Page 38 of End Of Never

Bolting towards the building on fire and disobeying all commands. Hayden rushes after me, “JACE STOP! You can’t go in there, man! It’s not safe!” His voice is deep, stern.

“MY WOMAN’S IN THERE!” The scream slices my throat as I run through the threshold. Heat radiates off the walls, and fire spreads like an infection. Hayden passes me, leading the way. The place is deteriorating as the fire eats away every inch of her clinic. Taking with no mercy as it spreads, seeping through the cracks, eating away the trim, darkening the walls, burning the once fresh color to black ash. Following Hayden, we enter the room, my eyes darting around the dark, thick haze, trying to find my future, begging for her life. I need more time to love her. Jace runs to the corner, where she sits pinned against the wall. “Lilla! Baby!” Hayden signals to the other end. We lift the beam, just as another flame roars from above.

Hayden yells, “GET DOWN!” We drop to the floor, getting down as the flame rages over us with a terrifying roar as it threatens our lives, Lilla’s life. All those times I saved her from herself, from her thoughts that told her to jump, I’ll be damned if a fire will take her now, after I just got her back. I’ll never stop saving her, I roar back as the heat scorches us, and the flame blasts. The window blasts, throwing glass everywhere as the flame escapes. Once the blaze settles, we continue moving the beam.

Lifting Lilla in my arms, I hold her close to me, feeling her warm seep through my jacket. I hold her tightly, “Come on, baby, let’s get out of here.” I kiss her as we run, begging her to breathe. “Come on, baby, feel me. Feel my heart. Feel my lips. Come back to me.”

I follow Hayden out as he makes a path through the debris, rushing out the front door. The fresh air hits my lungs, making me cough, as I run Lilla to the ambulance. There is no way I’m getting out of what I did scot free, and I don’t give a damn.

Lying her on the stretcher, I start an overall review. Looking at all the signs her body is telling me, while I put the oxygen mask on. “Breathe, baby. Take my breath, breathe for me, come back baby, you’re not even my wife yet.” Hayden scoots by me and just stands there. Not saying anything while I fight for my girl's life. I can feel Hayden watching me, “Mild to Moderate fluctuation of respiratory distress. Broken leg. First degree burns on her arms, back, and hand, and singed hairs.”

Oxygen flows into Lilla as her chest rises and falls; her eyes begin to flutter. “There she is.” I lean down, placing my forehead on hers. After being loaded into the ambulance, Hayden stays behind, trying to salvage as much as he can from her clinic.

The whole way to the hospital, she fades in and out of consciousness, while I do something I never thought I’d do, I pray.

I pray to the God Mr. Wilder speaks of, I pray to Mrs. Wilder to help, I pray to every person I have lost to help me, to save her. I squeeze her hand in mine. I know I haven’t always been a good man; I’ve lied, and I’ve cheated. I haven’t always been kind or merciful, but please hear me, save my reason, and I promise to be better every day. Save my future, please.

A tear falls as the nurses rush her back. I sink to the floor, and I continue to beg and plead for something higher than me to save her.

Chapter 33

Lilla

The bright light stings my eyes as I pry them open. Beeping sounds ring in my ears on repeat. Fluttering my eyes, hoping with each bat the light attack lessens. There is a light squeeze on my hand, and I know before my eyes meet his, it’s Jace. He is in a dirty black T-shirt, his hat backward, looking all sorts of messy and sexy.

I swallow the dryness in my throat, trying to find the will to speak. “Hi, you need a shower,” is all I manage to get out.

I find his dark and somber eyes on mine, as he smirks, “Hi, Phoenix.”

Confusion circles me, but the question doesn’t come.

He grips my hand, his concerned eyes shine into mine, “You are my Phoenix. You always rise.” His chin shakes as he leans over, kissing my forehead. “Keep rising, baby, because I’m nowhere near done with you yet.” His voice is a whisper, just like his kiss.

The nurse comes in, “So good to see you awake. Welcome back.” She brings in a hospital cup with a straw. “Let’s give you some water.” She places the straw in my mouth, drinking down the water, and I gulp the dryness away. “I’ll send the doc in, sweetie.” Giving her a sweet smile, she steps out.

An older bald man walks in, “Hello, Miss Lane, welcome back. Let’s start with what’s happened. You came in after a structure fire, where you lost consciousness and needed oxygen. You also had a crushed fracture in your left leg. That did require surgery to ensure proper alignment and stabilization of the bone. You’ll be immobilized for at least six weeks, depending on healing. You’ll also need to apply this serum to your face and to any areas with superficial burns. You are fortunate, Miss. Lane. This man here didn’t leave your side for a moment.” He smiles at Jace, “Any questions?” I swallow hard.

“Is Ava okay?” I look at Jace and back to the doctor.

He nods his head, “She’s alive.” He nods his head and leaves.

Lying my head back on the pillow, I think about everything that happened. “Tell me what you were doing there?”

I sit up, looking at Jace, “I got an alarm on my phone, saying the front door was open, and I was on my way to check on Zeus.” I take another sip of water, lubricating my dry throat. “When I got there, Ava was inside. She was dousing it with fuel. I screamed at her, told her to stop, that there was a dog inside. She didn’t expect anyone or any animals to be there, but she didn’t care. She was fuming. Screaming at me, how I stole everything. She was holding a lit match, standing inside, yelling at me for everything I took, everything she was supposed to have. Not even thinking about what she took from me.” Jace brings my hand up to his soft lips. Kissing each finger.

“Why didn't you make Hayden get you first? God, Lilla, if you had—I can't lose you. Never again.” He shakes his head.

“Because I couldn’t just let her die. I hate her. But that’s the difference between her and me. It always has been. She has always been evil, I don’t know why, and honestly, I don’t care. But I would not stoop to her level. Leaving her there to die was something she would do, Jace.” He smiles at me, making me smile back.

“Lil–” He drops his head again.

“You keep saving me.”

He smirks. “Always.”

Finally, it is time to escape the hospital and head home. Jace pushes me down the hallway in the wheelchair—per hospital policy, I must be wheeled out— I spot Ava in a room. Jace stops and helps me up, making my way slowly into her room. I take her in, burned and broken. A bandage covers most of her face; all I can see is her eyes and mouth. Her arms are in a wrap, and a cast encircles both her legs.

“Li–” Ava tries to say more, but I cut her off.