Chapter Fourteen
Niles gripped the steering wheel, his attention on the rain-soaked road in front of him. Betrayed. He's been betrayed by his mate. After everything he'd done, all that time he’d waited, all for nothing. He'd saved Evelyn's life, and he still wasn't welcome.
There were no words to describe the anger and pain that he felt because of Targon's betrayal. His mate should have been there for him, and yet again, he’d let him down. He hurt, physically hurt from the pain that Targon put him through. Nothing he did worked, nothing he said helped. Even dating someone else had done nothing.
His hands tightened on the steering wheel when he felt the car slide on the slick road. He managed to get the car back under control and check to make sure he had the windshield wipers on full speed. He just wanted to get home, take a shower, and wash away the day.
He squinted as headlights approached, the lights on full beam, and he raised a hand in front of his face to try and block out some of the light. Staring at the lights, he realized that they were swerving towards him and he automatically took his foot off the accelerator, letting the car slow down.
He had seconds to react when the lights suddenly and dramatically swung towards him. His hands gripped the steering wheel, his foot slammed on the brakes, but given the weather conditions, his car also began to swerve. He braced for impact and when the other car finally hit his, he was thrown against the passenger seat and then flung against the door, his head hitting the frame. He could feel the car being pushed over, spinning around on the wet road, the smell of burning rubber and the screams of tortured metal permeated the air as two cars came together and then separated.
The car shuddered as it continued to spin around, and Niles groaned feeling sick as the lights spun in his eyes, followed by darkness as he passed out.
He was only out for a matter of seconds, and when he came to, there was a loud ringing in his ears, and the world was spinning around him. He swallowed and took several deep breaths.
Eventually the car settled, and Niles groaned again as he slowly sat up. His head was still spinning, and he could feel blood dripping down his face. He lifted a shaky hand and gently touched the wound on his head, wincing at the pain.
The rain was falling into the car; the windshield had smashed, and as he moved to open the door, the car rocked and began to tilt backwards. He stopped all movement, holding his breath and slowly glancing over his shoulder.
"Shit," he muttered, realizing the car was balanced on the edge of the road. Beneath it was a fifty foot drop.
He swallowed again and closed his eyes, reaching out to the one person he knew could help him.
Targon.
There was no response, and Niles wasn't surprised considering the state of their relationship. But he needed his help, so he reached out again.
Targon, help me.
Niles, what is it, what’s wrong?
I'm on the Old Washington Road. I've been hit by another car. The car's stuck on the ledge. I don't know how much longer it's gonna stay here for.
You need to stay still. Don't rock the car. I'm going to call Chester and Silas now and get the team out there as soon as possible. Can you see the other car, or the driver?
Niles glanced around the area, but the only thing he could see was the road he'd been traveling on. The other car was nowhere to be seen.
No, the only lights I can see are mine. I can't see the other car at all, but it's dark here.
Shit, I hope it hasn’t gone over the edge. I’m on the phone now. I’ll be there as soon as I can.
Okay. Hurry though. I don't how much longer the car’s going to stay balanced.
They broke off contact and Niles sat as still as he could, not moving a muscle. A gust of wind caught the car, and it tilted precariously before righting itself and staying still. Niles closed his eyes, his hands clenched into fists, and tried to steady his breathing. He needed to remain still and calm and not make any sudden movements that could cause the car to tip over the edge. Most of all, he needed Targon to get there as soon as possible.
Targon. Hurry!
❊❊❊
As soon as he finished speaking to Niles, Tank jumped in his truck and headed towards Old Washington Road, dialing Chester as he drove.
"Tank, man."
"Niles has been in a car crash. It's on the Old Washington Road. I need to get Silas and the guys out."
"He's on the ledge?"
"Yeah, the car’s balanced right now, but I don't how much longer it's gonna stay like that given the weather tonight."
"The storm’s almost on us, so we don’t have much time. Silas knows and is getting his team out there now."
"I’m on my way there now. I can pick you up as I drive past."
"Right, I’ll get onto Jared and get him to come. He’s got the rescue truck right now. The first thing we need to do is get the car stabilized to stop it falling over the edge and then we can either tow it back up or we can pull Niles out. It all depends on the condition of the scene and the car when we get there."
"He did say it was balanced, but that's a fifty foot drop. There’s no way he could survive that if the car went over."
"Take some deep, calming breaths, Tank. You're not losing your mate."
"I can't lose him, Chester. After everything we've gone through, I need him."
"And you'll get the chance to tell him. Once we get him out of that car, don't ever let him go again, Tank."
"I won’t, Chester. He’s mine and I won’t let him go again."
He hung up and when he arrived at Chester's and Silas' place, Chester was already outside waiting. He jumped in the truck and Tank drove off again heading towards Old Washington Road.
