AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Tessa!” I scream in pure terror, but there’s no response. “Tess!”
In a split-second decision, I run up to the door and kick it in. Smoke billows out just enough for me to see my girl sitting on the floor, watching everything burn around her. Relief floods through me as I use my shirt to cover my mouth and rush over to her.
“Tessa, baby, we have to get you out of here.”
She blinks up at me, completely void of emotion. She seems like an empty vessel, but even through the soot and ash covering her face, I can see it. The red-rimmed eyes. The runny nose. She’s been crying.
“Let me take care of you,” I beg. “Please.”
Holding my hand out, I look at her pleadingly. We need to get out of here before the whole damn thing comes down on top of us. A board falls behind me, and I flinch. Thankfully, Tessa takes ahold of me and I pull her to her feet. The two of us run outside and don’t stop until we’re standing by my car.
I check her over, making sure there are no injuries that require medical attention. She coughs a couple times but her eyes stay glued to the house, still barren of the life I’ve always found in them.
“What the hell happened in there?” I question, but there’s no point. It’s like I’m not even here.
Pulling out my phone, I dial the number of the one person who will do what I ask without any hesitation.
“Hey, man,” he answers.
“Colby,” I say, relieved that he picked up on the second ring. “Where are you?”
“Just leaving practice. Why? What’s up?”
Thank fuck. “Good. I need you and Griffin to get in your car and come get Tessa’s Lamborghini from the address I’m sending you. Once you have it, call 911 about the fire if no one is here yet.”
“Wait, what fire?” He sounds alarmed but I don’t blame him.
“I’ll explain later. I don’t even have all the answers right now.”
Tessa’s laughter meets my ears, and it’s the first hint of anything since I found her. She’s staring at the way the house is burning to the ground, a maniacal grin on her face. She laughs again and alarm trills up my spine.
“Is she laughing?” Colby asks.
I swallow hard, wondering what the hell happened today. “Just bring her car to my place when you’re done.”
No part of me waits for his answer as I hang up the phone and shove it back in my pocket. I lead Tessa around and put her in the passenger seat of my SUV.
“Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
Getting into Tessa’s car, I peel out of the driveway and drive it a little down the road, into the woods and hidden from view. I send Colby the location and a picture of where it is, then sprint full speed back to my Range Rover. As I get in, Tessa is staring out the window, her eyes not leaving the house that will soon become a pile of ash.
I CARRY HER THROUGH the penthouse and into my bathroom. The whole drive home she didn’t murmur a single word. She just sat completely still, eyes focused on my dashboard. No matter what I said to her, what part of her I touched, it was like I didn’t exist.
Turning on the shower, I set it to a warm stream and step back. I approach Tessa with caution as I gently run a hand over her shoulder.
“You need to get cleaned up, babe.”
I’m not sure if she even hears me, and I’m worried something’s wrong that needs medical attention, but I’m scared of doing the wrong thing and making this worse for her. I drop my head when she doesn’t answer and turn to leave.
“Don’t leave me.”
The words are so quiet, I almost wonder if I imagined them, but the pain in her voice is what stops me dead in my tracks. I pull my shirt over my h
ead and toss it to the floor.
“I’m here,” I tell her. “Okay? I’m right here.”
With a delicate touch, I carefully remove her school uniform. She listens to everything I say, helping me get her undressed, but her eyes still won’t meet mine. When she’s finally naked, I quickly dispose of the rest of my attire and lead her into the shower.
