My lungs were straining to allow even the slightest amount of oxygen inside, squeezing every time I sucked in a breath.
“You said this isn’t the first time you’ve escaped death recently,” Michael said, getting in my face. “What the fuck is he talking about? Is someone after you?”
“Us,” I grunted out. “And Ba?—”
My eyes flew to Jeff’s, and at the look of panic on my face, he understood exactly what had me so concerned.
“I’ll get the truck!”
I leapt off the back of the truck and sprinted toward his. Mymovements were jerky at best, but I had to get to her. He set that fire, and if he came that hard at me…
“Liam! What the fuck is going on?” Michael shouted, racing behind me.
“It’s Bailey,” I shouted as I flung the passenger side door open. “She’s?—”
But I never got the words out as another coughing fit took over. Blake shoved the clothes through the window just before Jeff hit the gas and propelled us backward down the drive.
Michael and Blake ran to their own truck and followed closely behind.
Struggling to get into my pants, I hit the phone button on his console screen and searched for Bailey’s contact information. As soon as the phone connected, I resumed struggling into my pants over the burns on the backs of my thighs.
“Come on, come on!” I urged, waiting as the line just kept ringing.
“Call Archer,” Jeff demanded.
Ending the call, I dialed the prick, even though I was still fucking pissed as hell at him.
“It’s the fucking middle of?—”
“Someone just tried to burn me down in my own house,” I got out before I couldn’t speak any longer.
“Archer, it’s Jeff. We’re on our way into town now. Are you near Bailey?”
“Yeah, right the fuck outside her apartment. It’s quiet.”
“Are you sure?”
“Her lights are out and it’s dead over here. Unless you want me to go up and check on her.”
“Do it,” I barked out.
I would pay for this later. My head swam with dizziness and the burning in my lungs wasn’t letting up, but it was worth it if I got to Bailey in time.
Five minutes later, Jeff jumped the curb outside Bailey’s apartment building and pulled to a stop right in front of the door. I was outbefore the truck was even in park, flinging the front door open that should have been locked.
My hands clutched the bannister as I dragged myself up every step, praying the whole time that she was safe. If I was too late, I would only have myself to blame.
“Bailey!” I yelled, gasping and wheezing with every step.
Jeff was next to me in an instant, hauling me up the rest of the way as I struggled to keep moving. By the time we reached her apartment, I was barely breathing.
“What is going on?” I heard Bailey shout. “Why are you even here?”
I rounded the corner just in time to see Archer holding Austin by the neck, threatening to break it if he moved.
Like an angel in my dreams, Bailey stood there, her hair tumbling in gold waves over her shoulders as she faced down the men in her apartment.
She was alive.
