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“Olive? Really, Alec?” I half-snorted, half-yawned.
“Do you have any better ideas?”
“Hmm. Let me think.”
His thumb began to rub soft circles against my neck. My eyes became too heavy to hold open as I tried to remember the name I’d seen in one of the baby books.
“Sarita for a girl.”
“Someone’s been researching Italian names.” His voice sounded farther away as my breaths deepened. “Sleep, baby. I’ve got you.”
_______________
“KEATON DO YOUhave any idea—”
Alec’s phone started blaring a few seconds before, startling us both. I didn’t know who this Keaton person was, but whatever he was calling about must have been urgent enough to risk Alec’s wrath in the middle of the night.
“Fuck! Did you get them out?”
The change in his tone from pissed to worried had me shooting up in bed. He was listening intently, phone against his ear, as he flipped on the light, threw off the covers, and reached for his jeans.
“Call my brothers. Have them meet us there. We’re on the way.”
When he turned to look at me, the bottom dropped out of my stomach. Before he even said the words, I knew my world was about to implode. Putting a knee to the bed, he cupped my cheeks.
“There’s been a fire at the farmhouse.”
I reared back. “Oh my God. My parents?”
“Keaton got them out. They’re alive, but your dad took in some smoke.”
“We’ve gotta go. Now!”
I scrambled to get off the mattress, my feet catching in the sheets causing me to tumble to the floor.
“Shit, baby.” He was at my side a heartbeat later. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine.”
Snatching the clothes I’d worn the night before from the floor, I willed my hands to stop shaking long enough to get my pants up my legs. My heart pounded in my chest and I couldn’t pull in enough oxygen to fill my lungs.
Oh God!
“Stop, Quin.” He took hold of my wrist. “Slow your breaths. You’re hyperventilating.”
I tried to knock his hand away, but my arms were heavy, like they were being held down by some invisible force.What the hell was wrong with me?
Grasping my chin between his fingers, he tilted my head back. “Look at me, Firefly. Breathe with me. In and out.”
Concentrating on his voice, I mimicked his exaggerated movements. Inhale. Exhale.
“Good. Again.”
Inhale.
They.
Exhale.
