Page 88 of Twice as Forbidden

“The scanner is picking up an accident ahead. Two casualties. Male and female. Car accident. Jackson, I’m sorry. I think it’s them. The description—”

No, no, no…“What kind of accident?”

“Doesn’t sound good. One is dead on the scene. The other is being airlifted to Chicago General.”

A cold sweat coats my skin as I struggle to take in a breath. “Who? Does it say who?” It can’t be her. This isn’t them. Bile rises in my throat. “Craig.” I struggle to get the words out. “Check her location.”

There’s a pause before he replies. “I’m sorry, man. It hasn’t moved.”

No, it can’t be her. It can’t fucking be her! Her smile flashes in my mind. Her laughter echoes in my ears. The way she’s lit up my life with her kindness, humor, intelligence, love. “No…” I whisper. “It can’t be her.” My voice breaks. “NO!” I crush my fists against the steering wheel.

“Jackson, you’re about half a mile away. Traffic is at a dead stop. You have a better chance—”

Throwing my car into park, I jump out before he can finish his sentence, my feet hitting the pavement as I sprint forward, my heart thundering in my chest. I run toward the unknown, my mind spiraling to a dark place. Sweat beads across my forehead at the haunting thoughts of her lying lifeless under a white cloth. Her beautiful heart no longer beating for me. Her eyes, whether burning with desire or shining with happiness, strike fear into me: what if I never feel the softness of her skin beneath me again? I clutch my chest as pain threatens to bring me to my knees. Pushing forward, I race past cars and people standing outside their vehicles, all watching the red and blue lights up ahead.

I arrive at the scene as an officer stretches yellow tape across the area, blocking it off. Two paramedics rush through, pushing a gurney toward an ambulance. My legs feel weak, and I almost lose my footing, but I keep going.

“Hey, you can’t be here. This is a—”

“That’s my—I need to see who that is. I need to see…” My voice cracks, and I choke on my question.

“Sir, I’m sorry, but this is a crime scene.”

My eyes lock on the gurney, the covered body, and my stomach roils.Crime scene.Fuck, Georgia, what did they do to you? “I need to know if that’s the male or female?”

“Sir, I can’t—”

Without thinking, I shove him aside, my panic overriding everything else, and run like hell toward the ambulance.

“Sir!”

Two paramedics take notice as I stop in front of the gurney. “I’m sorry. I need to know who’s under that sheet.”

“Sir, we can’t—”

“I need to know!” I yell in panic. I can’t breathe. “I need to know if it’s my girlfriend.” The question burns like acid up my throat. “Please. I need to know.” They exchange a glance, weighing their options. The woman shifts her attention back to me, her expression filled with sympathy. “Is it a female?”

She stares at me for a beat and shakes her head. “The deceased was a male.” I grab my chest, release a garbled breath, and lean forward, fighting for air.

It’s not her.

It’s not her.

I stand straight. “The female—where did they take her?”

“Chicago General. I would hurry.”

I nod and twist, running like hell back to my car.

“Dad!” Noah’s voice pulls my attention. “Right here!” He waves me toward him. “Get in!” I jump in Noah’s car, and he takes off down a side street.

“How’d you—?”

“Craig called me.” He’s pale, with tears staining his face and bruising from when I slammed him to the ground already starting to form. God, I can’t imagine what I look like. “Dad, is she going to be okay?” He glances at me, wanting me to give him an answer I can’t.

“I don’t know.”

The drive to the hospital is a blur. We park in the emergency circle and leap out, fighting the crowd to get inside. I hit the check-in desk first. “Georgia Price was brought in. Car accident.”

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