“Come on, Trav,” Curtis said. “It’s all right. They’ll take good care of her.”
It wasn’t all right. None of it was.
He was aware of someone tugging on his arm, pulling him to his feet. He was pushed and pulled out of the way, making room for the EMTs to do their job.
Again there were bits and pieces of conversation that drifted into his ears, barely heard over the pounding of his own heart.
“Pulse thready…”
“Secure her head.”
“Call ahead, tell them to have a trauma team ready.”
“Fractured … broken … unconscious.”
“Only one of you can go,” someone said firmly.
Travis managed to focus, saw the EMT was talking to him and Gage.
Because he had no idea what good he would do in the back of that ambulance, Travis nodded to Gage, urging him to go with her. Gage didn’t say a word, walking off immediately, as though not to hold things up any longer.
As the sirens split the air, the ambulance taking his wife to the hospital, Travis was consumed by cold.
“Come on, boy,” Curtis stated firmly. “I’ll drive you.”
Travis looked at his father. “Where are…?”
“Iris and Frank are with your mother and Arlene. They’ve got the kids. They’re takin’ ’em back to my house.”
Iris and Frank. His aunt and uncle. Brantley’s parents. They would help. His mom would have help.
Good. That was good. “Someone should…”
Curtis’s big, firm hand slid over his shoulder, a gentle, calming touch. “Two deputies are with them, Travis. As are Kaden, Keegan, Jared, and Hope.”
Travis found his feet were moving as he let his father lead him to the Escalade still parked at the bed-and-breakfast.
He was vaguely aware of his father speaking every so often, but his mind was already miles ahead of them, in the back of that ambulance.
Juliet’s heart was pounding so hard she thought it would burst right out of her chest. Adrenaline-laced fear made her hyperalert, her foot on the gas as she sought a safe place.
She’d hit her with her car. Kylie.
Everything that had happened was still a blur, but Juliet recalled seeing Travis’s wife as she walked down the street, laughing at something the other woman said. Juliet had felt the rage boil up. How could that bitch be so happy? How could they go on with their lives like nothing had ever happened? Like Juliet hadn’t lost every damn thing she’d ever had?
And then it hit her. This was her chance. It wasn’t coincidence that Kylie had been put directly in her path. It was a sign from God.
The next thing Juliet knew, she was backing her car out of the spot. Once she put it in drive, she slammed her foot on the gas pedal, aiming the car for Kylie just as she stepped out into the street.
Her timing had been impeccable. Another sign, she figured.
It had happened so fast, she hadn’t had time to really process it, even after she’d rammed the other car, pinning Kylie between the two. Juliet’s fight-or-flight instinct had kicked in and she’d managed to untangle the car from the wreckage and speed away. It surprised her she hadn’t taken anyone else down in the process.
Now as she parked her wrecked car behind the cheap motel she’d gotten a room in earlier, Juliet knew she had to make a run for it. Only she couldn’t drive that car, which pained her. She had come to love that Mustang. Unfortunately, it was too noticeable. Someone would see it. There had been police at that park. Surely they weren’t far behind.
Leaving all her stuff in the room because she kept on her what was crucial, Juliet headed for the little office where she’d paid for the room. She remembered seeing a set of keys hanging in the office.
Luck was on her side because there was no one there when she stepped inside. The bells over the door jingled, and fearing it would alert someone, she darted through the open door, grabbed the key ring from the hook, and turned and headed back out.
