A violent splintering of wood and fiber that reverberated through the tumult.
My eyes darted that way, trying to see through the disorienting smoke.
The ceiling.
It had collapsed, a gaping hole of sheetrock and wood dripping from the edges of the fissure, inciting a plume of dust and debris. No question, the cabin was being fully engulfed by the flames.
The smoke so thick there was no chance of seeing any longer, let alone breathing.
A dark, hazy coating clouded my sight, and I could barely make anything out.
Just the ghastly outline of Ethan.
A harbinger of death.
Only behind him a new form took shape.
An ominous outline that emerged from the shadows.
Volatile and intimidating and so completely right.
I could barely make out the way Ethan was ripped around, his entire body bowing as he was impaled, his body tossed to the side as if it were nothing.
Then those massive arms were around me.
Strong and sure as he picked me up.
A flash of hazel that looked down in the greatest relief.
Then he was at the door and tearing through, our breaths choked and rasped as he ran with me out into the crisp, night air.
I sucked and dragged the oxygen into my lungs as I clung to him.
Those big hands were all over me, the man murmuring, “I have you, I have you, I have you.”
Tears broke free, big gulping, gasping sobs that I expelled into his neck.
He set me outside the range of the fire, in the safety of the trees, before he went running back, an arm up to protect his face as he dove back through the door and into the flames.
Horror robbed my relief as I listened to the slew of gunshots rise up from all around. No question a war was happening between Cash’s and Ethan’s men.
It all blurred with the terrible memory of that harrowing night so many years ago running on a circuit. Battering my thoughts and tormenting my soul.
While I begged to the heavens for the rest of them.
That Cash would get them out.
Relief battered through me when I saw Theo rush out with Piper in his arms, her wrists and feet still bound.
River with Charleigh behind him.
Otto and Raven.
Kane and Emery.
They were there.
They all were there.
