“I’m taking you inside whether you like it or not.”
I turn the key and hit the gas, but before I can register what’s happening, Yosh’s hand shoots forward and yanks the wheel hard right.
We rocket off the road.
First it’s all bushes and dry scrub, and then, in a split second, we ram into a tree.
The bang is deafening, the impact slamming me forward. An Airbag explodes in my face, knocking the air out of my lungs.
For ten long seconds, there’s only a sharp ringing in my ears. Then everything comes back into focus.
“Fuck, Yosh!” I wrestle my way free from the suffocating white mass, reaching for him as fast as I can.
My heart is going mental, like it’s making up for all the lost beats from when it gave out three months ago.
I tear the airbag away, he’s not moving.
“Hey!” A couple of quick slaps against his cheek. “Come on, love. Wake up.”
“I’m here.” He groans, tilting his head back, strands of raven-black hair falling in front of his face. My eyes race over him. No blood. No obvious injuries.
We weren’t going that fast, maybe he’s okay.
Maybe.
I don’t trust maybes anymore.
He pushes his hair out of his face and looks sharper already.
My gaze snaps to the tree we hit. The Gremlin’s proper wrecked. I slam it into reverse, but we’re stuck in dry bushes. The tires spin, whining.
Shit. Four-wheel drive my arse.
I try again. And again. One more time. Fuck, this is pointless.
Arcadia’s close, less than a hundred metres. I glance over my shoulder and catch the parking lot lights in the distance.
No choice, we’re walking.
“Why the hell did you do that?” My fist slams the dashboard.
“You know what? Not my car, not my fucking problem.”
Yosh stares through the cracked windscreen, retreating into himself, saying nothing. Regret hits fast, because we’ve been here before, with him freezing the second my voice rises.
It breaks my heart.
I cup his jaw, placing a long kiss between his brows.
“I’m sorry for that, love. We will get you through this, okay? I’m not leaving you.”
“No people, Sapphire. Promise me.”
Fuck, this guy is stubborn. At least the crash has kicked his adrenaline into gear.
I weigh my options.
Observing from my own experiences, he looks pretty clear to me for someone who’s on what looks like some sort of tranquilizer. And if things go south, we’re in a healthcare facility. I can call for help in seconds.
