“We had a fight, and he decided to go to Dulip. His phone is just ringing out.”
“I’m going to call the fire department. Keep trying Ryder and call me if you manage to get a hold of him.”
Jude pads down the hallway, half asleep as she realizes I’m not okay. “Hey, bestie.”
“I have to go. Ryder is in trouble.”
“Wait. What kind of trouble?”
“There’s a fire at Dulip. I don’t know if he’s in there, and I can’t get him on his cell. I have to go.”
“I’ll come with you.” I frantically try to get a hold of Ryder, praying to the universe that he isn’t in there. With nothing but my cell and keys, I run out of the apartment, the elevator taking forever to arrive. I need to get to Dulip.
He’s not in there. He can’t be in there. We have so much left unsaid.
I’m on edge as the elevator doors finally ping. I take off running the moment we hit the lobby, Jude at my back. I only live ten minutes from Dulip, but the endless sea of people on the sidewalk is slowing me down. I try his cell again, but it just rings out. Even if he’s pissed at me, he wouldn’t ignore my repeated calls. He’s too protective for that.
A sob escapes my chest as I round the corner to Dulip, only to see it burning, fire licking up the windows.
Please don’t be in there.
My phone starts ringing, and for a split second, relief washes over me, but it isn’t him.
“Flex. Tell me you’ve spoken to him.”
“No. I just had one of my team check his apartment. He’s not there, Aspen. My guys are on their way to Dulip now, as is the fire department. I’m jumping on my motorbike right now. I’ll be there as soon as possible. Keep trying him.”
Jude rests her hand on my shoulder, her tone bleak. “Any word on Ryder?”
“He’s not at the apartment. He’s in there, Jude. I have to go in.”
“The fire department will be here any minute.”
“He might not have a few minutes, Jude.” My words are a strangled cry, my eyes welling with tears, my entire body shaking. “I have to go in. He’s in there.”
“You don’t know that a hundred percent. It’s not safe.” She grabs my shoulders. “I’m not letting you go in there.”
“I’m sorry, Jude.” I shove her to the ground and take off running across the street as a crowd starts to build, Dulip lighting up the night sky.
Please be alive.
The heat is intense, the fire a cacophony of terror as I put one foot in front of the other. Onlookers start screaming as I fling open the front doors and run inside.
There’s smoke everywhere, so thick I can barely see through it.
“Ryder!”
The dining room is unrecognizable as the picture of opulence. Instead, the tables and chairs are ablaze—a living, breathing hell on earth.
“Ryder! Are you in here? Ryder!” I struggle to breathe, pulling my jacket off and holding it against my face. The heat is edging closer to me as I run through the dining room, checking every corner before heading toward the kitchen. He’s lying prostrate on the floor.
“Ry! Please, Ry!”
I drop to his side, but he’s out cold, his head bleeding.
“Wake up, Ry. We have to get out of here.” I shake him. “Please, Ryder. You have to wake up, Sir. You don’t get to make me love you and then leave me. Wake. Up.”
“Aspen.” Relief floods my body at the rasping sound of my name on his lips.
