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1
CADE
Flames. They’re consuming my vision, but I still can’t believe what I’m seeing is real. But it is. And so is the smile on her face. My feet and brain finally sync up as I take off in a full sprint down the dock, only stopping at a nearby vessel to grab a fire extinguisher.
The heat from the flames gives me fair warning not to step onto the yacht. So, I stand as close as I can, pull the pin out, and squeeze the trigger. But it’s useless. The fire is too large. Shit. The boat’s tank is full of fuel, and there’re vessels docked on either side, no more than ten feet away, that probably have full tanks too. This is fucking bad. Like a-massive-explosion-is-impending-and-the-entire-place-is-gonna-blow bad. But I still try to smother the fire and pray that I live long enough to regret all of this—and her—a little longer.
Looking back, I quickly take in her stance: unbothered, arms folded over her chest. “What the fuck, Morgan?” My attempt to get the blaze under control is pointless. “Call 911.”
Laugh. That’s what she does. And that’s when there’s no doubt left in me—she did this. She might not have been on the boat and physically struck the match, but this is her doing. Who helped her? Someone did. Glancing around, I don’t spot anyone else, so I focus on her. “You’re a fucking psychotic bitch.”
I grab my phone and dial emergency services. My eyes remain on the monster in front of me who’s more dangerous than any fire while I relay the address of my location to the dispatcher. Once she tells me the fire department is on their way, I disconnect the call and quickly shove the phone in my pocket. This is all happening like it’s a dream. Seconds feel like an hour and the more I watch the silent, cunning vixen in front of me, the more my anger grows.
“I really do fucking hate you, Morgan King.”
Turning my back to her, I make another desperate attempt to douse the flames, to keep them as under control as possible until I finally hear sirens in the distance. Thank fuck. I’m almost certain the flames are getting higher with each second that ticks by and everything I’m doing is making it worse. Kind of like with her, the more I try to simmer her down, the wilder she gets. But my main concern right now—other than the fiery boat—is the fact that she’s still here. That truly scares me. She has no fear. Not only did she start the blaze, but she’s sticking around to watch the fallout. Which tells me it’s not over yet. It’ll never be over. She’ll never stop.
And that’s the moment my grip loosens, the fire extinguisher drops from my hand to land on the dock with a loud thud. I take a step back and admit defeat. And not only to the inferno nearby. To all of it. To her.
Thankfully, a few firefighters begin battling the flames. Another guides Morgan and me back several feet. “Is there anyone on board?”
The question doesn’t register at first. Then he shouts it again, and I look at her. “No. No, I don’t think so.”
“Are you sure?” he asks, looking between Morgan and me. But he might as well ask her, because I have no clue.
“Is there, Morgan? Is anyone on the fucking boat? Did you sacrifice someone just to play your stupid fucking game?”
I didn’t realize I’ve moved towards her until a fire dude steps in between us. “Sir, calm down.”
“I think he’s in shock,” Morgan says, concern on her face, “because it was just us hanging out on my dad’s boat.”
“Are either of you hurt?” the firefighter asks. Morgan says no as I shake my head. The guy is rightfully on edge as he holds a hand to me. “Stay here,” he says before heading off to help his team battle the blaze.
I listen to him because I wouldn’t know where else to go anyway. So, I watch as they put out the flames. At least they are able to douse what they’re up against, because I’ll never be able to extinguish the hellfire that is this beast beside me.
Looking to the she-devil, I stare at her in silence as I pray this will satisfy her need to torment me. At least for the next few hours until I can snap back into reality. Because if she’ll set her own dad’s yacht on fire, there’s no telling what else she’ll do just for fun. And I need to be ready. I wasn’t ready for this. At all.
“Who helped you?”And why on earth would they risk this?There’re vessels all around, each one of them a bomb poised to set off the next in a chain reaction that could’ve easily engulfed the entire marina. “Who did your dirty work this time?”
A smile peeks at her lips. “Why? Jealous that someone else is so willing to get on their knees for me?”
Before I realize what I’m doing, I have her elbow in my grip and pull her smirking face to me. “When will it be enough? After I’m dead? After you burn the entire world to the ground without giving a fuck who gets incinerated in the process?”
Her lips stay turned up; her eyes locked with mine. No regret. No fear. Nothing of the sort anywhere in them. Only a challenge. One we both know she’ll win.
I glance back to the charred yacht and release her as I take a step back. “Was it worth it, Morgan? Are you finally done now?”
She leans into me, her breath feathering over my ear as she whispers, “Don’t you wish it were that easy?”
* * *
I don’t know how long it’s been. Minutes? Hours? Time is moving so strangely. Everywhere I look I’m reminded of the deep shit I’m in. But when I spot my boss, that’s when my stomach drops. The harsh reality of everything hits me full force.
Otis jogs up to me, his hands grip my biceps as he looks up and down my frame. “Are you all right?” And he tugs me into a quick hug then shifts back to examine the charred remnants of the King yacht. “What happened?”
My eyes immediately snap to Morgan. She’s been lurking nearby, presumably to remind me she can set my world on fire and stick around to watch the smoke clear since she’s untouchable.
“I don’t know.” One minute, I was helping a drunken girl to my truck to get her home safely. Then in a split-second, the fire was raging. “She did it. That’s all I know,” I mumble as newly arrived Coach King approaches.
