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As I hit the edge of the debris, I realized I didn’t see where the blast had thrown her. Panic stole my breath as I looked around. The house was half gone, and people were screaming. Smoke and the heavy tang of blood floated on the air, and I didn’t know where Mari was.
If she was hurt, the delay in treatment could kill her. If she wasn’t, the lack of oxygen could.
The whole situation felt doomed.
Shoving the panic away, I decided to start somewhere. Anywhere. I picked up chunks of stone, throwing them in a pile near one of the destroyed cars. Not caring as they scratched my palms and my fingers. All I cared about was the love of my life buried under it all.
Every heartbeat that pounded in my ears had the sound of her name. Mari. Mari. Mari.
I didn’t know how long I worked. Tennessee was with me, but we still weren’t moving fast enough. I could feel the clock ticking away on us. On her.
We needed more men, but I couldn’t call them. The explosion was obviously an attack, one Mari wouldn’t want me to advertise. We can’t afford weakness.
I didn’t give a shit, so long as she lived.
Eventually, the sound of a motorcycle hit my ears, and a single sigh of relief rolled through me. Dominic would help. We’d find Mari and Nate. They would be safe. They had to be safe.
I must have been saying it out loud because Dominic clapped his hand against my shoulder. “We’ll find her.”
His voice, usually full of laughter, was grave, and fear wrapped itself around my heart and squeezed.
What if we didn’t?
Together, the three of us dug in silence. Each stone we upended was one step closer, but every time the space below was empty, I felt a little more desperate.
An eternity later, we heard it.
The faintest whisper of a voice. “They’re coming for us.”
Mari.
She kept speaking softly as Dominic and I moved as one, carefully pulling rocks from the direction of the voice until finally we saw something dust and debris covered. A shirt? A jacket?
Lifting more rocks than I’d ever lifted in my life, I caught sight of what it was.
Not a something. A someone.
Nate.
He’d covered her body with his. Taken the brunt of heat and stone so Mari didn’t. He’d saved her.
Dominic cursed under his breath, and he and Tennessee gently began to pull Nate out, only to stop when a startled gasp hit our ears.
“The rocks aren’t stable.” Her voice, so clear in my ears despite the persistent ringing, sent a frantic burst of energy through me.
“We have to get her out first,” I said.
“We’ve got him.” Dominic adjusted his grip on Nate’s limp body. “You get our girl.”
I did. I dug and threw stones, carving a circle around Nate’s body, so we could pull him out without burying Mari again. If we did, she’d have no protection this time.
Finally, a hand slithered between Nate and the ground. One I’d recognize anywhere.
Dominic and Tennessee lifted Nate as Mari’s other hand slipped out to grasp both of mine like a lifeline.
“Almost there.” I pulled gently, trying not to hurt her. The second she was free, I hoisted her into my arms and practically jumped out of the rubble and away from the others. They had Nate, and I had Mari.
She’s alive. The relief nearly took me to my knees.
