Doctors. Nurses. Chaos.
And a still, ash-covered body.
Then a scream shatters the air.
“Asher.” Grace breaks from Caleb’s grasp and barrels toward the gurney, nearly collapsing under the weight of her own terror.
The EMTs block her. She fights them, sobbing, hysterical.
“I need to get to him. Please let me through.”
Josh and Cas rush to her as Ethan is loaded into an ambulance.
EMTs shout orders. One climbs onto the gurney over Asher and starts CPR as they roll him into the second ambulance.
Grace’s screams turn into animalistic wails.
Both ambulances pull away, lights flashing wildly through the smoke.
I run to Grace and grab her shoulders.“Grace, stop. Listen to me. We are going to the hospital, okay?”
She nods, trembling uncontrollably.
I glance back at Caleb. He stands a few feet away, looking confused.
Grace climbs into my truck without even seeing him.
He takes the backseat silently.
“He will not die, right?” Grace whispers, hands shaking violently.
“I talked to Ethan,” I say carefully.“He was lucid. It did not look that bad.”
Grace shakes her head hard.“I know. I saw Ethan. But Asher…”
And she breaks into sobs so raw they echo through the cab.
CHAPTER 18
Summer
The hospital waiting room is total chaos. Fluorescent lights hum overhead, too bright and too cold, flickering every few minutes as if they are fighting to stay alive. The air tastes of antiseptic, burnt coffee, and the sharp edge of panic.
I find Cas immediately and rush to him.
“Any news?” My voice sounds thin, strangled.
He shakes his head.“They took them both in to run tests. We just wait.”
The hopelessness in his voice makes my stomach drop.
The place is crowded, every seat full, people standing, pacing, clutching jackets or paper cups or each other.
The entire Hawthorne family is here. Lily with red eyes, Josh pacing like a caged animal, Grace pale and shaking, Dex rubbing circles on her back, Jude and Cas standing with their arms crossed but not fooling anyone. Jace has already video called several times. He is taking the first flight home.
Penny has Mia at her place and is calling Cas every half hour, but even without her, the room feels like it is vibrating with Hawthorne worry.
Ethan’s entire fire crew is there too, still half in uniform, some of them streaked with soot, eyes hollow, clothes carryingthe scent of smoke and pine resin and adrenaline. These men and women look like they have walked straight out of hell and into heartbreak.
