The Order: Hit and Run by Emma Cole Page 0,3

soon as we can.” They both move in and slide a hard plastic board into the cab. A few minutes later, they’re pulling Cora out, strapped to it, onto the roadway and taking vital signs. I can hear a helicopter coming in while they work, and it lands on the opposite side of the freeway where police have cleared an area. The man lets me sit and hold her hand while he runs to meet the medivac, leaving the female paramedic to finish setting an IV. Soon, they have her on a stretcher and load her up in the helicopter.

“There isn't room, but they're taking her to Seattle General. You can meet her there.” The paramedic is nice enough to explain, but I have no way of getting there and don't know anyone local to call and ask.

“Thanks, I’ll figure it out,” I mutter absently as the man moves off to help others. I get my bag and Cora's things out of the truck before I begin walking toward the on-ramp, hoping to get down to a main street and find a taxi. I don’t make it far before a dark-haired guy around my age intercepts me.

“Hey, man. I have a ride coming if you need one. I saw them take your girl out. I hope she’ll be okay.” The guy is fidgeting and smells like alcohol, but I can’t figure out why he’d be so nervous when he seems to be uninjured. Unless it's the catastrophe that just happened, which would be enough to rattle anyone.

“Sure, thanks. Do you know about how long? Not to be rude, but I’d like to get to the hospital as quickly as possible.”

“Should be here any minute. We called for a car as soon as—. Man, I’m so sorry! We shouldn’t have let him drive.” The guy is tearing up, and it dawns on me that he was standing near the SUV the police had been by.

Sure enough, when I look over, there are three others and a white sheet-covered mass in the driver's seat. “You’re the ones that hit us?" My voice rises with my anger. "You most likely killed my baby, I don’t know if my wife is going to make it either, and I’m stuck on this fucking road with you offering me a ride you should have gotten in the first place!” I’m yelling and have the attention of the police officers nearby. They start to advance, but the guy in front of me waves them off, and when I apologize they go back to what they were doing. Free from their scrutiny, I drag the guy off toward the shoulder of the freeway by his arm.

“I’m so sorry, I tried," he starts before I can lay into him again. "We all tried. You don’t understand," he stresses, gripping his hair in frustration. "It was my brother, and Cora, and he went off on a bender, and— and, he didn’t make it.” He’s not making any sense with his hand gestures and apologies mixing up, but when he mentions Cora’s name, I’m on high alert.

“What do you mean, Cora? How the hell do you know my wife’s name?”

“My brother is Damien St. Aunge III.” He lets the statement hang for a moment until comprehension hits me.

“Damien, as in the piece of crap that slapped her around and took her virginity and then tried to claim my baby as his own, Damien? You’ve got to be kidding me.” I shake my head at the irony of it. He had harassed Cora for months after her step-brother, his best friend, had let it slip that she was pregnant and their parents were kicking her out of her parents' house. “Wait, was he following us? Did he do this on purpose?”

“I don’t know. Her step-brother said she was getting married today, and he went off on a bender. Please, just let us take you to the hospital.” He’s not keeping eye contact, and I know there’s something he’s hiding. I don’t know what it is, but I’ll find out— as soon as I make sure Cora, and hopefully the baby, are okay.

“Fine, get whatever and whoever and let’s go meet this car, please. For all I know I could be a widower on my wedding day.”

At my grim pronouncement he gathers the others, and we begin the trek down the on-ramp while the guy is on the phone directing someone to meet us.

Chapter Three

Kael

By the time we arrive at the hospital, I’m