Page 55 of Wicked Love

“Not without you.”

“I’ll be right behind you.” I kissed the top of her head.

She handed me DH, and I shoved the kitten into the pocket of my hoodie.

Lifting her in my arms, I helped Grace reach for the tree branch. “You gotta hold on tight, okay? Don’t let go unless your feet are planted on the branch underneath. Don’t”—another fit of cough—“do anything stupid. I’ll push you to give you some momentum. It will help you reach the trunk.”

She nodded. Once Grace’s hand wrapped around the branch, I pushed her hips. Her ankles locked around the lower branch, and seconds later, she descended to safety. I blew out the air left in my lungs.

Grace motioned me with a hand to join her.

Using the chair she shattered the glass with, I climbed on the windowsill, not liking the heights that much right now. I tried to grip the branch but failed. Losing my balance, I fell backward, my head hitting the floor with a loud thud. I felt dizzy, and standing back up caused my head to ache.

I heard Grace screaming my name, and it shot me with a new dose of adrenaline.

Climbing back on the windowsill, I knew I had only one chance left to save my life. I got ready to jump, damning the consequences, when a man on a ladder appeared below me and helped me reach the first step. Where did he come from? How much time had passed since I first noticed the fire? I blinked, trying to see past the thick clouds of smoke surrounding me, barely able to keep my eyes open as I climbed down the rest of the ladder.

“Grace?” I called out her name. Where was she?

Paramedics and firefighters neared me. Lost in the moment, I hadn’t noticed their arrival.

Did I pass out when I hit my head minutes ago? If I did, how long had I been out of it?

It was then I took in the small crowd that had gathered on the outskirts of the driveway, watching the cabin go down in flames.

“Grace?”

Why wasn’t she answering?

I used the back of my hands to rub the curtain of smoke that seemed to have attached to my eyeballs, blinding me.

My heartbeat deafened me.

My head pounded where I had hit it.

My body felt weak, yet I couldn’t stop. I had to find her.

“Grace?”

A man came to me. “Son, you need to let us examine you.”

“No. Grace. Where is she?”

“The young lady?”

I bobbed my head. “Yes.” My voice strained. My eyes burned. Exhaustion invaded me. “I wanna know where she is. I need her. I-I love her.”

“She’s getting oxygen. Follow me. We’ll get you on it too.”

“No need.” I yanked away from the fingers gripping my upper arm. “I’m fine.”

“Son. Your hands. You gotta let us bandage them. And put an oxygen mask on you.”

“My hands?”

“Yes.”

Still in a daze, I looked down.