SAVIOR: A Motorcycle Club Romance (10 page)

“They need help,” I pleaded. “I’m not sure the police can get to them in time.”

“Agreed,” he replied, getting up and heading to his bedroom to get dressed. “The three of them might be running out of time. You stay here and I’ll go-”

“Hold on a minute,” I said, stopping him from leaving so soon. “I’m coming too.”

He glared at me. “Out of the question.”

“What am I supposed to do?” I asked rhetorically. “Wait here? Sit on my ass and pray? If something goes wrong, I want to be there to back you up, Max.”

“Emily, this is not up for discussion-“

“Hell, it isn’t,” I shot back. “Max, you need me. There could be a scared woman and child over there. They’ll be scared and reluctant to trust some guy who claims to have overheard them over the radio. They’ll need someone to calm them. I can be that person. I know what’s it like to be stuck out in the cold. You saved but now it’s time that I paid you back.”

“Fine, but you stay in the car at all times and do whatever I ask of you,” he grumbled, rubbing his forehead in irritation. “Got it?”

I gave small smile. “Got it.”

The both of us bundled up in our thickest clothing. I brought some water and a trauma kit in case there was any serious injuries. Max’s jeep wasn’t made for five passengers. However, it drove well in rugged terrain.

While my lover drove with grim determination, I prayed for their safety. We slowly traversed across Blanche Avenue which had lived up to its reputation. The jeep’s suspension got a workout on the snowy, rocky road. At times, I was afraid he would serve off the mountainous path. Nonetheless, Max knew this road by heart.

Suddenly, I noticed a figure out in the distance. “I think I see someone… is that the policeman?”

Indeed, he saw a uniformed officer traveling along. He was covered in a layer of frost but I could see the dark blue of his uniform. The man was out of shape for a policeman and looked like he would collapse at any second. When he saw our jeep, the man stopped in his tracks and frantically waved at us.

“Son of bitch,” Max cursed slowly pulling up to the side. “Traveling alone on foot in the middle of this road is a quick way to get yourself injured or killed. Let’s stop and see if he’s the officer.”

Max lowered the side window as the man desperately called to us for help. “There’s been an accident! I need-”

“Yes, we heard,” Max interrupted. “Your cop car flipped over with two passengers.”

His eyes widened in shock. “You knew?”

“I’ll explain later,” Max sighed. “Just get in and tell us where they are.”

“There was a woman and a child,” I said as the man entered the backseat. “Where are they? Why aren’t you with them?”

“I-I was the only one able to get out,” the policeman stuttered. There was a small cut on the side of his forehead. However, we could hold off on it until we got back home. “The passenger doors wouldn’t open. I didn’t want to leave them but I couldn’t get them out without help. I’ll show you where they are.”

The policeman led us to the scene of the crash. He introduced himself as Officer Benjamin Brown. He told us that he had been dispatched to pick up a single mother and her son from a nearby town. Their home had been hit particularly hard by the snowstorm. They requested emergency evacuation once it got too dangerous. Officer Brown went in to get them to safety. However, the icy road had caused him to roll over into a ditch. He tried to radio for help and get the passengers out but nothing worked.

I gave the Officer an ice pack for the bump on his head. However, he didn’t use it after trudging around in the cold. There would be time later to give him better medical treatment. For now, we had to save that family.

I wondered what was going through Max’s head. It must have felt like déjà vu with a mother and her son trapped in a car. I feared he would let the pain of the past cloud his judgment.

Nonetheless, there was a steely focus in his eyes. This time he would be different. This family would not die if he had any say in it.

I began to prepare in case the two of them were seriously injured. I had a kit full of bandages and some over the counter drugs for pain. We didn’t have the equipment or medical skills to help them if they had a serious injury. Hopefully, it wouldn’t come down to that.

I had also brought some extra coats and blankets with me. I didn’t think the coats would fit a small child but it would have to do for now. I planned to prepare some hot soup for everyone once we got back home.

With Officer Brown guiding the way, we came across the broken cop car. Its emergency flashers lit the scene with red and blue lights. He pointed to it with a shaky hand. “T-There it is.”

The car had nearly flipped upside down. The windshield hadn’t shattered completely but it had a nasty crack across it. I saw dark liquid pooling to its side. I hoped that it was oil or radiator fluid instead of blood.

“They spend a fortune in tax payer’s money on these things,” Max grumbled, taking off his seatbelt. “But they can’t afford good tires. At least the airbags went off.”

Officer Brown got up to follow him. “I’ll show you-“

I placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’re hurt and we can’t risk you getting worse. Stay here and we’ll take care of the rest.”

He reluctantly sat back as Max and I exited the jeep. We walked hand in hand across the icy road. The driver’s side door was open which had allowed Officer Brown to escape.

