Page 72 of Scorched

Chapter 12

Declan stood between Thomas and Alex as they rehearsed Tara and Jace’s wedding ceremony with the minister. He couldn’t keep his eyes off Maggie, who stood next to her sister as the maid-of-honor. She’d changed from her shorts and t-shirt to a soft pink, knee-length sundress for the rehearsal. Strappy heeled sandals adorned her feet, adding to her long legs and driving him crazy.

He couldn’t stop thinking about what she said earlier. Declan wanted to believe his past didn’t matter, but he feared what would happen a few years from now when she decided to enter the political ring. Her opponent would undoubtedly use it against her. He didn’t want to be the reason she lost.

But he’d be damned if he could stay away.

Declan forced his attention off her and onto the altar. The minister explained the ceremony, then had them walk down the aisle in reverse order. Deck stepped into the aisle and held out an arm to London.

She smiled up at him and took it. “Don’t look so grim. People will think you don’t approve of this marriage.”

“What? Oh, sorry. My mind is elsewhere.”

She giggled. “I can tell. She looks very pretty this evening.”

“Yeah, Tara looks great. Pregnancy looks good on her.”

“It does, but she isn’t who I was talking about and you know it.” She cast a sideways glance at him as they walked.

A corner of his mouth lifted. “I do.”

“When are you going to do something about it?”

He sighed. “Not you too.”

“I just want you both to be happy. I think you make a good couple.”

“But will that be the case when Maggie’s in the public eye?”

“Maggie will be happy so long as she’s with you. Her career doesn’t define her, you should know that.”

Maybe not, but Maggie deserved to be and do whatever she wanted. He didn’t want to hold her back.

They reached the end of the aisle, and London let go of his arm. “Just think about what I said, okay?”

He nodded. “I will.”

“Good.” She smiled and turned away to find her husband.

Declan sighed, his thoughts jumbled. He wished he had a magic ball that would let him see the future.

He stepped toward the others, intending to mingle, when darkness descended over the barn as all the lights went out. The younger children screamed, and unease skittered up Declan’s spine.

“Everyone stay calm and don’t move,” Lee said. “Brady, let’s check the electrical box. Maybe all these extra lights tripped a breaker.”

Brady’s phone lit up as he turned on his flashlight app. Glass broke and the whoosh of fire blooming to life followed close behind. Flames raced along the ground at the opening to the barn doors. The tink of more glass breaking sounded on the other side of the barn, and smoke began to filter in.

“We’re trapped!” One of the kids shouted.

“No, we’re not,” Declan said. “We’re in a barn.” He turned on his phone flashlight and aimed it at Brady. “There any tools still in here?”

Realization of what he was getting at crossed Brady’s face. “Yes.” He darted away, Declan hot on his heels. They stopped at a supply room, which they soon discovered was locked.

Brady growled in frustration, but it didn’t slow him down. He used his size to their advantage and shouldered it open.

“Axes, hammers, anything that can break through the walls,” Declan said, stepping forward to grab an axe off the wall.

“Yep.”

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