Page 145 of Arturo's Temptation

“Tyler, go outside and wait for your dad, please!” I begged. “It’s getting more dangerous and I can’t protect us both.” Once again, his stubborn arse didn’t listen.

“Arturo, she’s my friend—” he started.

“And you’re mine.” His eyes flashed with an unknown emotion. It was true. Despite what a pain in the arse he was at times, he had become someone I didn’t despise. I’d actually become fond of his company and easy banter. “Now get your arse back outside! I’ll find her. I promise.” His lips tipped up as he nodded and finally turned back. A strong wave of relief filled me as I watched him turn the corner to head back downstairs. But just as his foot went to hit the first step, a crack right above his caught my eye.

“Wait, Ty! Step back?—”

My heart stopped as the beam directly above his head snapped. Tyler’s eyes went wide as he raised his arms and tried to move forward.

But it was too late.

“TY!”

I watched in horror as the beam tumbled down, slamming Tyler into the step below with sickening crunch. A split second later, the staircase gave a huge groan before crumbling down and caving to ground below, taking Tyler’s unconscious form with it.

“TYLER!” I yelled, peering over the edge of the remaining bannister. There in amongst the rubble he lay, his body twisted with a large shaft of wood piercing through his front. Blood spilled from his mouth as he coughed. My eyes welled with tears as he used the remaining strength he had to gesture his hand for me to keep going.

Now I had two people to save. I’d find my girl, then get Tyler.

I darted through the flames, until I came to a dead end. Where the fuck was she?

“BELLA!” I yelled, coughing against the smoke. I bent over trying to force cleaner air into my lungs and when I stood and looked up, I saw it. A roar of anger left me as I spotted the hatch with no way of getting up there.

Think, you stupid fuck. Think!

My eyes landed on what seemed to once be the ladder, shattered halfway. It had one hook hanging on by a few rusty nails, the other one seemed to have been busted off. I flung the good half toward the opening, hooking it into its rightful place. With a grunt, I threw a leg up, just about managing to get my foot on. It wasn’t going to hold me for long, so there was no room for mistakes.

The wood was softening as I finally reached her, she was unconscious and it pained me to wonder how long she’d been like this.

“I’m here, my love.” I whispered, scooping her limp body up into my arms, her breathing was shallow and her face was stained with smoke. I felt sick, sick that I could lose her if I didn’t get her out in time. I ripped off the shirt that was wrapped around my mouth and placed it over Bella’s. She needed it more than I did, fuck knows how much smoke and other shit she’d ingested.

Dropping down from the ceiling, I cursed as I landed awkwardly on my ankle. With the staircase now gone from the second floor we’d need another way out. Making a split decision, I shoved my way into what looked like an old bedroom, at least in here it wasn’t completely covered in flames. Setting Bella down, I shoved at the boarded up windows. There was a garage below. Fucking jackpot! Pushing the windows out as far as they would go I bent and picked Bella up and swivelled us out.Ignoring the distance, I shuffled the edge of the window and as gently as I could, slid down the side of the house. As I landed the tile beneath my feet came loose and we both slid quickly off the side. Luckily, we landed in a bush which cushioned the fall.

Cursing and wincing against my screaming ankle, I carried Bella away from the house. I lay her on her grass, breathing her in one last time before I turned my attention back to the house that looked ready to explode.

Tyler.

“I’ll be back, my love, I need to get to Tyler.” I could only hope she heard me, I could only hope she knew where I was going. “I love you, always remember that,” there was no guarantee I would walk out of there alive, but at least she’d know I loved her.

As I kissed her lips, I heard a car in the distance, I strained my eyes to find Lorenzo’s SUV revving down the driveway. He jumped out of the car before it had even come to a halt.

“Isabella!” he screamed, racing over to us. “Arturo, what the fuck happened?!”

“I’ll explain, but I need to get Tyler.” I sprinted off toward the house, not listening to a word Lorenzo was screaming.

“Where’s my son, Arturo?” Red called after me, but I couldn’t risk turning back. I had one mission right now, and that was to bring my friend out… alive.

I battled through the smoke, but it was so dark and thick it was near enough impossible to see a damn thing.

Fuck! Where the fuck are you, Ty?!

I hauled myself to the floor above, desperately searching the fallen debris for any sign of him. I had just about given up hope when a glint of blue caught my eye.

“Tyler! Fuck, I’m comin’.”

I threw myself forward, pushing large planks of wood out of the way. He laid on a pile of wood and rubble, one metrelong. The scene from a distance looked like a horror film, but up close it was even worse. Wood pierced his body in multiple places and it looked like he wasn’t breathing. I could only hope it hadn’t punctured any vital organs. From what I could gather, both of his legs were broken as were his arms. Blood seeped from his head, coating the rubble beneath him. Bruises had already formed on his face under the ash painting his face grey. Just then his chest rose, only a little but enough to fill me with relief. Fuck knew how long he had left if I didn’t get him out.

He was trapped. The wood puncturing his chest was also wedged against other pieces beneath his torso. I would need to remove the pieces in order to free him, but if I did that he could bleed out. Frowning, I bent down and squinted. It wasn’t all the pieces, just the large piece currently lodged in his chest. If I could snap that away from the base piece I’d be able to move him. Biting my lip, I gripped the wood beneath him and started snapping the base off. Splinters quickly sank into my skin as I strained. I roared through the pain, as the fire closed in on us. My arm shook against the pressure as I continued to push, until a satisfying snap pulled my eyes back down. The piece was free. Sagging with relief, I climbed up the pile and scooped his body into my arms, blood soaking my t-shirt as smoke stung my eyes.

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