The car had to be well heated because the snow around the opened door was starting to melt. At least we knew the two of them weren’t too exposed to the elements. Nevertheless, I had some heated blankets on standby. Hypothermia is no laughing matter.

“We’ll have to open up a door,” Max said, walking up to the back passenger door. There looked to be some movement inside but it was difficult to tell from this angle. “There’s usually a steel mesh separating the backseat from the front. We can’t have them come through the middle. Setting the car to emergency usually unlocks the doors in civilian cars. I hope it’s the same for cop cars.”

Summoning all of his strength, Max pulled at the door. Indeed, it was unlocked but it wasn’t opening without a fight. Using both hands, he finally pulled it open.

Suddenly, a soft voice came out from “Stay back!”

A small boy sat on what was sitting on what was essentially the roof of the car’s interior. He had dark brown hair and soft grey eyes that reminded me of Max. He held a broken shard of glass in his hand as a weapon. He didn’t look injured but I knew he was afraid.

I immediately understood why he threatened us. To his side was a middle-aged woman who had to be his mother. She was unconscious and needed to be brought down from the seat.

The boy didn’t look like he was older than ten years. “I said stay back!”

Max groaned in irritation. “Calm down, kid before you hurt yourself! I don’t have time for this-“

“Relax, we’re here to help,” I said, taking charge. I gently extended my hand and touched his shoulder. “My name’s Emily and we’re here you to get you to safety. What’s your name?”

He didn’t resist. “It’s Edward. Most people call me Ed.”

I pointed to his mother. “How’s your mom, Ed? Is she okay?”

Thankfully, the boy dropped the shard of glass. “She drifts in and out.”

“Ed, we need to get the both of you out of here,” I said, grabbing onto his hand. “First, we’ll get you out and then we can get your mom the help she needs.”

He nodded. “Okay… just help my mom!”

Max gave me a small smile. “Get him to the jeep and I’ll take care of her.”

I guided Ed back to the safety of the jeep while Max tried to get his mother out. Watching from afar, he struggled to get her seatbelt off without hurting her. After a few minutes, he got her out and carried her with both arms to the jeep.

It was a cramped fit with five people. I offered to stay behind and get picked up later. However, Max was adamant we all leave together. With the mother still half-unconscious, we secured her in the backseat. Ed sat in my lap while Officer Brown rode shotgun.

I made small talk with Edward to keep him calm. I learned that his mother’s name was Claudia. Ironically enough, she was a doctor who specialized in head injuries.

She was a woman in her late thirties with greying hair. Nonetheless, there was a big bruise on her forehead. Thankfully, it hadn’t bled very much.

I didn’t know how long the three of them would be staying with us. We had enough food to share with the others. Claudia could use some of my womanly hygienic items. With the weather clearing up, it wouldn’t be a death wish to venture out for more food and other supplies.

Eventually, we reached Max’s house. We carefully placed Claudia on the bed in the guestroom before patching her up. Max and Officer Brown went to talk about how to contact the police. I got busy making some hot soup for everyone.

Where nowhere to go, Ed assisted me in preparing the soup. “Is mom going to be okay?”

“I’m not a doctor like your mother,” I said, sucking in my lower hip. “She hit her head but it looks like we came just in time. Don’t you worry, Max and I will give her the best of care.”

That seemed to put him as ease. Ed helped me setup the table as I made four bowls of soup. Claudia had awoken but was in no condition to get up and eat. We decided to let her rest for now since she was just too tired to get out of bed.

Over dinner, Officer Brown said he contacted the police through Max’s landline.

They would arrive in a few days to pick us up. Officer Brown sighed at the delay. “We were short staffed as it is. They barely managed to let me pick these two up. They just don’t have the manpower to spare. I’m sorry for imposing on you-”

“Don’t worry about, Officer,” Max chuckled. “Besides, I used to be a hell raiser when I was younger. Think of this as making up for it.”

Officer Brown smiled. “Thanks, I’ll try to get you a tax write-off for your help. And please call me Ben.”

Although I missed being alone with Max, the house seemed livelier with more people in it. Max happily shared war stories with Ben. The policeman seemed enraptured by Max’s exploits as an outlaw biker. The former criminal hit it off easily with the lawman.

Later into the night, Claudia awoke again. This time, she had regained full consciousness. We told her what had happened and that Ed was safe. I heated up a bowl for her.

Our three new guests were exhausted and eager to get to bed. The house was big enough for all of us. Ed would sleep beside Claudia. Ben got his own bed in a spare guestroom. Max and I would share a bed. This was an arrangement neither of us minded.

Our guests went to sleep as Max and I took turns bathing. Rescuing families was dirty work. We were also tired but awake enough for some pillow talk.

Now, I never felt so in love with Max.