Smoke.
Everything inside me froze.
A plume of dark smoke was rising into the air. My stomach cramped.
Something was wrong. I could feel it deep inside. I chewed on my lip. Cole had ordered me to stay here in the SUV.
What if he was hurt? What if he needed help? What if Ava-Jane was hurt?
I didn’t stop to think. Technically, I was staying inside the vehicle. I climbed between the seats from the back and into the driver’s seat. I started the engine, then adjusted my seat forward.
I set the Range Rover into gear and drove as fast as I could down the dirt road. Soon, I saw some horse yards and outbuildings.
And then a southwestern-style adobe house that was on fire.
No.
I skidded to a stop, then spotted Bastian and Landon with hoses, trying to tame the flames.
Where was Cole?
God, was he inside. I climbed out, staring at the burning house. Then, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, and that’s when I spotted Goodyear rounding the building.
Holding a red fuel can.
He’d done this.The rage that had been bubbling inside me for so long exploded. I sprinted toward him.
He spotted me coming. “What are you doing here? This is private property?—”
I punched him.
He made a pained sound and dropped the fuel can. My knuckles throbbed, but I punched him again. There was a crunch and a spurt of blood as his nose broke,
Pain exploded through my hand and I shook it.
Goodyear dropped to his knees in the sand, cradling his nose. “You little bitch?—”
“You are evil,” I spat. “You have no soul. You’ve hurt so many people. You’re done, Goodyear.”
He glared at me. “You think you’re going to stop me?” He spat on the sand. “You’re trash. You’re nobody. Even your own father didn’t want you.”
“You won’t get away with your chaos and destruction anymore. I won’t let you hurt anyone else.”
With a low sound, he launched up and tackled me. I hit the sand on my back and Goodyear on top of me.
“I’ll fucking end you,” he yelled. “You really thought you could stop someone as powerful and influential as me?” He got his bulk on top of me. “This is where you belong. On your back, in the dirt.” His hands closed around my throat.
Oh God.I shoved my hands against him.
Before I could do anything else, his weight was lifted off me.
I watched Cole slam Goodyear into the ground. I scrambled up. Cole looked like some demon that had escaped hell. He was covered in soot, his face twisted with rage.
I turned and saw the others were there, all dirty and sweaty.
Then I saw a group of four women huddled together, all wearing tiny slips of dresses and shivering.
“Lili?” Ava-Jane step forward. Her shocked face was smudged with dirt and her blonde hair was tangled.
