Dropping to their knees as they hugged the other piece of their souls to them. Rocking and swaying and crying in reprieve.
Fear drenched me, tears streaking through the soot that lined my face, and I began to crawl toward the cabin.
My soul pleading.
Begging.
Cash. Cash. Cash.
Heartbreaker.
I didn’t think I could survive the pain of it again.
Otto stood and started to run back toward the cabin. The flames now raging up the front side. Crackles spit and jumped, the whooshing roar warning of impending doom.
“Otto!” Raven shouted on a sob.
He started to run up the stairs when Cash came stumbling out.
Nearly bent in two and his shirt pulled up to cover his mouth and nose.
I choked and gasped over the gutting relief. The world tipping to the side. The surging and ebbing of the emotions sending a rush of lightheadedness swimming through my brain.
Cash and Otto turned and ran, jumping off the porch just as one of the supports gave. The cover collapsed in an explosion of shards and dust as they dove to the ground.
Rolling away from the inferno that ripped over the awning and swallowed the roof.
Cash barely made it back onto his feet as I crawled toward him, and he basically launched himself at me, curling his arms around my body as he rolled us away from the flames.
Strong, unrelenting arms holding me tight.
Protecting.
Securing.
Loving.
We rolled to a stop in the darkness beyond the burn of the flames.
Our hearts battering and our breaths raking.
Our hands clawing to get to the other.
“Daisy. Fuck, baby. Tell me you’re okay.” Every word from his mouth was coarse. Roughened scraps that brushed over me like a caress.
Unable to speak, I nodded against his shirt before I let the sobs go.
Because it was finally, finally over.
FIFTY-FIVE
CASH
It waslate afternoon as I balanced the tray and kept my footsteps light as I eased up to the door on the second floor of River and Charleigh’s house. Heart living in my throat as I paused to peer inside.
Soft, glittery light floated through the air, rippling over the bed and glinting over the cinnamon locks of Daisy’s hair that were spread out around her on the pillow.
Her breaths soft and her spirit strong.
