase ease Eli onto the surface.
Blood soaked his clothes, his skin an eerie gray.
Eli reached for her, his lips moving. What looked like, “You.”
She shushed him and squeezed his hand. “Save your strength. Cavalry’s nearly here.”
Chase pushed more meds, looking back when Kash and Jordan rolled up in Kash’s truck. They jumped out, Kash yelling something across a radio before taking point, Nyx vibrating at his side.
Jordan moved in close, mouth pinched tight. “Bodie called when Eli missed his check-in. Foster and Mac are already on their way. Luckily, they’d joined us for dinner. Were only five minutes from the hangar.”
Chase gestured toward the street. “Let’s get to the main road. Save whatever time we can.”
That’s all Greer needed. Two seconds and she had the door open, keys sliding into the ignition. Another couple and the engine revved, gravel spraying out from beneath the tires as she swung the Bronco around and took off. Keeping it as smooth as possible.
Chase muttered in the background, either to himself or Eli. The low sound sending shivers down her spine. She’d heard that same tone with Rhett, then the others. Chase’s way of trying to bend fate — align it to his will.
She hit the pavement just as a chopper soared overhead, thrashing trees and branches as Foster banked hard to the right, somehow landing a heartbeat later.
Greer swerved onto the shoulder, jumping out while the chassis still rocked beneath her, the engine humming in the background.
Chase barely waited for the hatch to open before he had Eli in his arms as he raced toward the helicopter.
Greer beat him by a step, opened the doors wide, then gave him a boost. She hopped in, leaving her Bronco idling on the side of the road, closing the doors and strapping in before Foster lifted the machine and tipped it forward.
The chopper shook, dipped a bit, then picked up speed, soaring over the towering pines as Foster angled it northward.
Chase hooked up more tubes, had the defibrillator on standby. That inevitable crash she knew lurked in the shadows, waiting to strike.
He glanced over at her, frowned, then checked Eli’s vitals. “Greer. Sweetheart you look like you’re going to tank.”
She swallowed, nearly puked, but waved him off. How he had time to worry about her, too, mystified her. “I’m fine.”
His frown deepened, but he didn’t call her bluff, cursing as he pressed against Eli’s neck. “No pulse.” He leaned over Eli — started compressions. “Foster. Brother any more speed you can get out of this baby would be appreciated.”
Another round of shaking as Foster urged the aircraft faster, the interior vibrating from the strain.
An alarm sounded from the cockpit, crushed a moment later as Foster pressed in some buttons.
Greer shifted closer, manning the bag as Chase counted it down, nodding whenever he reached zero, pausing only when he shocked Eli’s heart.
Eli lurched with each hit, that unforgiving tone sounding in the background.
Chase shook his head. “Come on, Eli. Hang in there.”
Time blurred, freezing then rushing ahead. The chopper ride fading into a dash through the hospital. The frantic race filled with white coats and bright lights.
She stopped outside the trauma room, blood sticky against her skin, every muscle twitching. She shivered, too tired to worry about the bone-deep chill seeping through her veins. Her clothes reeked of death and old leaves, most of her equipment beyond saving.
A hand landed on her shoulder, the heavy weight nearly taking her to her knees. She glanced up, the undeniable truth written across Chase’s face.
He curled his fingers around her arm. “You need to get into some dry clothes before you’re their next patient.”
She shook her head, focusing on the room. On the flurry of motion, everyone darting around in some form of controlled chaos. “I can’t leave him.”
“Greer. There’s nothing more you can do but wait. You’re not helping anyone by worsening your hypothermia.”
She huffed but followed him to a locker room, grabbing a quick shower before pulling on scrubs and an oversized hoodie. Chase’s or maybe Foster’s. Either way, it took away a bit of the chill. Gave her back a modicum of humanity.
The hard vinyl chair creaked as she collapsed into it, elbows braced on her knees, hands laced together as she stared at the floor.
Snippets of the night played in her mind.
The ghostly cruiser, its blue strobes glowing in the fog.
The mechanical chirp breaking the silence.
Eli’s eyes as he’d fisted her shirt — searched her gaze for something she wasn’t sure he’d found.
People rushed past, wheeling patients along the hallway. Nurses called out vitals, the glass doors opened and closed as a clock marked out time, each tick stealing more of her sanity.
She’d failed.
Again.