Then went to voicemail.
Hanging up, he cursed. There was no sign of her.
“Stop,” he said.
Kinky brought the truck to a stop.
Smokey climbed out, feeling the cold instantly.
He pressed on Ava’s number and waited. It rang in his ear but then he heard something else.
A ringtone.
The line went dead.
He dialed it again and followed the sound.
Kinky, Brick, Raven, and Hunter got out of the truck and followed him.
“Are you hearing this?” he asked.
They all agreed, and Smokey went across the road. As he glanced over the edge, he saw the car. It was nearly covered in snow, but the two wheels were still visible.
He didn’t think, just reacted. The way it fell, it hadn’t gotten too deep near her doors.
With some force, he found the door handle and yanked it open.
Kinky and Hunter helped him to open the door, and there was Ava. Her teeth were chattering.
“Smokey,” she said.
“Fuck. I’m here.” He bent down, looking in the car, trying to find something that would help him ease her out.
She let out a scream as her hands went to her stomach.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I think there’s something wrong with the baby.” She whimpered. “I can’t lose it, Smokey.”
“You won’t,” he said. He couldn’t allow her to lose it. That baby was one of the only connections he had to her. If they didn’t share a kid, they had nothing. There was no way he could allow that to happen.
“I’ve got Hunter, Kinky, Brick, and Raven with me, baby. I know after everything, you don’t like them, but they’re going to help me get you out. Okay?”
She whimpered but agreed. “I’m so cold.”
Smokey looked at the car. They couldn’t lift it up.
“I’m going to slide in. Take her weight as I release the belt. Then all of you are going to work together. We’re going to carry her to the truck and then we’re getting her to the hospital.”
“Maybe we should call for an ambulance,” Raven said. “If we move her, what if she has another injury?”
Smokey growled. “We don’t have time.”
She’d been out in the cold for far too long. He didn’t want to risk Ava or the baby’s life. He had to get her out of there and hold her.
Smokey removed his jacket. “Wrap this around her the moment she’s out.”
He looked into the car. He didn’t know if it was a saving grace that she was on her side on the ground. There was no easy way to do this. Either option put her at risk. If he moved her and she had an injury, this could cause more damage. If he left her here, she could freeze to death. That wasn’t an option. Slowly and carefully, he climbed into the car. Ava had pushed the chair back, and he was able to fit in front of her with the steering wheel jammed into his back. He got himself into a position, which meant he was able to look into Ava’s eyes.
“You’re going to wrap your arms around me and I’m going to pull you out.”
“Smokey, I could hurt you.”
“I’m going to hold you. I’ve got you. I’ve got this, Ava. Do you trust me?”
She nodded. Not a single hesitation.
He wanted to puff out his chest, but instead, he made sure he was braced and ready to take her weight. He was not going to fuck this up.
“I’m so scared,” she said.
“Me too. I’m going to get you out of this. Are you ready?”
She nodded. Her teeth chattered as he reached out for the belt buckle. Staring into Ava’s eyes, he clicked the button and she wrapped her arms around him.
Instant cold hit him.
She screamed in pain and he wrapped his arms around her, trying to soothe her.
Kinky, Hunter, Raven, and Brick were there.
With their help and taking their time, they were able to help her out of the car.
Smokey crawled out and was sure to grab her bag as he did.
After following his guys to the truck, he climbed in the back and moved Hunter out of the way, who’d been talking to Ava, trying to soothe her.
He cupped her face. “I’m right here, Ava. I’m right here.” He took her hand as the car started.
“You came for me,” she said. “I knew you would.”
“Of course, I did. I wouldn’t leave you. I will always come for you. You know that.”
She nodded. “I do. It hurts.”
“We’re getting you to the hospital, okay? The doctor will fix everything.”
“I don’t want to lose this baby.”
“We won’t.” He put his hand gently to her stomach, not sure if he was hurting her or not.
“I really want to be a mother.”
“And you will be. I’m not going to lose either of you.” He pressed his face against hers, rubbing his cheek on hers, trying to do anything to give her the warmth she needed. The cold was starting to affect him. “I love you both, Ava.”
She began to cry, and he held her.
“Nothing will happen. I’ve got you. I will always get you.”
She gripped his arm. Her hold was tight, and he did nothing more than wrap her in his arms, keeping her safe and exactly where she was meant to be.
Chapter Nineteen
“I’m not sick,” Ava said two days later.
She still lay in a hospital bed, wearing a gown with machines hooked up to her. It had been touch-and-go for a short time. The cold had affected her and they needed to warm her up. Also, her baby was being observed every single day.
“I know,” Smokey said.
He changed the flowers that had begun to wilt in her room.
Not once had he left her side.
“Have you gone home once?”
“Nope.”
“Why not?” she asked.
Smokey tossed the wilted flowers into the trash can and then turned toward her. “Simple, I wasn’t going to leave you alone. I held you, Ava. You were sobbing. Brokenhearted. You thought you were losing our baby. You weren’t. Our baby is just fine.” He put his hand on her stomach and she covered his with hers.
“I’m so glad. And you found me.”
“I wasn’t going to give up. When Harlow told me, I never felt fear like it. With what I’ve seen and done, you wouldn’t look at me for the monster I’ve been, Ava. Knowing you were out there and that you could die, I felt real fear. I never want to experience it again.”
“You can’t be in the room when I give birth,” Ava said. “It’s just as scary. Men have passed out.”
“I’m going to be here.”
“You are?”
“Yes.”
“Like, in the room?”
“Yes.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“I helped create this life. The least I could do is be with its baby momma while our child is being born into this world.” He let go of her stomach and took her hand.
“When I get out of here, we’re going to need to talk about you assembling the crib and all that stuff you were determined to buy.”
“I’m there. Whenever you need me, I’m there.” He kissed her hand.