Page 105 of Something Borrowed

I close my eyes, counting the seconds until I hear the loud, shattering crash as it smashes into the ground floor.

Six.

Six seconds.

Which means we are six floors from the ground.

I hear the loud rumble before I realize what’s happening.

A ball of fire is rushing down the open elevator shaft as fresh oxygen rushes from the ground upwards to greet the flames on the top floors.

They transformed it into a giant flame thrower.

The sound is deafening.

I roll over her, my body covering her as flames blast from the partially open doors.

They spit in a thick stream above my head.

My jacket is on fire. I can feel it scratching my skin.

“Rufino.” She screams beneath me.

“Don’t move.” I scream back.

When the fire pulls back into the shaft I roll off her, onto my back to smother the flames.

I’m hurting everywhere. But I don’t care.

Verity tries to sit up, but she can hardly move.

She rolls onto her side, coughing, and spitting ash.

I pull her into my arms.

“I’m going to get us out of here.” I say. “I’ll get us out.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Verity

He pulls me into his arms, and I can’t believe it’s him.

I’m struggling to hold on to consciousness, but desperate to know if this is real or just another dream.

I look up into his face, dark with ash and dirt. His cheek is bleeding and looks burnt with agony. I touch my fingers against it, and he winces.

“Sorry.” I whisper. And he laughs.

“What’s so funny?” I whisper, my throat aches.

“You have nothing to be sorry for.I’msorry.I’m so fucking sorry.” He says his voice tight with regret and shame.

I scrunch my eyes. “Why? You came to save me.”

“I did this, Verity. I set the building on fire. I put your life at risk.”

My chest is aching. My lungs hurt. My eyes are burning, and every part of my body is in excruciating pain.