Weak, I struggle to get back on my feet immediately and become blinded by the bright beams of lights.
15
EASTON
It all happens so fast. One minute I'm driving behind Lev, following him to Mallory's last known location, the next, out of the corner of my eye, just as we are slowing, I catch sight of a car racing down a dirt road. Someone within yards of the vehicle’s pathway falls to the ground. My stomach clenches at the person's unmistakable fiery red hair and it causes my breath to catch in my throat. I don't have time to think—only react. I press the gas pedal to the floorboard, and gun it. I swerve my Bronco around Lev's truck, trying to head off the car barreling toward Cat. My wheels squeal as they try to grab hold of the asphalt before hitting the dirt road.
Before impact, my eyes make contact with the driver of the car—Mallory. Then, the front end of my truck collides with her passenger side door. There's an explosion of metal scraping metal and my seat belt locking up, pulling tight across my chest before everything comes to a stop.
My heart is pounding, and adrenaline is coursing through my veins. My neck hurts from the force of the impact, but I ignore the pain and climb from my Bronco. "Cat!" I shout, searching around the wreckage. Several yards away, I spot her lying on theground, unmoving, and rush toward her. Falling to my knees, I pull her into my arms. She's unconscious. "Come on, open your eyes, baby," I plead, my words getting stuck in my throat when I notice the left side of her hair is soiled with a mixture of dirt and blood. "I'm here, Red." I stroke her cheek. "Wake up," I coax her.
Lev's truck comes to a stop, his headlights shining a light on the wreckage behind me. "The cops are on the way!" he yells on his way toward Mallory's car.
Arthur joins me, kneeling at my side. "Sweet Jesus." He looks at his granddaughter.
Leaning down, I press my lips to Cat's. Emotions roll down my face as I whisper one more time, "I love you, Baby. Wake up." I swallow hard, trying to hold my shit together.
"Easton," Cat softly moans and tries to get up.
"Don't move," I tell her.
Her hand slowly lifts, and she touches her head. "My head."
I look around for Lev, finding him standing by the wreckage. "Cat needs to go to the hospital and get checked out."
"I'm okay," Cat groans.
"You're bleeding," I inform her.
"Mallory—she hit me good on the side of my head," Cat states.
"Then you're going to the hospital and letting a doctor look you over. You may have a concussion," Arthur tells his granddaughter.
"Where's Mallory?" Cat clutches my arm with one hand and I notice her nursing her other, holding it close to her chest. Her wrist looks swollen.
I look around for Lev, finding him reaching through the driver's side window. When he emerges, there's a gun in his hand. Lev looks at me. "She's alive."
"Easton." Cat looks at me. "Mallory mentioned something about Miles. I think she may have hurt him too."
"Shit." I fumble to dig my phone out of my pocket and pull up Miles' number. The phone rings a few times before his voice fills my ear. "Are you okay?" I rush my words.
"Don't worry about me. Easton, it's Mallory. She's the stalker," he says.
"I know. Mallory found me."
"Dammit. Are you okay?" he asks.
"Mallory went after Cat."
Miles spits out a few more curse words.
"She's alright, and Mallory is in custody," I finish telling him.
"Thank God. And I'll relay all this to the authorities."
"Are you hurt?" I ask again.
"Got a knot the size of a golf ball on the back of my head. Her crazy ass cracked me over the noggin with a baseball bat. When I came to, I was lying on the garage floor next to my car." He pauses a minute. "Listen, I'm still dealing with the police and detective Wilkerson. Keep me updated." The call ends.
