Page 1 of Reckless Dynasty (Knight's Ridge Empire 9)

TOBY

Pain like I’ve never experienced tears through my chest, ripping my heart into shreds as the ambulance Jodie was stretchered into speeds down the street with its lights flashing and siren blaring.

My knees ache from where I fell to them the second the paramedics slammed the door on us, cutting off my view of my girl.

I want to assume that they didn’t give us an update because they thought I was just a stranger who rescued her, but I fear it’s worse than that. That they didn’t have time.

A pained roar erupts from my chest, my lungs burning from the smoke, but it’s easy to push aside, allowing my anguish to take over.

“Toby.” A soft hand lands on my shoulder, startling me. “We need to go.”

Stella steps in front of me. Her face is a stone mask in her attempt to take control of this situation and be what I need, but her eyes reveal how she’s really feeling. And the concern within them does little for my fragile heart.

“She’s going to want you there when she wakes up. And,” she adds, her eyes dropping to my body, “you need checking out too.”

“I’m fine,” I hiss, barely able to feel the cuts and bruises from our escape from a different burning building not so long ago.

“Toby,” she warns.

There’s a loud shout from one of the firefighters working on the building behind me and my heart jumps into my throat.

Sara.

The only fucking good thing about this whole situation is that the Wolves who started it have fucked off, leaving us with the heart-wrenching fallout.

Although, they’re not far away. I can hear gunfire in the distance, and the smoke from the burning estate is covering our heads, making the place look even more like hell on earth than it usually does.

“The others are coming,” I force out, vaguely remembering that they told me they were going to follow me.

“They’ll be fine,” she assures me, although I don’t miss the way her chest compresses at the thought of Seb still being in the middle of all that.

Getting to my feet, I pull her body into my arms, quickly realising that she’s trembling just as hard as I am.

“He could handle this in his sleep, Stel. You have nothing to worry about.” Although, I can’t help but wince at my own words because they were right behind me. So where the fuck are they now?

“Message them, tell them what’s going on, and to meet us at the hospital. You got Jesse’s number?”

She shakes her head as her eyes shift to the building, grief twisting her features despite the fact that she’s never met the girl inside.

“They’ll get her out. There is no other option,” I state, forcing more confidence into my tone than I feel.

Stella nods, her eyes glistening with tears.

“Come on. Jodie needs you.”

She grabs my hand and we run toward her car, abandoned in the middle of the road.

She stops being quite so compliant when I go for her driver’s door.

“You’re not fucking driving in this state,” she asserts, her eyes dropping to my shoulder.

“I need to get there fast.”

“Get the fuck in the car, Tobes.”

She rips the door open and falls in without another word, and I’m forced to comply. I don’t have time to stand here and argue over this.

“Message the guys. Call Jesse. I’ve got this, Bro.”