Chapter 15

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Chapter 15

Ethan

Even when it's the best moment of my life, Lindsey finds a way to destroy it. Her phone call was followed by another from Mia telling us that Aubrey was in labor and en route to the hospital then we got another call, one that will change our worlds forever.

The news was running through town faster than a wildfire. There was an accident, three car collisions due to a downed tree. Charlie was flying down the street, lights and siren going with the fire truck right behind him.

Brynn and I just walked out, hand in hand, to go to the hospital when we got the call. Leo was in the third car, Beckett and Aubrey in the car that flipped over hitting the tree. Somewhere in there was Blake and Emma, Georgia and my brother, with Quinn and Hope.

My whole world just imploded.

I've spent my life in this town. My dad is here. Aubrey's mom, who has been another mom for us as long as I can remember. Suddenly I feel like my life is teetering on the edge of no return. Everything is hanging in the balance because of one person.

I have no doubt who was responsible for the downed tree. Just as I'm sure she is responsible for the three car collision and those injured who are in those cars. If she has killed anyone I love, if she has harmed another soul, I will end her permanently.

And I will keep Brynn as far from danger as possible. She's been hurt enough by Lindsey. No more. Stopping right outside the coffee shop, I tug Brynn back to me. Taking hold of her face, I give a lingering kiss. One last time, before I go after Lindsey.

"I want you to stay here. Lock yourself in and stay put so I can be sure you're safe while I help save the others." Brynn begins shaking her head to refuse my request. "Brynn, I won't be able to focus on what I need to do if I'm worried about you. Please I can't stand here and argue with you. I need to save my brother and Aubrey and..."

Cupping my face, Brynn held my gaze. She's not going to do what I ask. I already see her answer in her eyes. "I'm going with you. I'm only going to be safer if I'm with you. They're my family too."

She's right, I know that. She's absolutely right. If I could ship her off like Georgia suggested earlier I'd do it right now. Lindsey isn't going to stop until she kills all of us. I know that. I won't risk Brynn's life or anyone else's.

Nodding, accepting her answer, I got her into the car and ran around the hood of the car. I was just about to get in when something stopped me. Something wasn't right. Pausing, I looked around the square. I saw our neighbors, our friends coming out of the buildings to watch the commotion going down the street. Two doors down I see my dad hurry out to his truck with Paige in his arms.

A hard shiver went down my spine. This isn't right. This is exactly what Lindsey wants. For us to not think about ourselves and go after our family and die trying to help them.

I have to stop him.

"Dad! Wait! Don't open the door!" I yelled before his hand touched the door.

Turning he saw me and paused, turned to Paige and the two headed over to us. "Ethan? What's wrong?"

I don't answer but lean down to get Brynn out of the car. "Brynn, get out! Carefully, get out and leave the door open." She did exactly as I said. No argument, no questions.

I went around to the back of the truck and got my tools. She's not taking anyone else from me. Popping open the toolbox in the back of my truck, I pulled out a flashlight and my tool belt. I don't know what I'm looking for, but I know what doesn't belong on an engine. Knowing enough to be cautious, I got down on my hands and knees to look under my truck.

As Dad reached us, he got down next to me, looking for himself."What are you looking for?" Dad asked to help me look.

Not stopping, I passed him another light. "Anything that shouldn't be here." We turned on our flashlights and shined them from one end of the truck to the other.

"You think Lindsey is behind this? What are you thinking..." It took only a moment to find what I was looking for. "Good God! She cut your brake line! I didn't think Lindsey knew anything about engines. The woman can barely drive!"

"Check your truck. Check Paige's car. None of us are driving anywhere without a full check over." I growled, furious, she's gotten so out of control.

Dad did as I said. Paige had two slashed tires, Dad had the cables to the battery rigged to blow as soon as he started the engine. Just by the simple luck of a chill down my spine saved the four of us.

We were fortunate that Old Mr. Wilson was out and saw what was happening. We did a check on his old caddie and found his safe to drive. Taking the loaner, we headed out to the road towards the hospital to find the others.

"Did they say anything about Aubrey? Is she okay? Beckett?" Paige peppered Mia with questions from the backseat as I drove as fast and as safely as I could.

We got our answers almost as fast as she asked the questions when we went around the curve and saw the flashing lights, the bright spotlight from Charlie's car, the fire truck off to the side and the hose out trying to put it out, with the fire in the last car's engine. Leo's car.

