Page 89 of Corrupted Lies

Both she and fire man were doused in gas, and he was holding a lighter. If Jake shot at them, the bullet could do the same thing as the lighter and set them on fire. If he tried to jump at them to get control of the lighter, he’d never cross the short distance between them before fire man could set them alight.

It was hopeless.

“I guess you get to live after all,” fire man said to Jake. “But she doesn’t. I hope you all learn your lesson. Nothing is more important than the people you love, certainly not answers from a two-decade-old crime, when the victim isn’t even alive to enjoy any justice they might get. When you get home, tell your family to back off, leave the past where it belongs, and live for the future. Live for those you love because you never know when you're going to lose them.”

Those words weren't for her because fire man thought she would be joining him in death, but they resonated nonetheless.

For so long, shehadbeen living in the past. Allowing her parents’ lack of love and care for her to dictate everything she did, and because of that, she hadn't realized everything she’d ever wanted had already been sitting there staring her in the face.

Jake.

She wanted him to be her future, but to make that happen, she had to have a future.

No way was she just giving up and accepting her death.

Just because Jake’s hands were tied didn't mean hers were.

“Don’t, please,” Jake begged. “Don’t take her from me.”

“It’s the only way you’ll learn,” fire man said, lifting the lighter, his gaze locked on it, and she knew if she didn't try something right this second it would be too late.

Lifting her foot, Alannah rammed it down on fire man’s, at the same time she slammed her head back into his chin, and her elbows into his gut.

While she might be smaller than fire man and not as strong, she’d caught him by surprise, and his hold on her loosened, giving her the chance to scramble away.

“Shoot,” she screamed at Jake as she slid across the deck, putting some distance between her and fire man so she didn't get set alight along with him.

“Sometimes love really does win,” fire man said as his lighter flickered to life at the same time Jake fired at him.

There was no way to know which set the man on fire, but he was suddenly engulfed in flames. The sounds of his screams would haunt her forever. They were inhuman, something she hoped to never hear again.

Coughing as the smell of smoke and burning flesh mixed with the gas that still covered her body, she jerked when Jake was suddenly beside her.

“Hold on, sunshine,” he urged as he scooped her up and started running with her.

Where she wasn't sure, nor did she care. Jake was there so she was okay, he’d take care of her. The fumes were making her dizzy and giving her a headache, and she sighed in relief as she was suddenly pressed up against something cool.

“Keep your eyes closed,” Jake ordered gently, and she realized she had closed them.

Happy to do what he ordered, she was exhausted anyway and finally her body felt like it was ready to let go and get the sleep it needed, she kept them closed and cool water began to flow over her.

Focusing on her head first, Jake rinsed it off before stripping her out of the gas-soaked clothes and washing every inch of her body. His touch was soft and steady, and he scrubbed at her skin. While she’d thought if she was ever blessed with a shower again, she’d be able to stand for hours washing herself over and over again, Alannah decided this was better.

This was the man she had fallen in love with taking care of her.

His love for her felt echoed in every touch, how thorough he was, how careful not to hurt her, how he made sure to lean her against the shower wall so she wasn't putting all her weight on her cut and burned feet.

They did hurt, she realized somewhat absently as the weight of exhaustion crushed down upon her.

Actually, she ached all over.

“It’s okay, sunshine, let go, sleep, I've got you.”

Those words put a smile on her face, and trusting Jake to watch over her as he called his brothers and got them both help, Alannah gave in to the exhaustion and got washed away to sleep.

Chapter

Twenty-One

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