Joshua Healy (The Mitchell/Healy Family #10)(64)

I’m in shock as my father arrives, followed by Cammie. She’s already gone into doctor mode, assessing the situation of both scenes, and which she should tend to first. I wave her over, and watch as she begins giving Tamsyn a once over.

The twins are saying something about an ambulance on the way, but we could be running out of time. Cammie’s asking for space, but I refuse to move. I’m just glad she hasn’t gotten up to check on Liv. At this point, she could die for all I care.

This unconscious woman on the ground means everything to me. She’s in this condition because of my actions. I’m never leaving her side again.

Cammie checks her pulse, her airways, and the contusion on her head. She says it’s superficial, but the extreme bleeding is normal in that area. I’m freaking out. My family surrounds us and everything starts to sound mumbled. I’m drunk and high. I can’t comprehend this is really happening. I haven’t even thought about the possibility of Liv and the baby being injured, because I’m so angry I could hurt her myself if given the opportunity.

She’s attempted to take even more away from me, because she’s psycho. She’s a spoiled rotten little bitch who has always gotten what she wants, all except for my heart. All my love for her left the moment she seduced me.

We have to keep Tamsyn in the same position until paramedics arrive. Cammie is telling me she’s going to go in the ambulance instead of me, and I’m pissed about it, not considering she has the capability to save her life if the situation becomes dire.

My father is pulling me away from Tamsyn. I’m kicking and yelling, so much that Uncle Colt has to help him hold me back.

I hear the sirens and then see a few family members waving them into the right place. They hurry out and realize there are two potential victims. One paramedic gets the rundown from my sister, while the others rushes in the direction of still humming vehicle.

My mom is front of me trying to settle me down, while my dad and uncle keep a tight hold on me. Callie comes my way after being over at the car crash. I already know it’s not a good sign. In the distance I can see Wes over there with his sister. They haven’t moved her from the car. There are more sirens coming into the ranch, so I’m assuming another town has had to respond because there are more people involved.

Then I hear it; the sound no one at an accident site wants to experience. The bright lights are shining down, looking for a place to land. One of the girls is being airlifted. One of them could be in danger of losing their lives. I’m frantic. I can’t control the emotions my body and mind are trying to comprehend.

People are running around, paramedics bringing stretchers and apparatus to work on each victim. It’s a f*cking catastrophe.

My eyes meet with Wes’ and for the first time in weeks we’re on the same page, petrified of what could happen, both of us knowing we’re going to need each other to get through this. At least now he believes me. His sister is out of control.

The next few minutes are chaotic. The helicopter lands and heads in the direction of the garage. I watch Tamsyn being secured on a gurney, her neck put in a special brace to keep her from being able to move during transport. Two medical workers lift her and begin to load her into the back of the ambulance, my sister close behind. She looks at me and nods. “I’ll take good care of her.”

I trust in her. She knows how much Tamsyn means to me. Cammie will do her damndest to make sure she’s going to be okay.

As the first ambulance pulls away, I make a beeline toward the car, because obviously Liv is the one in a life threatening position, and I’m about to find out why. The car sits halfway in the old building, and there’s a metal rod going through the windshield. As I get closer I see the gut-wrenching details come into view. Liv is impaled. The metal rod is pinning her into the seat. She’s unconscious. Wes has his hands on the top of his head. His eyes are fixed on the scene. This is his little sister. If it were any of mine I’d be in the same dumbfounded stare. He can’t help her. All he can do is watch and pray she’s okay.

I say nothing to him as they cut open the roof of the car and proceed to work fast to remove her from the vehicle. They’ve pulled out a saw and proceed to cut the rod so they don’t have to remove it until she’s in an operating room.

Wes gets closer. “Is she breathing?” No one answers. “Is she breathing. That’s my sister. Tell me she’s breathing.”

I hold onto the back of him until he concedes and falls against me. He’s crying like a baby. I know how it feels to let it all out, so I lift my arms and hold him. I can’t apologize. I can’t say anything. I don’t even know if there would be the right words to express how awful this is, especially coming from me.

The ambulance with Tamsyn is taking off. I need to go, but I can’t until Liv is removed and secure in the helicopter. Wes will surely ride with her, and they’ll transport her to a larger facility that can handle this type of injury.

It feels like it’s taking forever, but they slowly free her from the seatbelt and get her onto a stretcher. Then it’s go time. They almost run to get her into the helicopter. Wes takes off, jumping in at the last minute. I can feel someone pulling on my arm as I watch them lift off. My mom is calling my name. “Josh, we need to go.”

Then it’s on. We’re running toward my truck, other family members scattering for their vehicles. Everyone wants to get to the hospital.