Page 88 of The Lighthouse at the Cove
Dread.
His blood ran cold. Had something happened to one of their parents? Or Piper?
Oh no.
He had to call her back—now—whether or not his bosses considered him rude or, worse yet, insubordinate. He unlocked his phone just as a shrill tone screamed through the loudspeaker, startling him. At the same time, the fluorescent lights above him in the large bay flickered.
“All available units respond to 250 Little Island Road. Female, mid-twenties. Multiple insect stings and possible anaphylaxis.”
Reid’s eyes snapped to Cash’s. “That’s my parents’ house.”
“Right.” Cash waved at the team. “Let’s go.”
Just as the voice began to repeat the call, Reid’s phone vibrated, indicating that his sister had left a message.
A sick feeling washed over him. She rarely left him a message, and she’d never leave one just to chat, especially when he was at work. His fingers shook and adrenaline pulsed through his body as he listened to her message, and her frantic voice filled his ears.
“Cash!” Reid’s body shook as he listened to the message. “Cash! We gotta go. It’s Kaiah!”
Cash’s eyes were swimming in puzzlement. “How do you know?”
“Becca called me, and it sounds like she’s going into shock. Let’s go!”
Reid grabbed his gear and raced to the engine. He jumped into the passenger seat, his body continuing to vibrate while worry coursed through him.
What if they didn’t make it in time? What if she...?
No, no, no! This is not happening again!
Cash, Chris, and the rest of the crew joined him, and the engine roared to life, siren blaring.
As Chris steered the truck down the street, Reid switched on the radio and waited for more information to come through. He drummed his fingers on the door of the truck as worry and fear clashed within him. His pulse sounded loud in his ears.
“Reid,” Cash said, speaking over his headset. “She’s gonna be fine, man.”
Reid waved off his brother-in-law’s platitudes. “Do we have an EpiPen?”
“Of course we do,” Cash told him. “The ambulance will meet us there, and they’ll have one too.”
Hang on, Kaiah. Please, just hang on.
“Units are responding to a female, approximately mid-twenties, with at least three beestings,” the voice continued. “Patient is unconscious and unresponsive. She’s pale, and areas around the stings are covered in hives.”
Reid felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. Kaiah was unresponsive. Would they arrive in time to help her? He turned to Chris as the fire truck approached an intersection. “Can we hurry?”
“We’re almost there.” Chris kept his eyes trained on the road ahead as they roared onto Little Island Road. “It’s all going to be fine. We’ll help her.”
Reid braced the door handle, ready to launch himself from the truck when they arrived. When his parents’ house came into view, his heartbeat spiked. Flashing lights from two ambulances reflected off the house.
“EMTs are here,” Cash said, stating the obvious. “She’s in good hands.”
As soon as the truck slowed, Reid wrenched the door open and jumped from the moving truck. He took off running across the driveway past curious onlookers.
He had to save Kaiah. He just had to.
Chapter 22
Reid bolted through the open gate to the backyard. His heart pounded against his rib cage as he approached four EMTs standing over Kaiah. She was lying on a gurney, and when he saw her eyes were open, a thin ribbon of relief rushed through him.
