Aftershock [2] Freefall by Jill Sorenson

Author:Jill Sorenson [Sorenson, Jill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary romantic suspense
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-05-31T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

SAM REMEMBERED.

He remembered his last moments with Melissa. He remembered the morning of the climb, and the day before. He remembered the horrible, harrowing weeks after. He remembered the earthquake.

He remembered everything. The memories were no worse or better than he expected, just different. Hollow, in a way.

“Sam.”

The voice drifted into his semiconsciousness. Owen’s voice. His hand slapped Sam’s wet cheek lightly.

Sam groaned as reality crashed down all around him. His head...fucking hurt. He didn’t want to open his eyes. His clothes were soaked, and he felt...sick. As if he’d swallowed a bellyful of river water.

It came gurgling up, spewing from him in a violent rush. Owen rolled him onto his side and Sam vomited until he had nothing left. The cool liquid felt alien, like a foreign substance purged from his insides. When it was gone, he dry-heaved weakly. Tears rushed into his eyes with every stomach spasm.

He couldn’t focus. The world was a blur.

Owen set him on his back and covered his body with a safety blanket. The cold water, inside and out, had lowered his core temperature so much that he was shaking like a leaf, even while lying on a warm rock in direct sunlight.

“Hope,” he croaked.

Owen hovered close, his face a Munch painting. “Do you know where she is?”

Sam blinked several times to clear his vision. The bleeding colors rearranged into something that resembled reality. “Angel Wings.”

Owen picked up his radio to call it in.

“No,” Sam said, reaching out to stop him. His hand brushed Owen’s forearm and fell aside, ineffectual.

Owen flinched at the contact. He always did. “Why?”

Sam lifted his throbbing head to study their surroundings. His body had traveled several hundred feet downriver. The man he’d been fighting was gone. “They’re listening to the transmissions.”

Owen’s brows rose with surprise.

“How long was I out?” Sam asked.

“A few minutes, at the most.”

“Is anyone else in the area?”

“No. The other rangers got delayed. They’re still hours away.”

“Faith needs help,” Sam said, trying to concentrate on the most important details. His mind was reeling from the rush of memories. He’d waited years for recovery. Getting it now wasn’t just inconvenient, it was a damned nuisance.

“Del Norte went after her,” Owen said.

“When?”

“Just now. He caught sight of someone climbing up the side of the falls. He ran that way, saying the man would lead him to Faith.”

“He wants to rescue her?”

“That’s what he said.”

“You have to follow him,” Sam said.

“Is she over there?”

“Yes.”

Owen examined the trail, his gaze sharp. Then he returned his attention to Sam. “You look like hell.”

Sam straightened, staving off a wave of dizziness. There was a tender lump on the back of his head. His teeth ached from the punch he’d taken. He felt nauseated, and he probably had a concussion, but his vision had returned to normal. He wasn’t throwing up anymore. The uncontrollable shivering had stopped. “I’m fine.”

“Right,” Owen scoffed.

“I remember the quake.”

“What quake?”

“In San Diego,” Sam said. “I remember everything. I remember Melissa’s death.”

Owen appeared stunned. He was

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