Smoke clogs my eyes and nose. The entire house is giving in to the flames, black smog replacing the once-pure air. I can’t breathe, can’t think, vision almost gone.
Is this what Lex experienced as a child? My heart cracks open for the man I love all over again, to experience this so young, with no help. This is terrifying.
A hand wraps around my neck, closing off what little oxygen I can get.
“You.” Dom seethes. His clothing is singed, blood splattered over his body and face. His wild eyes glare down at me, nails digging into my vulnerable neck.
I cough, wheezing as the fire grows hotter.
“You took everything from me. Everything.” He shakes me with each word. “I could have elevated both of our families to unimaginable power.”
“My sister doesn’t need you to make her family powerful. She did that all on her own,” I cough. I mean every word of it. My sister is a fucking powerhouse and this dipshit wouldn’t have made a difference for her. “And Lex is more powerful, more of a man than you’ll ever be.”
He backhands me, releasing my neck as I’m tossed to the side. My body aches, my lungs burning from the heated air. Everything fucking hurts and yet, I’m still standing.
He yanks me back, ripping my bodice and exposing my breasts to the hot air. Hungry hands grab my torn skirt and lift it, finding the meaty flesh of my upper thighs.
Dom smiles and my heart leaps into my throat, body freezing in fear once again.
He begins to pull my legs wider, even as my hands claw into his chest. “I’ll fucking ruin you so Lex will never want you again. Even if they get me, he’ll know that I had what was his before I die.”
Panic and fear override me for a few beats of a second as he unzips his pants. I’m paralyzed. Frozen, again, as fear assaults my senses.
I can’t let this happen. I won’t.
Pushing through the fear, I listen to the crackling of the fire, counting my breaths, calming my heart.
I hear the zipper in my brain, feel his lust like a biting dog, readying to take me alive.
I gather my last bit of wits and wait. Because if I don’t do something, if I don’t move, he’ll hurt me.
As soon as he pulls back to let his pants fall, he forgets to hold one leg. That’s my only chance.
Putting every last bit of strength into it, I knee the bastard right into his junk and watch him drop into a helpless heap. For good measure, I rear back, clocking him in the face with a weak right hook.
For a man, he falls pretty easily, knocked down from a swift punch.
I don’t stop to check on him, darting back through the flames to safety. I don’t care about burns on my feet or not being able to see past a few inches in front of my face, I just need to get outside.
Crashing through the broken French doors, Maeve steps in front of me, our bodies colliding in a flurry.
Her slender arms crush me into her chest, catching me as I run and she hauls me away, back to Lex’s prone form. Whereas the courtyard was empty mere moments ago, it’s now full of Maeve’s men. Killian and Hayes are at the front, guns trained while other soldiers all surround the rest of us. Two are putting pressure on Nico’s wound but the rest have guns aimed and ready.
Dom roars, flying through the flames. Apparently, I didn’t totally knock him out.
Killian grabs him by the throat like a discard doll thrown into the trash. He swings in his grasp easily, feet kicking into the air.
The reaper smiles and my body shakes anew from the rage pooling there. Looking up into Maeve’s face, her solid arms holding me pressed to her front, hands in my hair as if to make sure I’m really there, I see the same emotions reflected there.
It’s a tarry, soulless anger that pours out of her eyes. It’s all directed at Dom on my behalf. Because he dared to hurt me.
If I didn’t just go through hell, I’d be touched by sentiment.
“You’re in trouble, Dom,” Killian drawls, tsking lightly. “So much trouble.”
The house crashes in on itself, the roof collapsing, glass exploding as the heat escalates. It pounds into our sides, a living beast ready to devour all.
“Hold him,” Nico demands, panting as he sits on the ground. Maeve still hasn’t released me, watching Killian toss Dom into a few soldiers’ arms with surprising strength. He thrashes, face bloody and body black with soot but they don’t release him.
I fight to break free of Maeve, but she shakes her head, hands not releasing me. “Wait.”
A warm blanket comes around my shoulders seconds later. She lets me step back a fraction of an inch, tugging the scratchy fabric to cover my body. I didn’t realize how badly the dress was ruined or how naked I was. Everything is exposed, a thin belt of fabric the only thing left of my clothing.
When I’m covered, Maeve nods to Lex. “Stay with him. Ambulance is coming.”
I don’t glance back but drop wearily beside my husband, checking his pulse and feeling for his breath. I do this a few times, praying that he’ll be okay.
I hear the loud sirens just as Lex’s eyes flutter open and he groans.
Rubbing his head, he tries to sit up, fingers coming back red.
I steady him as others behind us move. I don’t take my eyes off my husband, don’t dare let him out of my sight. I’m frightened if I do, he’ll be gone forever.
We were so close to losing each other. A few extra minutes and we’d both be dead.
“Sloane?” Lex croaks, leaning against the base of a tree. His voice is strained, body covered in soot.
The tension in my chest dissipates as I see his eyes, feel his heat, hear my name on his full lips. Carefully, I cup his face, thumbs brushing over his charcoal covered cheeks, tears falling from my eyes.
“I’m in love with you,” I blurt out, words rushed. “I’ve been in love with you probably since you edged me to near insanity. Maybe even when I threw a wineglass at your head. I love you. And when I thought Dom would kill you, I knew I couldn’t let you die. Not until I told you.”
Lex’s amber eyes soften, full of all the love he’s shown me. Has always shown me, I just didn’t want to admit to it. Admit that this marriage was real, that we were real, that neither of us would be going anywhere.
He wraps his arms around my waist, nuzzling my neck and inhales my scent. Smokey roses and blood and burnt hair. But he doesn’t pull back, doesn’t push me away. Only hugs me tighter.
“It’s about time, little menace.” Soft lips press to mine and that fear, that numbness, evaporates.
