There’s a lot of noise going on around us, but Dad keeps me shielded from all of it.He keeps my head against his chest and covers my ears with his hands.
“Little Fox,” Storm mumbles as he pulls me out of Dad’s arms and into his.He doesn’t care if this will raise suspicion or anything.He’s too worried about me to think about the consequences.He presses a soft kiss to the top of my head and holds me close.“I never should’ve brought you here.But after Artie… Man, where’s Artie?”
I push away from Storm and scan the area.My mind scrambles to our conversation.Right before I hung up, he said something about hiding in the office.
“He’s in the office!”I try to race into the building to find him, but Storm grabs my arm to stop me.
“I’ll find him.You stay out here.”He pushes me gently into Dad’s waiting arms and hands me his cut.He tugs the collar of his shirt up to cover his mouth and nose before disappearing into the smoke and flames.
“Storm, no!”I cry as I watch the man I love disappear into the building, knowing he might never get out of there.
“It’s going to be ok, princess,” Dad whispers as he strokes a hand up and down my back.He used to do the same thing to me when I was younger and would come home upset from school.
But this isn't the same.I'm not upset because the boy I have a crush on likes someone else.Or because the popular girl was mean to me.No, I'm upset over the thought of something happening to the man I love.I don’t think I can even stomach the idea of anything taking him away from me.
I need him in my life.I'm so happy knowing he’s mine.
Seeing those men try to beat him up was nauseating.I never wished I was more like Roxy than I did in that moment.She would’ve grabbed something and started beating the crap out of everyone.She would’ve done something other than stand by and watch.Maybe I need to ask her to help me train.
It feels like a lifetime before Storm emerges from the smoke with his arm around Artie’s waist.The old man is coughing and having a hard time walking, but he’s doing it.
“Artie!Are you ok?”I run to them, needing to know they’re both ok.
“I’ll be fine.”He waves off my concern.“This neanderthal wanted to carry me, but that wasn’t happening.If I was going to die, I was going to do it with dignity.”He scowls at Storm, making him chuckle.
A fire truck pulls up and starts working on getting the fire out before it can spread to another building.I watch with tears streaming down my face as my dream goes up in flames.
“It’s going to be ok, Little Fox.We’ll get everything rebuilt,” Storm whispers as we both watch the men work.
“Sir, you need to get checked out.”An EMT stops beside Storm and grabs his bicep, tugging him towards the ambulance.
“I'm fine,” he growls, but the woman doesn’t stop.
“Just humor me and let me listen to your lungs.You’re covered in soot and I'm sure your lungs are too.”She rolls her eyes.
“Please, Storm,” I glance up at him with tears in my eyes.
Losing my restaurant is awful and I know how much work it will take to fix everything and get it back up and running, but losing Storm… that would be a devastation I’d never survive.I need him to be ok.
“Anything for you, Little Fox,” he murmurs as he presses a soft kiss to my forehead.He follows the EMT to the ambulance and scowls as he takes a seat on the tailgate.
I glance around at the bodies on the ground and wonder how the cops don’t seem to care.They’re taking statements from the club, but no one is in handcuffs.
My gaze lands on Artie and I take off in his direction.I can't believe they tried to burn down the restaurant with him in it.
“Artie!Are you ok?”I take a seat on the stretcher next to him and wrap my arms around him.
“They say I have some smoke inhalation, but I'm sure I’ll be fine.”He waves a hand through the air.
“Sir, you need to come to the hospital.”A male EMT eyes him with annoyance.
“I think you should listen to them, Artie.Jenni would want you to take care of yourself.”I squeeze his shoulders.“I want you to take care of yourself.I need you to help me get this place cleaned up and turned into the magnificent café Jenni always dreamed of.”
“Yeah, fine.I’ll go.”He rolls his eyes, but I don’t miss the tear rolling down his cheek.It washes away the soot in its track, but I don’t say a word.
“Go with them and I’ll check in with you later tonight after all of this gets cleaned up.”I motion in the direction of the destroyed café.
I don’t know how we’ll do it, but this place will be restored.We promised Artie to help him bring Jenni’s dream to life and I'm not stopping until that happens.
