ALEX

"Athena?"

Static.

"Athena, answer me, please!"

More static.

Then nothing.

Fuck!

My heart ms against my ribs so hard it feels like it might crack. I stare at the

screen.

The call has dropped.

My hands are shaking. She screamed. I heard it. And then that sound, metal against wood. Impact.

She crashed.

I shoot to my feet, nearly knocking over the coffee table. Rayen stirs on the couch, his small chest rising and falling in steady rhythm.

He likes to sleep when it rains. I always work from home when it''s my turn to be with him. I was thinking of what to do over the weekend, so I called Athena.

Honestly, I''m d I did.

I quickly dial mum''s line, and luckily, she picks on the first ring.

"Mum, can youe over? It''s urgent."

"I''m on my way."

The rain is still heavy, so I''m taking a risk, but Mum is an excellent driver. So that doesn''t really worry me.

I rush toward the window, with my heart in my throat. The rain stillshes the ss. The storm outside is relentless, but it''s nothingpared to the storm ripping through my chest.

I grab my phone again and dial Ryan''s number.

"Boss?" he answers immediately.

"Athena crashed. She was driving, I was on the call with her when I heard it happen. I don''t know where she is, but she was on her way home."

My voice is already breaking. "Dispatch the team. All routes. Track her phone and check the traffic cams. Find her. I want eyes on every exit from the hospital to her building. I''ll be joining you in a bit. I need mum toe watch Rayen."

"I''m on it." Ryan responds.

I pace the room like a caged animal, ncing at the clock every five seconds.

She could be unconscious.

Bleeding. Cold and alone.

The thought of that ws at my chest.

I continue to pace back and forth while I wait for mum. I don''t want to cloud her

judgment, so I refrain from calling her again.fnf877 For original chapters go to find?novel/fnf877

I check on Rayen again. He''s still sleeping, snuggled against his nket.

Safe.

I crouch beside him and brush a hand over his hair. "Stay asleep, champ. Daddy will be right back."

As if summoned by desperation, the front door opens.

"Alex!" Mum rushes in, drenched from the rain. "I came as fast as I could."

I don''t even wait for her to step all the way in.

"He''s asleep. Don''t wake him. I have to go. Check the guest for some clothes. I

got Athena some things. There should be something to keep you warm."

"What happened?" she asks, but I''m already halfway out the door.

I don''t answer.

I leap into the car, punch the engine on, and peel into the storm like a man possessed.

My wipers fight the rain, but all I can see is her terrified face, the sound of her scream echoing in my skull.

Hold on, Sweetheart.

I grip the steering wheel tighter, with my jaw clenched.

The roads are slick with rain, the tires hissing against the asphalt as I push the speed limit.

I have the high beams on, but the storm makes everything blurry. Even with the special night-vision sses on, visibility is shit.

All I can think about is her.

Is she conscious?

In pain?

Scared?

Hurt?

Fuck! I''ll get her a driver going forward. One I can kill if such a thing happens again.

I reach the end of a bypass and slow just enough to scan the trees beyond the shoulder, my eyes narrow for any sign of a vehicle as my pulse thunders in my

ears.

Pulling off to the side, I kill the engine and grab the backpack I keep in the backseat.

I sling it over one shoulder, zip it open, and pull out the heated bottle and the thick, waterproof thermal nket I packed weeks ago in case Rayen ever got sick during one of our drives.

I never thought I''d need it for his mum instead.

I step out into the downpour. Cold rain ps my face instantly, drenching me to

the bone within seconds. The wind whips hard against my coat, but I don''t stop moving.

With a shlight in hand, I move along the edge of the road, scanning the forest line. The downpour blurs everything into gray shadows.

"Come on, Athena... just hold on."

My phone buzzes.

I jerk it out of my pocket with wet fingers.

"Talk to me!" I shout.

"It''s Ryan," he says, his voice clear despite the storm. "We found her."

My chest tightens.

"Where?"

“About two miles northeast from the hospital road. GPS pinged her phone. The team is already headed there. Luca''s first on scene he''s sending visuals now."

"I''m close," I say, already jogging back to the car.

"I''ming. Tell them to keep her warm. Tell them I''m on my way."

"Ryan?" My heart pounds so hard I see stars.

"Yes boss?"

I swallow.

"How bad is she?"