Rushing In (Bailey Brothers #4) - Claire Kingsley Page 0,109
followed with the compressor. Rain pelted us, the wind driving it sideways. The bridge felt solid, but I knew it wasn’t. Between its age, the damage from the tree, the debris in the river, and the gusts of wind, it was anyone’s guess how long it had left.
When we got to the car, I forced myself to focus on the task at hand, not the condition of the vehicle or who was inside. Christian ran to the driver’s side door—there was better access there—and I could hear him speaking to Caroline, asking questions and reassuring her, while Levi and I deployed the jaws of life.
I’d done this a million times in training, and even in the field more than once. I went through the motions, connecting the hydraulic hoses to the compressor. A few more seconds, and we were ready.
My heart pounded a mad rhythm in my chest as I went to the driver’s side. The front of the car was smashed, the metal frame folding in on itself. It looked like the tree had fallen right in front of them and they’d hit it head-on.
I paused long enough to look at the passengers. Caroline’s eyes were wide, but she was calm. No sign of major injuries so far. And sure enough, Skylar was in the passenger seat. The car was partially caved in on her side, and she’d scooted closer to her mom.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “We’ve got you.”
I wedged the spreader into the crack between the door and the frame while rain pelted my face. The bridge supports groaned again and my eyes flew to Skylar. My heart raced and an overwhelming sense of urgency filled me.
The compressor roared behind me. I held the spreader while it opened, loosening the driver’s side door from the bent metal frame of the car. Christian pulled on the door, helping free it.
“Can you get your legs out?” he asked Caroline.
She nodded. “Yes.”
A few more seconds and the door broke free. Christian and I lifted it off and set it next to the car. The bridge groaned again, and this time I felt it shudder. I glanced at Levi and he nodded. He’d felt it too.
Fuck.
I took Caroline’s hands and helped her out of the vehicle. Levi took over and I went back for Skylar.
She’d already climbed across to the driver’s side. I helped her out of the car and without a word, picked her up, one arm around her back, the other supporting her legs.
“I can walk.”
I didn’t reply. I knew she could walk, but I also knew I was going to lose my mind if I didn’t get her off this fucking bridge. Now.
Carrying her in my arms, I raced to the bridge entrance. The engine was on the opposite side, but we’d get someone over here to pick us up. There was no way I was hauling my ass back over that bridge, especially not with Skylar.
Levi was on his radio updating the crew and Christian rushed off the bridge just behind me. I set Skylar down next to her mom, and Caroline threw her arms around her.
“Are you okay?” I asked, feeling strangely frantic. “Are you injured?”
“No,” Skylar said, her voice breathless. “I don’t think so.”
A huge gust of wind roared through the trees, followed by an ear-splitting crunch. The bridge lurched to one side as the broken supports failed. Caroline’s car slid sideways down the bridge deck, getting tangled in the huge tree’s branches.
Like an inevitable chain reaction, more supports failed and the bridge deck cracked. With a crash, the end broke free and crumbled into the churning water below. Caroline’s car plunged into the river with the tree practically on top of it.
Skylar launched herself into my arms, one hand covering her mouth. “Oh my god. Oh my god, we were just… We could have been in there.”
Wrapping my arms around her, I held her tight against me.
Holy fuck. If we hadn’t gotten there in time…
I couldn’t even think it.
Chief pulled up out of nowhere, skidding to a stop, and flew out of his truck. His eyes were wild as he ran to his daughter and his ex-wife.
Reluctantly, I let go of Skylar so her dad could hug her. I felt dazed, like I couldn’t focus. My usual calmness under pressure seemed to have shattered, and now I couldn’t remember what I was supposed to be doing. All I could see was the image of Caroline’s car plunging into the freezing river.