Page 143 of A Dangerous Proposal

The phone rang through the car’s speakers, and he smiled when Madison’s name flashed on the screen. He was only minutes away from the storage facility where she said she’d be. Alex knew she hadn’t been looking forward to going to her parents’ house, and he planned on going with her to pick up Jax. It was time to meet the in-laws.

“Alex—” The second the call connected, her voice came through the speaker followed by an awful wracking cough. “Alex… I’m trapped. There’s a fire. The storage unit… It’s filling with smoke. I—I can’t get out.”

Time stopped. His pulse hammered so hard he thought his ribs would break. “Angel, where are you exactly?”

“The back of the lot. Unit 47.” Madison made a gasping sound that made his own breath catch. “Alex, it’s filling with smoke?—”

“I’m coming,malyshka. Stay low and cover your nose and mouth with something and keep talking to me. Do not hang up.” Suffocating dread made it difficult to get the words out.

“Alex. I love you. I love you so much. Tell Jax?—”

“Don’t you fucking dare, Angel. You’re going to be fine.” He mashed the pedal to the floor. “I’ll be there in three minutes. Don’t you fucking dare leave me here alone. Stay with me.”

He heard her coughing, gasping for air. “Madison!”

She didn’t answer.

“Angel? Fuck!” he roared into the phone, his chest cracking open.

His knuckles turned white where they curled around the steering wheel as the tires screeched around the turn toward the storage facility.

Terror, raw and consuming,clawed at his chest, every second that passed, tightening the noose around his throat.

Why didn’t I tell her? I should have told her.

When he skidded into the storage facility’s parking lot, chaos greeted him—flashing lights from fire trucks, black smoke curling into the sky. Firefighters were already unrolling hoses, their movements quick and calm.

Alex wasn’t calm. He felt like a wild animal in the fight of its life.

Jumping from the car, he sprinted toward the burning units, ignoring the shouts from the firefighters trying to block him.

“You can’t be here!” A firefighter grabbed his arm.

“My wife is in there. 47. She’s trapped.” Alex snarled as he yanked free of the man and shoved him out of the way.

He could see another reaching for him, trying to intercept, but Alex didn’t stop. His feet pounded against the pavement, his eyes scanning the unit numbers blurring past him 44… 45… 46…

47

“Get this open!” he barked, barely recognizing his own voice. His hand burned where he grasped the metal padlock that held the door closed.

Two firefighters reached his side, one already pulling a crowbar, while the other attacked the deadbolt with bolt cutters.

“The fire started in a unit further down the row but it’s spreading fast. You need to get back.”

Alex didn’t bother to answer.

He wasn’t leaving without his wife.

The door rattled as someone cut the lock. Then the door rolled upward. Smoke poured out, stinging his eyes and burning his throat as he shoved a firefighter out of his way. His gaze dropped to the figure collapsed at his feet.

“Madison!”

Her body was limp, her face pale beneath smudges of soot. Snatching her up in his arms, he stumbled out, only to have the paramedics take her from him.

“Let us help her.”

Alex tugged at clumps of his hair as he hovered behind them, willing her to breathe.

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