Racing for Freedom - By Bec Botefuhr Page 0,53
get me close enough, I see they’ve pulled Slade out and he’s on the floor, his leg is already black with bruising, blood trickles from his mouth and his eyes are flickering around in confusion. He’s awake, oh god, he’s awake.
I shove through the people, and drop to my knees beside him. The paramedics try to pull me away but I want no part in it. They continue working on him as I reach out for him.
“Slade, oh god, Slade…”
“Miss, we need you to move.”
“No,” I scream. “No please.”
Slade reaches out for my hand, his eyes are hazy and blood trickles from his mouth. I make a loud sobbing sound and hiccup as I take his hand. His skin is cold and his face is pale.
“You won…” he croaks.
“I don’t care,” I sob. “I don’t care, Slade, please don’t leave me…”
He smiles weakly and then makes a strange sound in his throat. “I didn’t let you win, you did it all on your own, I’m so proud of you.”
His eyes roll then, and I cry out, trying to reach him as the paramedics pull me back. His body jerks and suddenly he’s thrashing on the floor and people are screaming around me, shoving me out of the way as they drop to their knees.
“Slade!” I cry.
“He’s crashing!” Someone cries, just as everything goes black.
Chapter Thirty One
When I wake, I’m in a small hospital bed. I flutter my eyes, but I can’t seem to focus them. I feel someone’s hand on my face. I blink a few times and see it’s my father. I open my mouth and croak out, “Slade?”
My father looks down at me, but his eyes are red and puffy from crying. “He’s in a bad way…he…he had serious internal bleeding. He shouldn’t have been in that car. Then he twisted his leg so badly, it’s done some serious nerve damage to it and his spine. We won’t know if he’ll walk until the surgery is over and he’s awake.”
“No,” I sob, gripping my father’s hand. “Oh god, no.”
“We won’t know for a while longer, until then we just have to wait.”
“I should have known. I knew he didn’t look right this morning, I knew and…”
“What happened, Dash?”
I swipe my tears away. “Michael beat him. Last night…he came over to my house and saw Slade and I…”
My father’s eyes widen. “You’re with Slade?”
“Yes. Michael found out and he must have beaten him. It’s been going on for years. I wanted to report him after he beat m…”
I stop short and curse as my father’s eyes widen and he stands so suddenly his chair skitters across the floor.
“What did you say?”
“I…I just meant…”
“You answer me, Dasha Jewel, did that man lay his hands on you?”
“Daddy, please, right now it’s about Slade and…”
“ANSWER ME!” he roars.
I close my eyes and swallow, then I grip my shirt and lift it. I know my father can see the faded bruises on my stomach. His curse and the sound of a smashing water jug confirms it.
“Sir, you need to calm down, this is a hospital.” I hear someone say.
I open my eyes to see my father glaring angrily at a young nurse. “Watch her, don’t you leave her alone. I’ll be back.”
“Daddy no!” I cry, but it’s too late. He’s gone.
I crumble and begin heaving. The nurse rushes over and gently puts her hands on my shoulders.
“It’s ok love, it’s ok.”
“Why am I in here?” I cry, shuffling off the bed and shoving her out of the way. “I need to be with Slade.”
“Mr. Devaroe is in surgery and you were in serious shock.”
“He has no one…”
“His father was here but…”
“Let me guess, he started getting questioned and he ran?!”
She nods sheepishly. “Does he have a mother?”
I sigh. “No, Slade’s mum left them when he was very young. She hasn’t seen him in a long, long time. He has no one.”
“I promise to keep you updated, but for now you’re better off here. There are two people outside wanting to see you.”
I nod, sliding back onto the bed and facing the wall. A moment later I hear Payton and Lucas’ voices. I sob and my body heaves as they climb into bed with me and wrap their arms around my body.
“He’s going to be ok honey.”
“We’re here.”
I cry myself into an exhausted sleep, and Lucas and Payton stay by my side. I don’t know what I’ll do if Slade dies. My dreams of winning are nothing compared to my love for him…if I