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I hope not.
If anyone can, it would be Timofey. But I have to believe he has some limits. I have to believe I can fight back.
“I hear Benjamin crying,” Akim says suddenly. “I should go—”
Ashley grabs his arm. “Isn’t that Piper’s job? She should take care of it.”
I toss her a look, but she's too distracted by the handsome cook to notice.
Akim shakes his head. “She’s cooking, so apparently, we’ve switched jobs today. I’ll take care of the wee one.”
Timofey slides his stool away from the bar and stands up. “I’ll come. Piper’s grandmother is too good at this crossword puzzle for me to keep up with her, anyway.”
Gram actually giggles, and I grit my teeth.
Timofey has gotten under everyone’s skin one way or another. If I don’t do something to remove him now, it might be too late.
When he leaves the room with Akim, I’ll hustle Ashley and Gram out as quickly as I can. They’ll be confused about why we need to run, but we don’t have a choice.
I’m in the midst of planning our route out of the house when Akim shakes his head. “You stay here, Tim. I’ll handle Benjamin and be right back.”
Akim glances at me. It’s almost like he’s reading my thoughts now.
He knows if they both leave this room, I’ll run. He plays the happy-go-lucky sidekick, but Akim is far smarter than he looks.
Timofey scowls at him, probably pissed at being challenged in public. But Akim leans in, and this is it.
He’s going to tell him.
Panic like I’ve never known flashes through me.
Every half-baked plan I’ve put together in the last few minutes goes straight out the window as I do the only thing I can think of.
I grab the oil dispenser next to the stove, pop the lid, and “accidentally” drop it directly onto the burner.
Instantly, a column of fire erupts in front of me. Flames lick the underside of the cabinets, browning the wood.
My plan was to ruin the pancakes and force Akim to come cook instead. I wanted to buy myself some time, not start a wildfire.
But here we are. Beggars can’t be choosers.
“Fire!” Ashley screeches. “Fire!”
Gram is shouting incoherently. Akim jumps over the island and snatches up a fire extinguisher from under the sink. Timofey stands in the midst of it all, beautiful and unmoving.
I back away, trying to escape the mayhem, but the flames follow me.
The entire left side of my body is oddly warm. I keep moving away to get out of Akim’s way so he can battle the flames, but I can’t seem to escape the heat.
Ashley is safe at the far end of the kitchen, but Gram is gathering her belongings into her purse instead of fleeing.
“Get back, Gram!” I yell. “Leave the crossword book and—”
Gram looks up at me, and her face turns whiter than I’ve ever seen. She presses her liver-spotted hands to her cheeks and screams. “Help her! Help!”
I look back to Ashley to make sure she’s okay when I realize Gram is talking about me.
That’s when I look down and see the flames licking up the sleeve of my sweater.
