Page 142 of The Saviors: Part One
“Where are they?” I ask.
Charlie tsks. “You aren’t in any position to ask questions, Cole. You didn’t listen, so now you know what I’m going to do?” He pauses, and I feel like I’m going to throw up. “I’m sending her back to Brady where she should have stayed.”
It hits Axel and me at the same fucking time. “You set that up, didn’t you?” Axel asks. “You motherfucker!”
Charlie laughs. “Of course I did. I knew that if she didn’t move on, you morons would come back to Forest Grove after her, and I couldn’t have that. Could I? I was actually hoping the sadistic bastard would kill her. You served your purpose exactly as you were intended, but it’s time to say goodbye for good, Axel. You should have never come back here.” We served our purpose? What the fuck is he even talking about?
“Charlie,” Axel says calmly. “Where are they?”
“Gone.” That one word drops in the car like a lead weight. “And don’t bother using the trackers. I already cut the one out of the hacker. He’ll make a nice addition to what I have planned next.”
“Please don’t fucking do this! We’ll leave Forest Grove and never look back. Don’t do this!” Axel begs. I can see the tears welling in his eyes and know it’s killing him to beg Charlie. “I swear to every goddamn thing. Please!”
“Listen to you begging. You always were too soft, Axel. It actually surprised me you had the balls to kill Cole’s old man. Either way, you needed to be taught a lesson.”
“Soft? I got rid of you, didn’t I?”
“Did you? Or did I let you?” He laughs again. “And don’t bother calling for backup. I have their phones jammed.”
The call disconnects at the same time one of the SUVs slams into us. I can’t control the swerve this time, and the car starts to tip. It hits the asphalt on its side and continues to slide. It starts to topple down a hill, rolling over and over, finally stopping with a bone jarring jerk. My head hits the steering wheel.
And everything goes black.
* * *
I jerkawake and groan in pain. Why do I hurt so damn bad, and why can’t I move my arm? I take several calming breaths, and it all starts coming back. Chelsea and Nolan missing. The phone call from Charlie and the accident.
“Shit. Is everyone okay?” No answer. I peel my eyes open, and the passenger seat is empty. “Kai?” As slowly as I can, so I don’t black out from the pain, I sit up in the seat. There’s blood in his seat. I whip around and groan again. “Axel? Sean?” Nothing. What the hell? Did they leave me here? Maybe they made it out to get help. Even as I think it, I know it’s not true. Sean was in the hatch, and Axel was kneeling on the seat when we started to roll. I can’t even think about what might have happened to them. I need to find them.
With every bit of strength I have, I twist in the seat toward the window. The car is on its side, luckily with my side facing up. I hook my good arm on the window frame, grit my teeth, and pull myself up to stand. I cautiously peek through the window to make sure that I’m not going to get my head blown off. When I don’t see anything, I jump up to sit on the side of the car and slide to the ground on my feet. My left arm hangs uselessly at my side, and I know it’s completely fucked. I don’t know if it’s broken, but it hurts like a bitch.
I search all around the car for Axel, Kai, and Sean; the more time that goes on that I don’t see them, the more panic starts to set in. How fucking long was I out? They could be bleeding out somewhere, and I won’t get to them in time. Axel already lost a shitload of blood from the bullet wound. I dig in my pocket for my phone and curse when I pull it out; it’s crushed.
“Fuck!”
I start making my way up the hill when I see someone lying there.Please don’t let them be dead. I run to them, and it’s Sean lying on his stomach, completely still. I drop to my knees. “Sean,” I say, my voice shaking. I check for a pulse, and it’s there but weak. “Come on. Please wake up.” I check him the best I can without rolling him over. He could be badly injured, and I don’t want to fuck it up even more. “Sean!” I smooth the hair back from his forehead, and he groans. “Oh, thank fuck! Wake up, man.” His eyelids flutter open, and I’ve never been happier to see his blue eyes.
“Everything hurts,” he whispers.
“I know. Fuck, I know. Can you move?” He tries to roll over and has to choke off a sob of pain. “Stop. Shit. I need to go find help.”
“Please, don’t leave me here.”
I cup his cheek. “I don’t want to, but you’re hurt, and I can’t find Axel or Kai.”
He closes his eyes, tears leaking down his cheeks. “I can’t feel my legs.”
I start racking my brain, trying to figure out how far we are from Abbs Valley. I need to find help and fucking fast. I try to squash the panic rising that he’s paralyzed and rub his cheek again. “It’s probably just shock.” If I can make it back to the scene of the first accident, maybe Gavin’s car is still there, or someone that’s not trying to kill us will stop to help. “I have to go find help.”
“Okay,” Sean whispers, not opening his eyes.
I kiss his forehead. “I promise I’ll be right back.”
Before I change my mind, I stand up and run the rest of the way up the hill. I don’t care how bad I’m hurting, I need someone, and I need them now. I hit the main road, and there isn’t a car in sight. We took the back way from Gray’s house to try to stay on the down low, so it’s not surprising this road is deserted. How the hell did they even find us? They had to have been waiting for us for that ambush to work. I take off running as fast as I can, all my training kicking my ass into high gear. We didn’t make it far when they ran us off the road, but by the time I make it back to Gavin’s car, my breath is sawing in and out of my lungs. I have sweat and blood pouring down my face from the cut on my forehead. I thank anyone who listens to me anymore when I slide into Gavin’s BMW. Slamming the door, I stab the button to start it, put it into gear, and whip a U-turn. Stomping on the gas, I head back to Gray’s house, roaring into the driveway ten minutes later. They all come running out front when they hear me come to a screeching halt. I jump out of the car and almost pass the fuck out. Arms wrap around me before I can hit the ground.
“What the hell is going on, Cole?” Gray asks, leaning me against the side of the car.
“Why are you in Gavin’s car?” Ghost walks into my line of sight, but there are two of him.
