When she got to the opening, two men she didn’t know, pulled her whole body out until she could stand. But the sunlight was so bright, she felt dizzy and covered her eyes. In the next moment she was whisked off her feet and carried to a waiting ambulance a hundred yards away. What the hell? “Put me down.”
Luckily, whoever carried her, set her on the back of the ambulance. “I can walk, it’s just too freaking bright.”
“Get this lady some sunglasses! I need to grab Walker.”
Walker? She watched the very large firefighter stride back to what looked like a mouse hole in the middle of a debris field. Someone handed her sunglasses, and she quickly put them on, even as they wrapped her in a blanket. Really? It had to be over a hundred and ten. Shrugging it off, she kept her hand over the sunglasses to watch the hole for Garrett.
Cole moved in front of the hole and spoke. She couldn’t hear what he said, but he didn’t move aside until the big firefighter joined him. Right. Now Garrett could come out.
“Miss, I’m Lieutenant Alvarez. Can I take a look at your arm?”
She gave the dark-haired firefighter a cursory look. “Sure.” She held out her left arm and returned her gaze to the hole.Come on Garrett. What are you waiting for?
The man at her left arm called to someone behind her, but she didn’t pay any attention. Every one of her muscles was tense with waiting. What the hell was taking so long? Did she take that long?
Suddenly, Cole and the big fire fighter jumped back and the hole disappeared.
Garrett!
Chapter Twelve
Riley jumped up and took a step forward before a hand clamped down on her. “Miss, we have to get you to the hospital. You’re dehydrated and have an infected arm.”
She glanced down at her arm to see the red puffiness, but quickly found the man holding her. She glared. “Take your hand off me.”
“Do you understand? You need to go to the hospital.” He spoke as if she was in first grade, but didn’t release her.
She stepped up to him. “I’m not going anywhere until Garrett is out of that cave. Do you understand me, soldier?”
The firefighter gave her an odd look. “I do understand what you want, but we have to make sure you’re treated first.”
Beyond exasperated, she swore. “Get your fucking hand off me or choose which one of your balls you want to lose.”
His eyes widened and his grip lessened.
She ripped her arm from him and ran back toward the hole. Before she could get close, a large meaty arm wrapped around her. “Whoa, there. Do you want to be buried too?”
At his words, her heart constricted. Buried? No, he couldn’t be. Not again. She couldn’t lose another person. She’d been so careful.
“Hey, don’t cry. Walker’s tougher than a little cave-in.”
She looked up at the man that had carried her out of the hole. “Is he alive?”
He smirked. “I’d bet a million on it. He’s cheated death more than once.”
That was true, but what if his luck had run out?
“Want to take my bet?”
“What?” She couldn’t stop staring at the wall of dirt.
“I bet he’ll come out of there riding a pink unicorn, too.”
Cole yelled something to the driver of the bucket loader. He wouldn’t be doing that if Garrett were dead, would he?”
“Maybe even have a pair of blue bunnies on his lap.”
Blue bunnies? She finally turned to look at the man who continued to keep her away. “What are you talking about?”
