Page 99 of Broken

“Please, Jet. Something’s wrong. I canfeelit.” She sobbed. “Let me go. Please.”

I tucked my nose by her ear, laying my head against hers. “You can’t move her, sweetheart.”

“Iknow. I just need to be with her.Please,” she begged. “It’s not fair. Tucker gets to be with her,” she cried when I didn’t immediately let go. “I’ll be good.Please.”

With my heart cracking in two at the pain in her voice, I released my hold, opening my arms, and Annie scrambled from my lap to Izzy’s side. She was good like she promised, just lying against the stairs while she held her sister’s hand, tears flowing silently down her cheeks.

“I hate this,” she whispered. “I feel so helpless.”

“I know, sweetheart.” I scooted forward to rub my hand along her back.

“Why isn’t the ambulance here yet?”

“I’m sure they’ll be here soon.” But my promise was empty. I really didn’t know. This wasn’t Breaker Ridge where things werejust five to ten minutes away. But I understood how she felt. It seemed like forever since I’d asked Emma to call, even since the others that had started to gather around had picked up their phones to likely do the same, but logic told me it had only been a few minutes.Shouldn’t there have been medical staff here from the game?Maybe they were already gone.

Not knowing how but wanting to dosomething, I pulled off my jacket and added it to Tucker’s to cover my friend, my gaze only lingering for a second if I was going to stay calm for the others like they needed.

It was only another minute before I was able to hear sirens faintly from the road, and the crowd that surrounded us murmured the relief they all felt. I barely even registered that they were there.

I looked around and saw Mateo coming up the ramp, Zane no longer in tow, and I had to say that I’d never been more grateful to have the guy around. I wouldn’t have had a chance at stopping TuckerandAnnie by myself.

Emma was still sitting on the bench next to us, her blue eyes wide and tears silently streaming as she watched Tucker and Annie with Izzy.

I just couldn’t look that way. It was all I could do to keep it together for the others. I’d nearly lost my grip when I forced myself to look up at my bleeding friend the time Zane cut in.

It was like a slice to my heart.

Neverhad I seen anyone look so fragile. Sobroken.

I shuddered and forced my thoughts back to the logical side of the situation. Was there anything else we needed to do?

It wasn’t until the paramedics came running up that I realized what I’d forgotten. It should’ve been one of the first things I’d done. Pulling Annie back from Izzy to make room for the paramedics, I was relieved that she came so willingly, eager for her sister to get help.

“Emma,” I said when we were out of the way.

She was by my side a second later, sounding as weak as I felt. “Yeah?”

I handed her my phone. “I need you to call our parents.”

“What?” Emma’s voice cracked in surprise, refusal coating her tone.

“Please, Emma! I need you to do this,” I begged in earnest. “They were on the way to the hotel ahead of us, but they need to know.”And I don’t know if I can break the news to Bridgette. Tucker and Annie need me to be strong.

Emma nodded after looking into my eyes, likely seeing the pain I was trying so hard to hide. All of the tears sitting just behind the surface I knew I couldn’t let fall. She took the phone from my hand.

“Call my parents first,” I instructed. “They’ll have to watch the kids. Ask them to tell Bridgette and Tucker’s mom and dad. Tell them we’ll meet them at the hospital. I’ll text them as soon as I know which one.”

She nodded to me again and, fingers shaking, started scrolling through my contacts. I wrapped my arms around Annie, burying my head in the back of her neck for a few long moments as I pulled her into my lap, needing her strength as much as she needed mine.

“What’s her name?” I heard one of the paramedics ask.

“Izzy,” Tucker answered, his voice shaking.

“How do you know her?”

“I’m her boyfriend.”

“Sister,” Annie chimed in.