Against the Wall

Chapter Twenty-three

The pelting rain, the swirling sirens, the crumpled metal—Jake had been here before. The devastating déjà vu of the moment froze his legs in place.

Through the smashed window, the limp body of the woman he loved failed to move. Devastating pain shot through him at the thought of losing her. His chest actually pounded in agony.

Fire lit through him. Not again. He wouldn’t lose Sophie.

He jumped toward the upside-down vehicle and grabbed the door handle.

Strong arms banded around him and twisted to the side. Fury leaped through his veins, more powerful than any storm. He pivoted and shoved Quinn. Hard.

His brother slipped in the mud. He growled and pounced, both hands grabbing Jake’s arms. “Stop it.”

Jake was beyond reason. Only one thing mattered—getting to Sophie. The primitive being deep within him surged to the surface. He shrugged from his brother’s grasp and rushed toward the vehicle, shoving a paramedic out of the way.

The tackle from behind dropped him into the mud and away from the car.

Rage heated every neuron in his body. He flipped around, both hands clapping Quinn’s face.

Quinn howled in anger and punched him in the jaw. “Fucking knock it off. The car isn’t stable—we need to go in through the other side.” For good measure, he punched him again. “Let us do our fucking job.”

Jake blinked. Reality returned. Mud squished his back, and his heavy-as-hell brother flattened him to the ground. He glanced into his brother’s concerned eyes. “She left me.”

Quinn yanked them up. “She didn’t leave you—not Sophie. This is different.”

Maybe. Jake turned toward the car. “I need to know. Is she—”

“I don’t know.” Quinn shoved him. “Stay here. I’ll check.”

Jake nodded, helplessness catching in his throat. She couldn’t be dead. Please, God, let her be alive.

He kept his gaze on his brother as he maneuvered around the firefighters trying to open Sophie’s door. Quinn leaned in and then slowly stepped back. “She’s alive.”

Jake hit his knees. Thank God.

Then he leaped forward to tear the car apart and get her out.

Sophie opened her eyes slowly to a white wall and bright lights. A dull pounding set up in her skull, so she turned her head to where Jake slumped in a chair, his chin on his chest, his hair wet under a black cowboy hat, his shirt and jeans streaked with mud. She shifted to the right.

Loni moved forward in her chair, her black eyes bright with concern, her hair a lopsided mess atop her head.

“My baby?” Sophie croaked, her throat on fire.

“The baby’s fine.” Loni reached out a hand and smoothed back her curls.

“Dawnie?” The pain receded to a dull roar as other aches and pains sprang to life.

“Dawn is fine. Hawk found her at the bottom of the hill, and they’re waiting the storm out at his place.”

“I wasn’t running away from him.” Tears filled her eyes.

“I know. Though you should probably tell him that, sweetheart.” Loni nodded toward the midnight dark gaze running over her face. “I’m going to go call Colton. He’s worried sick.” She hurried from the room.

“I thought you were asleep.” Sophie’s throat felt like sandpaper as she turned toward Jake.

“I was praying.”

“I wasn’t running away from you.”

“I know. What were you doing?” His chair creaked as he leaned forward and gently clasped one of her hands in his. Raw cuts and bruises welled from his knuckles.

She gasped at his hurt.

A purpling bruise spread along his jaw. “The Jeep’s metal put up a fight while we were getting you out,” he confirmed. He stroked his finger down her cheek. “Where were you going, Sunshine?”

“Dawn called. I thought she was hurt at the bottom of the hill.”

“So you went out into the storm.”

The gathered tears began to fall. “I didn’t mean to risk the baby, Jake. I just didn’t know what to do.”

“The baby? You think I’m concerned for the baby?” His eyes glowed dark pools of emotion.

“Yes,” she said miserably.

“I’m concerned for you, damn it. Don’t get me wrong, the baby means the world to me. But there isn’t any world without you.”

“What?”

“I love you, Soph. I don’t want this life without you in it.”

“I don’t understand.” Her mind swirled while heat bloomed in her chest.

“I thought about it. The whole damn time you were out. We can live in San Francisco and visit Montana as much as possible. Maybe even get a summer place here.” Jake almost smiled.

“You’d move to the city? With Leila?”

“I could make enough money in the city to easily travel back and forth. Our kids could have the best of both worlds.”

“You’d give up your job with the tribe?” Hope exploded within her entire body.

He sighed deeply. “I’d have to.”

“The best of both worlds?” she asked, her heart spinning.

“Yes.”

“Well then.” She smiled, her heart in her throat. “Maybe we should live here and visit the city whenever possible.”

“I don’t understand.” He frowned.

“My children are going to grow up with grandparents. And uncles. And meddling friends. Not alone like I did.” This was her decision, and she was making it.

“The law and the damn ranch keep me really busy. I don’t know how often we’ll be able to travel.” His eyes veiled as if he didn’t want to get his hopes up.

God, she loved the stubborn man. “Jake, didn’t I tell you? I’m going to be a famous artist. And a golf course designer. Money shouldn’t be a problem.”

“You’re awfully confident, Sunshine.” Dark eyes melted to burnt sugar.

“Yeah, I know. By the way, I love you, too.”