Page 57 of Protecting Christina

“I wouldn’t worry about where. I’d worry about what will happen when we get there.”

He licked his lips, slowly raising his arms and body. But as he stood, his hip hit the rickety table, and the lantern fell.

When the single flame fell onto the wooden floor, it lit up like an inferno. He must have planned this last-ditch effort as he ran in the opposite direction through the back door.

I pursued him, but he didn’t get very far since Jake and Christian were already there. He turned back toward me and that’s when his eyes widened. But then he smiled, a sickening smile.

The house behind us was already engulfed in flames. My heart stopped as I realized he had planned it. If he set the fire, he would destroy all the evidence inside the house. Including the hostages.

“Help me put it out,” I yelled at my brothers. “The women might still be inside.”

14

Will

Christian grabbed Simon's arms and steered him away from the house. “Let me take out the trash first. I’ll be right back to help you.”

Jake and I ran back inside the house. The smoke hit us before we even reached the flames. I ripped off my black T-shirt and wrapped it around my face, and Jake did the same. Walking low, below the smoke, my eyes scanned the first floor as the fire spread throughout the main rooms.

I grabbed a blanket and put out some of the flames closest to us, but there was no containing this.

“There’s no time to look for an extinguisher. We need to find the women,” I shouted over the roar of the flames.

Jake nodded. I stood and ran to the other side of the house, away from the fire.

“Is there a basement?” asked Jake, panting beside me.

I shook my head. “I have no idea.” I coughed and my eyes watered from the smoke.

The wood floor beneath our feet creaked, and I knew we didn’t have much time before we would run out of air or be trapped inside here.

Just then, a piece of the doorframe near the back door groaned and snapped in half. Both Jake and I dropped to the ground onto our stomachs.

I knew Jager had an infrared scanner that could find the women if there wasn’t a raging fire. Now there was no way we could tell if they were inside the house or not.

I slammed my fist against the wooden floor and dropped my ear to the ground.

Think! Damn it!

Despite the hopelessness of the situation, I knew I couldn’t leave here without Christina’s sister. I hadn’t heard them move the women outside of the house. They had to still be here.

“Will, we’ve got to go,” Jake shouted over the crackling of the fire. “They’re not here.”

I closed my eyes and shut out everything around me.

Where would Simon have hidden them?

“Will!” Jake shouted again. I was just about to raise my body from the ground when I heard a pounding near my ear. Jake lay still beside me, so it wasn’t him.

Bang! Bang!

There it was again. It was coming from beneath the floor.

“I think they’re under here,” I said, running my hands along the wooden floor, looking for a lever.

“What?” asked Jake, staring at the front door, which was the only exit left at the moment.

“I think he stashed the women under the floorboards. Help me find the opening.”

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