Page 125 of Heart of Thorns

I twist around to keep my gaze on him.

He sets down the final canister by a door and lights a match. It’s such a tiny little flame, but the minute he tosses it, the gasoline catches. It spreads fast, racing across the old, worn hardwood floors. It chases the path he set, wrapping around the ring, and too fast to even comprehend, the heat of the flames lick at my skin.

I face forward again, struggling hard. It’s no use. The knots only seem to tighten.

Ben lies unresponsive.

We’re going to die.

And I never told Briar that I love her.

CHAPTER 40

BRIAR

I squintfrom the brightness of the fire. My hand blocks the growing orange and red flames. I swear, I feel the heat from the fire even while being in Rhys’s car.

“Fuck.” He slams on the brakes, and we both fly forward. His arm comes out and braces me before I hit the dash. “Call 9-1-1. Stay in the car.”

I follow his instructions, dialing fast, but I open my door and step onto the pavement. I quickly rattle off the address to the operator. She tells me that a fire truck is on the way and warns me not to get close in case burning debris falls.

Little does she know, I know my way around a fire.

My chest tightens, and my feet tingle. Goosebumps blanket my arms, and hot, sticky heat follows.

I walk closer to where Rhys ran off but quickly back away when a gust of fire fans toward me. The heat of it is too much. My vision is hazy. I’m stunned with panic, my feet unmoving but my head screaming at me to do something.

Anything.

I put my back to the fire and try to breathe.

My breaths grow even shakier when I spot Ben’s car directly across from the burning gym. I glance around and finally seeThorne’s. He parked on the next block, but his car is empty and silent, too.

They’re both inside the gym.

I can feel it in my bones.

“Shit!” I slap my hand against my thigh and think.

Rhys’s heavy footsteps catch my attention. I spin, and he’s never looked more serious. Sweat droplets slip down his face as he grabs my arms.

“Get in my car. Stay there. I’m going in.”

“Are you insane?” I shout. “Take it from someone who has been in a fire, Rhys. It’s dangerous and it spreads quickly!”

He ignores my pleas and drags me over the gravel to his car. “Thorne and Ben are both inside, Briar. I’m going in. I can at least get them away from the fire. The door has been blocked, but I’m going to go through the window.” He yanks open the car door, shoving me into the passenger’s seat. “If he makes it out alive, he’ll kill me if something happens to you. Get in, lock the door. Don’t come out until help shows up.”

“The front door has been blocked?”

My panic creeps to an all-time high. The fear from that night is at the center of my thoughts. I can’t keep my limbs from shaking.

“Stay. Inside.”

Rhys throws the keys on my lap.

“Be careful!” I shout.

The door slams in my face, and I lock it as ordered.

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