“I heard a man yelling at her. He had a gun, and...ah, Christ. I think I’m going to be sick.”
Nausea churned in his stomach like a bubbling pot filled with acid.
“Swallow that shit down, Ryker,” Trevor ordered harshly. “I’m not about to get puked on by your sorry ass.”
Jason knew what the other man was doing. He was taking control and barking orders to snap him out of whatever mindfuck he had going on at the moment.
The dickhead’s plan worked, too, because Jason was able to breathe through the sickening fear without actually getting sick.
Trevor gave him a nod. “There ya go.”
“We good?”
“As good as we can be given the circumstances.”
“Then get the fuck out of my way.”
Jason knew he was being an asshole, but right now he couldn’t care less.
Sophie was out there, somewhere. Sheneededhim, and he was not going to let her down.
Ignoring the incessant dizziness threatening to consume him, Jason finally managed to climb his way out of the mangled car.
“We have to find her,” he told both men as soon as he was outside and on his feet. They rushed up the embankment to where Jake and Trevor’s trucks were parked. “That man, whoever he is...he’s going to kill her as soon as they get what they want.”
The sound of her screaming as she was pulled from the car would haunt him the rest of his life.
“You don’t know that.” Jake was shaking his head before he’d even finished talking.
“Yes, I fuckingdoknow that!” He shouted at his friend. “I can feel it in my gut.”
AndChrist, that feeling was tearing him up inside.
Sirens blared and red and blue lights filled the night sky as the ambulance and other emergency vehicles drove up on the scene.
Jake thought for a moment and then, “Fine.” He focused on the paramedics rushing toward them with a gurney. “We’ll go just as soon as the medic releases you.”
“Fuck that.” Jason started to shake his head, then thought better of it. “We’ll go now.”
“Your ass gets released, or I’m strapping you to that gurney and taking you to the hospital my damn self.”
Jason looked at the two, uniformed women standing next to them, now. Then he looked back at Jake. “Do I have your word on that?”
“Of course.”
“Good.” He gave one of the medics a nod. “I want to sign out AMA.”
With her eyes glued to the bandage and blood on his face, she said, “Sir, I don’t think that’s a—”
“Get me the papers.” He stared her down. “Now.”
“Damn it, Jason,” Jake hissed. “That isnotwhat I meant, and you know it.”
In a smart move, the paramedic grabbed a clipboard from the back of the ambulance and handed him that and a pen. Pointing to where he needed to sign, Jason scribbled his signature and handed it back to her.
Ignoring Jake’s protests, he asked the woman, “Am I released?”
“Yes, sir. But I still think you should—”