Two vehicles had gone over, but I only had eyes for the SUV. It was caught on a ledge. This stretch of mountain had what were almost steps carved into it. Hadley’s SUV was balanced precariously on one.
My vision blurred as I fought the onslaught of memories. Birdie’s screams from the ravine below. Sage’s lifeless form as they brought her up on a backboard.
Hayes’ hand landed on my shoulder. “Hell.”
I could hear the faint strains of a siren, but it was too far away. “I have to get down there.”
“Calder, you can’t. We have to wait for backup.”
I whirled on him. “That’s your fucking sister down there. The woman I love more than life. Are you really going to tell me that you won’t do everything you can to save her life?”
A muscle in Hayes’ jaw ticked, and he looked as if he were a second away from decking me. “I’ve got a harness in my trunk.”
I followed him to the back of his SUV. We moved in quick, tandem motions. I slid on the harness, checking each buckle and strap as Hayes tied a rope onto his trailer hitch and put his own harness on. When he finished, he looked up at me. “You sure you can handle this? I could go down—”
“I’m going.”
Hayes tugged on a pair of gloves. “All right, then.”
I strode to the edge of the ravine. The truck was at the bottom, smoking. I wasn’t sure there was any way someone could have survived that, but I couldn’t think of Jackie now. The woman who had sent Hadley hurtling off a cliff.
I focused on the path to the SUV. It had landed on its side, and the driver’s side door was up. That was good. I couldn’t make out Hadley’s form, only a shadow. My back teeth ground together. “Ready. Slack.”
Hayes gave me a few feet of rope, and I started my descent. I picked my way around rock formations, focusing only on the next steps, not what I might find when I got to the ledge.
The sirens got louder and then shouts filled the air. I shut them all out, focusing on the next place to put my feet. The SUV came into my line of vision.
“Hadley,” I called.
Nothing.
“Slack,” I yelled. I took the final two steps, holding my breath, my lungs and eyes burning as Hadley came into view. I stilled, watching her chest. It rose and fell. Air left me in a whoosh as I stuck a hand through the open window, brushing the hair away from her face.
“Hadley.” It hurt to say her name, not knowing if I would get a response. As if each syllable were made of razor blades.
A low moan sounded as Hadley’s eyes fluttered. As her head turned, everything in me locked. Blood trickled from her hairline and down the side of her face.
“Hadley, talk to me.”
She blinked a few times. “Calder? What—?” Her eyes flared as she took in her surroundings.
“Don’t move. Nice and steady now. I’m going to get you out.”
The metal of the vehicle groaned as the wind picked up.
“Calder,” she said, panic seeping into her tone.
“We’re gonna move quickly but safely.”
“Cruz,” Mac called from up above. “You gotta move. SUV’s shifting.”
I fucking knew that, but him saying it would only scare Hadley. “Moving as quick as I can.”
Hadley shut her eyes for the briefest of moments, and when she opened them again, she was calmer. That same steely strength I’d seen on so many callouts before. “I’m going to unbuckle my seat belt. I think I should climb out through the window. If we open the door, the SUV could fall.”
“All right. Hold on to me with one hand, unbuckle with the other.” Right now, the seat belt was holding the majority of Hadley’s weight. If she fell, it would rock the vehicle off its axis.
She licked her lips and nodded. Reaching out the window, she locked a hand with mine. She kept her gaze on me as her other hand went to the buckle at her waist. I held my breath as she pressed down. The seat belt sprang free, and Hadley’s weight shifted. She did her best to brace herself with her feet and hold on to me, but the SUV slid down another few inches.