Page 166 of Exposed

A hand comes to the back of my head and forces my face to olive skin. He rolls so my back is to the heat.

I can’t see a thing.

I’m in Brax’s arms that squeeze like a vise.

“Fuck,” he repeats. “Don’t move, Goldie. Don’t move. Dammit.”

“Let me go,” I cry. “I need to find him. Please, he’ll be looking for me.”

That’s when I realize what’s happening around me.

I only thought there was chaos before.

It’s nothing compared to this.

Micah shouts orders and boots stomp. I barely see anything other than firemen rushing past us.

“No,” Brax breathes. His chest heaves against me, and his voice is tortured. I’ve never heard a man sound like this. “You don’t need to see this. Fuck, how did this happen? I’m so sorry, Goldie. So fucking sorry.”

I give up pushing away from him and hang onto the bulletproof vest he put on just minutes ago.

I give up the fight.

I’m sobbing.

I just found him.

And I lost him in the blink of an eye.

My King.

37

FIRE AND WATER

King

Ipull in a breath. It’s rough and gritty as I drag it over my dry throat.

I gag and cough and spit.

Sand.

Fucking sand.

Fire crackles behind me. Heat burns my back.

It takes all my energy, but I pry my eyes open and squint.

What I see is nothing compared to what I feel.

The cool ocean licks the shore. Calm waves move in and out. It’s as rhythmic as a healthy heart.

Not my heart at the moment. My pulse is racing.

I can’t hear the water breaking against the shore.

In fact, I can’t hear shit.

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