Torin (Hope City #9) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,60
slowly, and she saw the destruction surrounding her. She swiped at the blood still dripping from her forehead and unrolled the gauze with shaky fingers. Wrapping it around her forehead, she tied it off.
A girl was sitting to the side, crying in pain as she cradled her arm. Erin staggered over to her and dropped to her knees. “I’m a nurse.” The words came automatically, and as the girl stared wide-eyed at her, Erin knew she looked like she needed assistance as much as the girl she was helping.
A man came running up beside her, his hands full of men’s shirts and neckties. “I own a shop down the road. These were in my car,” he cried out. “You can use these for bandages.”
With his help, she created a makeshift splint with what he brought and a piece of cardboard laying nearby. She had just finished when someone else called to her. Standing again, Erin looked around. Everywhere she turned, someone needed her. Desperate to get to Caitlyn, she pulled up her smartwatch and placed a call.
“Erin!” Caitlyn cried when she answered. “Where are you?”
She looked toward the sidewalk and said, “I’m right outside where the explosion was. Stepanov Warehouse is right in front of me.” The words were barely out of her mouth before she heard her sister scream. Turning around, she spied Caitlyn and Bekki making their way to her as they weaved among the others, tears streaming down their faces. Falling into their arms, the three women clung to each other. Erin wasn’t sure her legs would hold her upright, but together they managed to stay erect.
“Where’s Torin?” Caitlyn asked, pulling back and searching Erin’s face. “Oh, my God, you’re bleeding! We’ve got to get you out of here!” Caitlyn’s hand darted to the back of Erin’s neck, coming away with bloody fingers. “Shit, you’re bleeding everywhere!”
Unable to focus on anything other than Torin, she ignored Caitlyn’s exclamation. “He was injured. I don’t know how bad, but they took him to the hospital. They wouldn’t let me go with him.”
“Let’s go. Let’s get out of here. Ryker and Brianna are still behind us, and Ryker said he can get someone to get us out of here.”
Erin stood, indecision rocking her as she looked at the destruction and desperation surrounding her. The idea of getting to the hospital to be with Torin filled her mind but the idea that she would witness the death of another man that held her heart was too painful. She closed her eyes and swallowed deeply. Not when there are those here who need me. Turning, she grabbed Caitlyn and ordered, “Get out of here. Go with Ryker and get outta here. Get to Mom and Dad and let them know I’m okay. As soon as I can, I’ll get to the hospital.”
“What are you saying? You have to come with us! What if there’s another bomb?”
“I can’t leave these people, Caitlyn.”
“You’re a runner, Erin! Right now, you’re a victim, not a fucking nurse!”
Erin reached up, her hand reaching for her beautiful sister’s face, but halting as the blood on her fingers caught her eye. Blowing out a breath, she dropped her hand to her side and nodded. “That might be, but right now—first of all—I’m a nurse.”
Before Caitlyn had a chance to retort, Ryker and Brianna hustled over. She looked at him and said, “Get them out of here. Torin has been taken to the hospital, but my nursing skills are needed here.” She watched as he opened his mouth to argue, but she shook her head. “You know. Ryker… you know what I have to do. And I’m trusting you to take care of my sister.” She glanced around. “Get them and anyone else you can away from here to safety.”
Ryker gave her a hard stare, his lips pressed together tightly as he dipped his chin. With his arm around Brianna who was holding Bekki’s hand, he wrapped his other arm around Caitlyn and pulled them to him. Keeping his eyes on her, he leaned in, his gravel voice biting out. “I’m getting hold of Sean and Kyle. Whichever is closer, I’ll tell them to come here or to get hold of Rory or Blay. Erin, you do what you’ve gotta do, but you fuckin’ stay safe.”
Their gazes held, and she nodded. She watched as he led them off the racecourse street, following hundreds of others as many rushed toward the incoming rescue, fire, and police. Numb, she looked away, memories