Page 85 of Risky Passion

Finally, I burst through the entrance. I stumbled down the steps, legs shaking, and dropped the boxes onto the ground.

I spun around to help Tory.

She wasn’t there.

A massive crash exploded from inside the building.

The deafening roar of collapsing timber hit like a shockwave as part of the roof caved in, flames shooting into the sky like a beast unleashed.

My heart plummeted.

“Tory!” I screamed as I charged back into the inferno, my gut twisting in panic.

The fire was everywhere now. Devouring everything. The walls groaned as ancient wood cracked and splintered. Burning debris collapsed across the hallway, turning the passage into a gauntlet of flame and destruction.

“Tory!” I shouted again, desperation tearing at my chest.

Through the smoke and chaos, she stumbled toward me, her arms loaded with boxes.

Her pale face was streaked with soot and tears, her hair plastered to her forehead with sweat.

I yanked the boxes from her trembling arms. “Go. Move!”

She stumbled around me, her steps unsteady, and I followed close behind as we raced toward the exit. The ceiling groaned above us, threatening to collapse even more as chunks of flaming wood crashed down, showering us in sparks.

We burst into the night air just as the building gave a guttural roar. Behind us, the last of the ceiling caved in with a deafening crash, sending a wave of heat surging past us.

The flames licked at our backs as I staggered down the crumbling steps and tossed the boxes onto the dirt. Tory bent over, hands braced on her knees, coughing hard and gasping for air.

I clutched her trembling shoulders. “Are you insane?” I snapped, my voice shaking with adrenaline, anger, and a flood of relief.

She looked up at me, her soot-streaked face breaking into a weak, defiant grin. “Guess I’ve got a thing for near-death experiences.”

I let out a breathless, disbelieving laugh, and gliding my fingers into her tangled, sweat-drenched hair, I pulled her into my chest.

“It’s high time you stopped testing your luck,” I muttered, shaking my head as I wrapped my arms around her.

She chuckled weakly, leaning against me, and together we stared at the inferno that had tried to finish what all those other bastards started. The flames roared louder, and another massive crash burst embers out of the broken windows, sending sparks spiraling into the night sky.

“Hey, hello . . . anyone care to see if I’m alive?” Whitney’s croaking voice broke through the moment.

I turned to him, releasing a low chuckle. “I see your sarcasm is still intact.”

With my arm still draped around Tory’s shoulder, I guided her toward him. “Tory, meet Whitney. Whitney, this is Tory.”

She crouched down beside him, offering a concerned frown. “You okay?”

Whitney managed a weak grin. “I am now. Lucky you got here when you did.”

Tory glanced up at me, her eyes meeting mine, and I was struck by how incredible she looked, even covered in soot, sweat, and still heaving with exhaustion.

“Jaxson and I seem to be riding a wave of luck lately,” she said softly, her voice laced with something I couldn’t quite place.

“Really?” Whitney shot me aCare to explainlook.

Before I could answer, Onyx trotted over and nuzzled her nose under Tory’s hand. Tory gave a tired smile as she ran her hand over Onyx’s soot-streaked fur.

“Hope those boxes were worth it,” she said, raising a brow at Whitney.

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