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And when I opened thedoor and saw her lying in puddle of blood, her clothes ripped from her body, Iknew it was wrong.

I heard heavy footstepsracing down the stairs but my only concern was Sway at that point.

Everything seemed tomove in slow motion once I saw Sway. Just like in the movies, I was caught in areal life nightmare when I approached her. My hands scrambled toward her inutter horror. Sway was clutching at her midsection, bent over at the waist onthe concrete stairwell.

“Sway!”It came out as achoked sob as I fell to my knees and grabbed her shoulder.

I tried to roll heronto her back, but could only force her still body onto her side as she seemedto tense at my touch.

This wasn’t good.

There was blood, a lotof blood, coming from the back of her head, matting her mahogany hair andbeginning to pool underneath her cheek. I inhaled sharply, my breath shudderingin uneven, harsh gasps.

I pressed the back ofmy hand to my mouth. The smell of blood was strong, her eyes were closed andher head lolled to the side as she toppled onto her back. I saw a large gashalong the back of her head.

“Sway!”My voice was now athin wheeze as I took in her pale, still face. I stupidly shook her shoulderwith one hand, wiping ineffectually at the blood on her cheek with the other.

I called my dad and hesaid he’d take care of everything, to just stay where we were and don’t letJameson find out, no one was tell Jameson anything at that point.

There was still over ahundred laps left in the race and I knew damn well he’d stop the car if he knewsomething had happened.

“Sway, baby...pleasebeokay,” I was weeping.

I almost dropped herhead when she let out a low moan. I couldn’t catch my breath, the relief was sogreat. “I know, sweetie, I know. Help me out here, please. Stay awake, you cando it, help me.”

“Jameson...?” she groaned. I cradled her head on mylap as I wept and gasped. “Emma...where’sJameson?” she tried to sit up, propping herself on her elbows, but cried outand fell to her side, vomiting.

She let out a torturedmoan and I started sobbing again, clutching at her back.

“Darrin...where did he go?” she managed to say ina weak voice. “He said he’d kill me.”

“Shh,shh,” I crooned, the tears falling off my face andonto her ear and neck, mingling with the blood. “Help is on the way sweetie.”

“Where’s...Jameson?” she managed, struggling torise. She made it up on her arm before she collapsed again.

“He’s racing.” Iwailed, gripping her arm as she lay panting on her side.

“Please...it hurts....” She moaned. “Can’t...breathe...the baby...” She gasped, curling in on herself again. “Help me...” she vomited again, retching andhissing in pain.

Sway kept vomiting overand over.

After the fourth time,her body went limp.

All I knew was Jamesoncouldn’t see this and I wasn’t sure she’d be okay.

13.HotPits – Jameson

Hot Pits – When carsare on the track, it’s said to be “hot-pits” with only crew members and racingofficials are allowed into the pits for safety reasons.

The skies opened up andthe rain poured down onto the track. I was soaked inside the car, watching thesteady stream of water trickle inside my car as the entire field sat redflagged in turn four.

“I need a beer. This isboring.”

Kyle chuckled over theradio but didn’t respond.

I was bored out of myfucking mind. I hated rain delays. I was from Washington so you’d think I’d beused to rain. We’d been sitting here for the last forty-five minutes and Icouldn’t understand why they hadn’t pulled us onto pit road.

The most entertainmentI had was watching a helicopter try and land in this mini hurricane that seemedto be blowing through.