Chapter Eleven
He covered me with his body, his hands tucking my head into his chest. I was just about to open my mouth and ask him what the fuck when the deafening explosion ran out over the parking lot.
My body jerked, the ground shaking and vibrating underneath with such force, I swore it would swallow us up. Screams of shock and terror rang out through the parking lot. Fear and adrenaline pumped through my veins as the crashing continued, but in smaller doses, and it took me a few seconds to realize it was debris hitting the ground. Not just the ground. It pinged off the metal of cars, but nothing was worse than the sound of someone getting hit or pelted with… what was it? What exploded?
Moments went by with Brock securely holding me pinned to the ground, his body like a shield. It felt as if the rippling after-effects of the blast would never end. What had to be just seconds seemed to drag on like long minutes as terror kept me paralyzed.
Even as Brock slowly eased off me in a way that made me wonder if he was hurt, I still didn’t move. The world had gone deafeningly silent right before my fucking ears started ringing like a goddamn gun went off inside my head. I could hear nothing, not even Brock calling my name. His hands came to frame my face, pulling my gaze to his. I saw his lips move, saw them form my name, but nothing. Just the persistent buzzing that wouldn’t quit.
I pushed myself up on the blacktop to a sitting position, blinking away the spots that dotted behind my eyes. Brock’s gaze scanned over me, checking for injuries, I assumed. I couldn’t feel my body, couldn’t tell if there were wounds more severe than the cuts and bruises I knew we both suffered. The side of his head bled, a bright red stream down his temple. My stomach clenched at the sight of seeing his blood. Brock Taylor was fucking invincible to me. The idea of him hurt…
It sent my panic into a tailspin. Whirling and whirling.God, I might pass the fuck out.
I somehow managed to stay conscious. Right now, my body was too much in shock to feel any pain, but come tomorrow, all the aches and pains would make themselves known.
My eyes panned over the parking lot. Fynn had Kenna in his arms not far from Brock and me. Micah had Mads shoved up against her car, and Grayson was hunkered down in the Jeep. There were other bodies seeking shelter, or crouched down to the ground, hands over their heads. I couldn’t tell if anyone was seriously injured, but my friends were okay.
A gust of relief spiraled through me. But it was short-lived as I got a glimpse of Brock’s Land Rover. It was fucking on fire and, from what I could tell, had been the source of the explosion.
Brock scowled at his SUV as he cautiously helped me to my feet. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to stand, but knowing Brock was there to catch me steadied my shaky legs. People around the parking lot began to stir, and from across the street, red and blue flashed through the night.
The heat from the flames still flickering and licking over the SUV warmed my skin to the point of being almost uncomfortable. I backed up, moving closer to Mads and Micah.
“Holy shit, dude! What the fuck just happened?” Micah still had his arm around Mads, who was clearly shaken. I’d never seen her grey eyes so big and filled with such alarm. Mads looked unharmed: Micah had taken the brunt of the impact. I wanted to hug him for it and would once I got my bearings.
His voice sounded so muffled, the ringing still prominent in my ears but not as bad as it had been.
“Are you okay?” Brock asked him.
Micah nodded, and Brock turned his gaze to the others. Fynn helped Kenna to her feet, giving Brock the “we’re okay” tip of his head.
Sirens from the police car whistled as the cop halted his vehicle into a jerking stop. It hadn’t been a smooth maneuver like you see in the movies but chaotic, as he dodged kids and cars to get to the scene. Hopefully, he already called it in and the ambulance was on the way to treat anyone who needed medical assistance.
The initial shock began to subside, and others hanging out in the lot started to murmur, bravely coming out of their crouched positions. The cop exited his car, advancing toward us with purpose. He ordered everyone away from the burning SUV.
Ray and Zeke both had rushed out of the building and came over to investigate just as the cop reached us. Brock’s arm lay securely around me, and I stayed put in the protection of his arms.
“Are you kids hurt?” the officer asked.
“No,” Grayson answered for the group. “Everyone seems okay.”
“The ambulance should be in here in a minute,” he informed, eyeing the burning car. “You’ll want to get checked out just to make sure.”
My brother nodded. “We will,” Grayson assured.
“Holy shit!” Ray exclaimed as the officer went to check on the next group. “Are you okay?”
“What the fuck happened?” Zeke asked, a deep frown on his lips as he stared with narrowed gaze at the Land Rover. It was one of the bizarre, surreal events that you couldn’t tear your eyes from.
No one got the chance to inform Zeke and Ray, because the officer who first responded walked back over to us, leaving his partner to do the rounds. “I was told the owner of the car is over here.”
Brock lifted two fingers in the air. “That would be me.”
“I’m assuming you didn’t set it on fire yourself, Mr. Taylor.”
Brock didn’t so much as blink at the officer calling him by name, which made me believe Officer… I squinted at his name badge. Officer Davidson and Brock had dealings before. “No. Definitely not. It was rigged.”
Officer Davidson hooked his thumbs into his belt. “You’re sure about that?”