"Silas and his team are there already, and I’ve updated Jared, so he knows what to expect. It's close, Tank, I’m not gonna lie. It only takes a good strong gust of wind to push the car over the edge with Niles in it. There's no chance of getting him out at the moment because of how the car is balanced."
"The other car?"
"It went over, with the driver in it. Silas will send a team down when the weather improves, but it's doubtful he survived."
Tank briefly closed his eyes and then opened them, staring fixedly on the road ahead of him. The rain was even harder now, the wind hitting the side of the car, rocking it.
"The wind is picking up, Chester. I don't how much longer that car can hold on for."
"The good news is that Jared is there now, along with Hunter and Euan who were at his place. From what Jared has said, Hunter’s getting ready to attach a line, but the car has slipped down some of the embankment and is hanging close to the edge. They need to make sure Hunter is safe first before he can repel down to attach a line and try stabilizing the car. It doesn’t look like they can pull the car out, but they need to stabilize it, so they can get access to Niles, attempt to assess him for any injuries, and then pull him free."
"I don't give a damn about the car. Niles is the only thing I care about right now. Tell them to do whatever they have to do to make sure that he is safe."
"They know, Tank, don't worry about it."
"I should have told him how I felt. I shouldn’t have let the family come between us. Stupid idiot."
"You’re not, Tank. Your family should have given you a chance with your mate and not made you choose. You two have gone through so much in such a short space of time, and then your mom's heart attack, and now this. I would suggest when you get out that the pair of you to go away for some time alone together and reconnect. You two deserve it.” Chester grunted. “You know what, Tank, fuck the family. They have to be the most prejudiced bunch of people I know, and you’re not like that. You have an amazing mate. Don't lose him, not like this."
Tank nodded, blinking rapidly as tears blurred his vision. He needed to tell Niles how he felt, and so he reached out to him.
Niles. How is it going?
Oh, just hanging around, doing nothing.
You know sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.
I don't care about that right now, Targon. I can feel the car moving, inching its way over the edge and I can see Hunter coming towards me now. I'm worried for him. The ground is wet and muddy.
Hunter’s done this thing many times before and he’s a professional. The only person you need to worry about is you. I’m so sorry, Niles, for everything. Please forgive me.
We can talk when I'm out of this, Targon.
That's it? We can talk?
I’m not really in the position right now to have this conversation with you, Targon. I’m hanging on the edge of the drop and probably seconds from death unless Hunter can find a way of stabilizing this car. So, no, I don't want to go through everything that's happened right now. I’m staying as still as I can, so I can stay alive.
I’m sorry, Niles. I love you so much, and I should have told you earlier about much I cared for you and I let my stupid family get in the way and I need to tell you.
We can do this later, but for the record, I love you too.
Tank broke off contact, needing his full concentration to drive the truck in the worsening conditions. His hands tightened on the steering wheel, the knuckles turning white, as his heartbeat hard and fast in his chest, the blood rushing through his veins. He needed to get there and see his mate. Needed to hold him in his arms and tell him how much he loved him. He just needed to see Niles… touch him.
Chester talked next to him, keeping him updated as to what was happening at the scene. "Hunter’s trying to stabilize the car and is making his way around to the passenger side door. Wait... The driver’s side door took the brunt of the impact... Hunter’s going to try make his way, no, wait. Silas is trying to tell me what's going on, but he keeps stopping. Right, okay. They can't open the driver’s door because of the damage so Hunter’s making his way around the front of the car and is trying the passenger side door. Doesn't look like it hit anything so he’s hoping he’ll be able to open it and pull Niles out that way."
"We’re only five minutes away now, so hopefully we’ll get there in time."
They drove the rest of the way in silence, with Chester's occasional comments as to what Hunter was doing. He didn't want to hear what Hunter was doing, he needed to be there to see what was happening with his own eyes. Needed to be able to look at his mate and reassure him that everything was going to be okay and he couldn’t do that while he was busy driving.
They turned around the bend on Old Washington Road and saw the lights blanketing the area. He pulled to a stop and both he and Chester immediately exited the vehicle and ran over to where Silas stood.
"Update!" Tank demanded.
"Hunter’s pulling him out now. Looks like a head wound from where his head hit the side of the door, and he said he has a few aches and pains but doesn't think he has any broken bones.”
Tank stood and watched, his hand in at his hair as Hunter gingerly extracted Niles from the damaged car. Once he got in position, Hunter got Niles into the safety harness and they slowly moved up the embankment. Once they were safe, the paramedics immediately ran over and began assessing Niles as Hunter helped take the harness off.
Tank ran over to where Niles was and stood, staring at his mate, seeing the blood that covered the side of his face.
"Niles," he whispered.
"We're taking him in now. You can follow behind us."
"I'll meet you there, Niles," Tank said.
Niles nodded, and Tank watched as the paramedics shut the ambulance doors and then drove away. Jumping in his truck, Tank followed, keeping the ambulance in view.
I love you, Niles.
I love you too.