Page 95 of Her Wild Coast Refuge

Or a fuse.

“Lexie!” I shout, racing for her.

Her eyes fill with surprise as I tackle her. We crash to the ground as an explosion rocks the building. Lexie screams. A pulse of intense heat pulses over me, searing my back and arms.

“Fire!” I shout. “We have to get out of here!” Flames are crawling up the opposite wall. Burning debris is falling from the ceiling, starting spot fires all over the flooring.

I drag Lexie to her feet and pull her to the door, but it’s shut. I try to pry it open, but it won’t budge.

“Quinn!” I yell.

“What’s happening?” Lexie cries, desperate.

“Cover your mouth with your shirt!” I say, doing the same. The fabric helps filter some of the air, but we won’t last long with the flames licking up the walls and the toxic smoke filling the room.

“We have to break down the door!” I shout.

“How?”

I ram my shoulder to it, but the door doesn’t budge. Where the fuck is Quinn?

Flames crackle in my ears. I kick at the door. Breaking it from this side isn’t going to work. I need to separate the hasp from the wood.

I kick again, aiming as best I can, but it’s too solid. “I need leverage!”

“The toolbox!” Lexie says.

Before I can stop her, she gets down and quickly crawls away.

“Lexie, no!”

“I’m okay!” she calls back, coughing. She crawls back with the box I saw earlier and opens it. I snatch up a screwdriver and shove it into the crack in the door.

“I’ll hold it!” Lexie cries, handing me a hammer. “You hit it.”

My stinging eyes are watering so hard now that I can’t see. “No! It’s too dangerous!”

“Do it, Dawson! It’s the only way!”

Orange flames and black smoke are crawling across the ceiling, the roar like thunder in my ears.

I step to the side and grip the heavy hammer. If I miss, I’ll smash her fingers. The same delicate, beautiful fingers that held mine in the darkness. That made me feel alive, cherished.

“Dawson!” Lexie screams as something crashes. The flames are louder now, coming closer, with black smoke lowering closer and closer to the floor.

I say a prayer, adjust my grip, and swing. The screwdriver sinks into the crack.

“Come on!” I grit out.

“Again!” Lexie cries.

This time, I swing with everything I have. The instant I connect, I know it’s a home run. The screwdriver disappears into the crack and the lock shatters from the frame. My momentum carries me forward and I fall into the door. Hot pain erupts from my cheek and warm liquid trickles down my neck.

With the gust of new oxygen, the fire explodes behind us, the flames licking my back and legs.

“My hair!” Lexie screams.

I smother the flames with my arms, searing my skin.

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