A white-hot agony ripped through my body, tearing at muscle and sinew. I let out a whimper as I tried to move. As if that would help me escape the pain. But I couldn’t shift my position. The Jeep no longer resembled a vehicle. It had been crunched into something altogether different.
Panic lit through me at that thought. “Jase?”
My voice came out hoarse as if I hadn’t used it in years. There was no answer. Blood rushed to my head, and for the first time, I realized we were upside down.
“Jase.” His name was a plea. I tried to twist myself, but pain ripped through me. My seat was folded into the dashboard, my head and neck resting on its surface.
A low groan sounded from next to me. “Laik?”
“I’m here. Are you hurt?”
What a dumb question. Of course, he was hurt. There was no way he couldn’t be.
“I don’t know.” Jase’s voice sounded funny. As if he were on heavy-duty painkillers or something.
“Over here,” a voice shouted. “I’m going down.”
I tried just moving my arm. It hurt like hell, but I could weave it around the torn and bent metal. After a few tries, I felt a body. An arm. Jase’s arm. I patted it until I found his hand. I linked my fingers with his. But Jase’s hand was slick with blood.
My heart ricocheted around in my chest. “Jase, what do you feel?”
“Hmm?”
“Stay awake,” I ordered. I didn’t know much, but I knew that it was important to stay conscious.
“I’m awake.”
“Tell me about the house we’re gonna have one day.”
It was quiet for a moment, nothing but the sounds of creaking metal.
I squeezed Jase’s hand, and he started to speak. “Huge wraparound porch. I’m gonna build you one of those porch swings that looks more like a bed. We’ll make a baby on that porch swing.”
My throat burned. “You’ll be the best dad.”
Footsteps sounded, and then a voice. “Jase? Laiken?”
“We’re here,” I croaked.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could just make out a face. A piece of a sheriff’s department uniform. Hayes Easton sank to his knees, trying to get a visual on the inside of the SUV. “We’ve got more help on the way. Just sit tight.”
“They have to hurry. I think Jase is hurt bad.”
“Jase, can you tell me where you’re feeling pain?”
There was nothing. I squeezed his hand, and his fingers fluttered. “I don’t know. I feel weird.”
“That’s okay. We’re gonna get you out. You just hold on. Stay with us.” Hayes slid his hand into the tiny opening near my head. His fingers landed on my neck, checking my pulse. “What about you, Laiken?”
It took a second to think about it. The pain that had dominated my mind just minutes before had faded to the background as my worry about Jase took over. “M-my back. My side.” The panic picked up again, and tears gathered in my eyes. “You gotta get us out.”
Hayes’ hand found mine and held on tight. “We’ve got people coming. They’re bringing equipment to get you out. I know it’s scary, but I’m with you. We’ll get through this together.”
I held tighter to Hayes with one hand and Jase with the other—as if Hayes could save us both if I just held on. “You hear that, Jase? Help is coming.”
Jase made a sound of agreement.
I gripped his hand harder. “Tell me about our wedding.”