Barely getting the car in park, we were out of the car and racing to the scene. Seeing Georgia and Emma sitting on the back of the fire truck, I sent Brynn to check on them. Dad and Paige went to find Beckett and Aubrey, while I got to work with the firemen to help get my brother and Quinn out of the car.

They put out the fire, while I and one of the volunteers used the jaws of life to cut into the car. Leo was awake, blood running down his face but he's alive. Quinn is unconscious and Hope is screaming in the backseat.

We worked fast, getting Hope first, Leo insisted, and then Quinn. They put Quinn on a gurney and rolled her to the ambulance where Georgia and Brynn waited. Hope was scooped up by Brynn and safe with the family. Leo was another matter.

"She's gonna be okay, right? Hope and Quinn? They're okay?" Leo asked me before he coughed and I saw the blood.

"Yeah. Where are you bleeding from? Leo? Stay awake and talk to me!" He removed his hand from his side and I saw the metal sticking out of his side.

"Take care of them." He whispered, closing his eyes.

"Take care of them yourself. Open your fucking eyes, Leo! You aren't dying on me! Wake up!" I slapped my brother hard across the face and got a groan out of him. He's not dead. Not yet.

I'm not losing my brother today!

"We need help over here!" I called out watching as they ripped the door off Georgia's car to get Blake out.

It felt like it took hours, seconds were minutes. Minutes were hours and Leo's life was hanging precariously in the balance. And my thoughts went to a very dark, very dangerous place. Knowing exactly what has to be done. Knowing the sacrifice I'm willing to make, I make sure my brother is in good hands.

The firemen and the paramedics surrounded me, moving back out of the way. Good men I've known for years, men I trust who will do everything to save my brother remove me from the car. Giving them room to work on Leo and get him out.

"The ambulance is taking Aubrey, Beckett and Quinn to the hospital. She's bleeding badly, Ethan. They're trying to save Aub and the baby." Brynn broke through the red haze of anger for a brief moment.

"Go with them. Keep Hope with you. Make sure they're okay. Stay with Georgia. Promise me, Brynn, stay with them." It wasn't a request. I have to know she's going to do exactly as I say.

"Aren't you coming?" Brynn looks scared. I don't want to scare her.

"I'm staying with Leo. You go, I'll meet you there." Pulling her tight to my chest I inhale her sent in. "I love you, baby. I'm going to fix this."

Brynn pulled back, staring up at me like I just said I was werewolf. "What do you mean? You're going to fix what? Ethan, what are you going to do?"

"I'm making sure my brother lives. Go with them, they're getting ready to leave. I'll be right behind you." I assured her. Nudging her along.

"Don't you dare do something stupid Ethan. We just got back together, don't do something you're going to regret. Please Ethan don't do it." She pleaded with me, gripping my shirt and wrapping it up in her fists.

"I won't do anything to risk what I have. I promise you that. Go, Brynn, and stay with them." I stood waiting and watching her hesitantly walk away from me.

She looked back as she reached Emma. The space between us disappeared as I watched Emma guide her into the waiting car. As the door closed and the fireman patted the door I turned away and looked as my brother was pulled from the wreckage. A large piece of metal sticking out of his abdomen.

I want to be sick. Seeing him this way burns my ass. Leo has been nothing but kind to anyone he meets. He loves Quinn and Hope. God, what will happen to them if he doesn't make it.

"Son, Paige and I are going to follow the ambulance. You can ride with us." Dad offered, as we watched helplessly as they worked on Leo.

An IV in his arm, a heart monitor is attached to his chest. Gauze and blood are covering his side. It is one of those things where you want to look away from the gore but you can't. I can't imagine my brother gone. I won't accept that.

"His vitals are low but stable. We can't risk removing the metal here. They'll have to do it at the ER. Ethan, do you hear me?" The paramedic put his hand on my arm.

"What? Yeah, I heard you. Just save his life, man. You gotta save him." I begged for Leo's life.

"We'll do everything we can. You know that. Leo's family to all of us." He assured me, shaking my dad's hand as he hurried off to get in the ambulance.

I stayed behind, watching Dad and Paige drive away. The firemen cut up the tree, removing it from the road. The tow truck came and loaded up the wreckage. Within an hour nothing was left of the scene. But I could still see it in my head. I could see more than the wreck. I saw how she did it.

Heading into the woods, I disappeared into the shadows. Following the trail of broken branches and recent footprints in the mud. When I find Lindsey, she's dead. I'll strangle her with my bare hands. One thing is certain, one of us isn't coming out of this alive.

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