Jacked (Trent Brothers #1)(4)

Nate started crying again, breaking my thoughts. I could tell he was trying to hold it in, but it was too much. Seeing such a formidable young man brought down to his knees was unbearable to watch.

Tears of my own were stinging my eyes again. I wiped my cheeks. “Okay, then I’m going to go home. I’ve been here for almost fifteen hours now, Dad. I need to get some sleep.”

My mother sobbed again, tearing another hole into my heart.

My father frowned at first and then shook off a bit of his stupor, gently rubbing my upper arm. “Okay, sweetheart. Let me gather your mother.”

We walked outside to the open parking lot. Dad brushed his hand over my back. “Erin, are you going to be all right to drive?”

I pulled my purse up onto my shoulder; the frigid February winter wind sent an icy chill though my body. “Yeah, Dad. I’m okay.” I hit the button on the key fob. My car lights flashed, illuminating the darkness as my doors unlocked.

I’d never been one to believe in ghosts but the tall, dark figure that seemed to pop out of shadows from nowhere, slinking and ducking in between the cars in the lot, spooked me a little. I squinted, trying to make out some discernible features on the darting figure, noting it was definitely the shape of a man. After a few steps, the stranger stopped walking. All I could see was his darkened silhouette. Shortly thereafter, he became dimly lit by the glow of a cell phone. I hated that uneasy feeling that swept over me, making me question my safety in the city.

Dad pulled my coat hood up as if I were still a child, tucking my long hair in away from my face. “Okay. Call us if you need anything. Please be careful going home.”

I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him tightly, realizing how often I take his constant presence and affection for granted. My cousins had their entire world destroyed tonight. Had fate tipped her hand my way, this tragedy could have very well been mine to bear.

My dad kissed my forehead softly, making me hug him even harder. He’d been kissing me and my sister, Kate, that way ever since I could remember and it was just what I needed right now.

Dad released me and I hugged and kissed my mom, wishing with every fiber of my soul that I could have given her different news. There were no tears, no prayers, no medical skills that could bring Aunt Karen back. I wiped another tear from her soft cheek, willing her with the little bit of strength I had left. “Have faith, Mom. He’s in good hands.”

She nodded. “I know, sweetheart. Call us when you get home so I know you’re okay.”

I fought the desire to roll my eyes. Any other time I would have internally balked at the idea of calling them to “check in” but now was not the time to be indifferent or discourteous.

I climbed into my frigid car and started it, selecting the button for the seat warmer. I needed a hot shower, a warm bed, and some much needed sleep.

Well, that was my plan. After a twelve-hour shift, three additional hours looking over Uncle Cal’s X-Rays and CT scans, consulting with his surgical team, and staving off the crushing feelings of utter devastation, I wished for nothing more than to pass out from exhaustion.

I pulled the strings on my coat hood and cranked the heat up. My dashboard showed it was a brisk twenty-eight degrees outside.

The clock on the square navigation panel indicated it was now 5:12 a.m., but I knew it was an hour fast. At least the traffic in the city at this time was light; I’d be home before the Philly commuter traffic started. Maybe I’d distract my fraught mind with learning how to program the onboard system. Eight years of college, a year of internship rotations, three years of residency in the ER, and I still for the life of me couldn’t figure out how to change the clock display. Feeling inept in my brand new shiny car was unnerving.

The bright lights blinding me in my rearview mirror were also quite unnerving. The large black SUV behind me with the foreboding steel plate attached to the front of it had been on my tail for the last six blocks and two turns.

Being followed was making me nervous and edgy.

Just to test the theory and for some peace of mind, I turned one block sooner, knowing that any of the next few lefts would get me home.

As soon as I turned the wheel, my heart rate spiked and extreme fright pricked my nerves. The SUV continued to follow me. This was not the best part of Philadelphia to be driving around in, especially in the wee hours of the morning. All sorts of worst-case scenarios rushed through my mind.

Well, not tonight. I’d already endured enough; I was not going to become a victim on top of it.

I stepped on the gas pedal, trying to make it through the next traffic light before it turned, dangerously catching the tail end of the yellow light as it changed to red above me.

I checked my mirrors; the SUV paused at the intersection then accelerated and ran the red light. Before I could form a rational thought to explain it, red and blue lights flashed behind me.

Oh shit. Shit, shit, shit. Not now.

That pressure you feel when you’ve done something wrong and been caught hit my chest, shocked my nerves, and surged up into my throat. I let off the gas and looked for somewhere to pull over; after all I should have known better than to run a red light in the city. My attention veered from the demanding flashing lights; there were no open spaces to pull over to the curb.

I gasped as another truck and then another very large SUV with red and blue lights blazing headed straight toward me.

I slammed on the brakes, fully bracing for an impact that fortunately didn’t happen. Two more trucks came to a screeching halt along side of me.