Page 86 of Every Single Vow
Walking along the road, I shine my phone light on the asphalt looking for anything. A sign.
Where are you, Birdie?
Then I see it. Skid marks. Ruts in the grass. I shine my light farther out, across the ditch that separates the road from the drop off.
Shit.
The guard rail that acts as the barrier to the river below has a chunk missing.
The tension along my spine nearly snaps me in two when I see the trajectory.
“Ryder!” My voice breaks as I charge toward the guard rail.
The black night is thick, but as I shine my phone over the edge of the drop off, a small shiny light reflects back at me.
A taillight.
Chapter fifty-seven
Dakota
A gasp leaves my throat, my eyes popping open as a cold chill skates over my body.
Blinking my eyes, I immediately hear the rushing of water surrounding me. My vision is spotty, my eyes straining to adjust to the dark. The only light is the one shining from the cracked radio screen.
My head feels heavy, accompanied by a sharp pain in my right leg. I lift my hands, peeling the material away that is still lodged in my mouth. When I suck in a sharp breath, the scraping ofmetal sounds as the truck shifts. I brace my hands, realizing why my head feels like it’s about to explode.
We’re hanging upside down.
The truck shifts again, the drop causing a scream to rip from my throat when water begins to filter inside of the cab. Craning my neck, I see Billy hunched over, a gash on his head, and blood trickling from his mouth. I don’t have time to figure out if he’s conscious or not. The fact the vehicle is submerging into what appears to be the river has my survival mode kicking in. Taking a breath, I quickly survey the cab. The windshield is still intact but has a small diagonal crack. My head is cramped near the top of the cab, so I slide my hands down the door, feeling for the handle in the dark. I know I need to get out. And fast. I pull the lever, my shoulder shoving against the door. But it doesn’t budge. It’s wedged against something solid on the outside.
I try again, slamming my shoulder into the door.Nothing.
As the water rises, so does my pulse.Think, Dakota.
I scan the windows, my gaze going back to the windshield. If I can just get it to shatter, I can swim out.
Maneuvering my body, I lift my aching leg, the pain sharp as I kick with all of my strength.
Nothing.
I kick again.
And again. And again.
Nothing.
I scream out, the cold water rising over my torso.
“Cooper!!!!!” I scream as the heel of my boot strikes the glass.
Tears prick my eyes as the water reaches my shoulders.
“I need you,” I choke out, knowing he won’t come.
He doesn’t know where I am.
The weight of the water sits on my chest, forcing a gasp from my mouth as my hands fumble for the door lever again.
