“Hey! Can anybody hear me?” a man yelled and an overwhelming sense of unwelcomed déjà vu washed over me.
“Yes! I can hear you,” I yelled back.
“Try not to move! We’ve got help on the way!”
“I’ve got young kids in here!” I said and realized I hadn’t heard a sound from Braxton. I forced myself to turn so I could see him. His little body was being held in place by the seat belt, but I couldn’t see his face. “Braxton! You okay, little man?”
Nothing.
“Riley, is Braxton okay?”
“I don’t know!” she cried. “Braxie-boo, please wake up.”
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
I felt around for my phone and wanted to cheer when I found it in my pocket. I managed to get it out and called Copper.
“Copper Black,” he answered.
“Need help, Prez. Had a wreck. Trapped in the truck with Avery’s kids.”
“Be right there,” he clipped and I heard him yell for Spazz before the call ended.
“Good,” I thought. I knew Spazz would be able to ping my location on the way.
“Riley, sweetheart, are you hurt?” I asked and prayed she didn’t have any injuries.
“My arm hurts and I’m scared,” she cried.
“I know, princess. Try not to move, okay? Help is on the way; we just have to be patient and wait for them to get here,” I said and hoped like hell I wasn’t lying to her.
I turned my body as far as I could and tried to reach Braxton but only the tips of my fingers grazed his shirt. “Braxton!” I bellowed. “Wake up! Please, wake up,” I begged.
Nothing.
Not a fucking peep. I couldn’t even tell if he was breathing.
And that’s when I broke. I screamed in anger and frustration. “Why?” I bellowed. “Why is this happening again?”
I slammed my head back against the headrest as the tears ran down my face. “Why?” I cried. “I cannot go through this again.” And then, tiny little fingers sifted through my hair.
“I love you, Kellan.”
Fuck me. I cried even harder. “I love you, too, baby girl. I love your mother and I love Braxton, too.”
The truck shifted and metal groaned causing Riley to shriek. “What was that?”
“Savior!”
I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard Copper’s voice. “Thank fuck, Prez.”
“Are you all secured?”
“We’re still strapped in by the seat belts,” I answered.
