Page 60 of Condemned By Secrets

With the blanket saturated, he turned back to the house. Taking a deep breath, Luther draped the cover over his head and shoulders, then said a quick prayer before doing the craziest thing he’d ever done in his life.

On a roar matching the fire’s, Luther ran full tilt toward the front door. He crashed through and immediately hit the ground. The door fell from its hinges behind him, and smoke billowed out. It choked him, and his eyes watered, making it hard to see. Holding the blanket over his mouth and nose, he crawled forward, searching for Anna.

After a few feet, his hand connected with her arm, and he shook her, yelling her name. She didn’t respond. He was going to have to carry her out. Luther coughed as he moved the blanket to cover her head. Grabbing underneath her legs and back, he attempted to lift her.

Something stopped him, and he set her back down, reaching to see with his hands what she was stuck on. When he found the rope at her ankle, rage filled him. He’d suspected the fire was deliberate, but this confirmed it.

Whoever did this is going to pay.

As quick as he could, Luther found the rescue knife in his emergency kit and sawed at the rope. The fire snapped all around them, but Luther didn’t let it stop him. He was going to save Anna or die trying. The restraint gave way, and he scooped her up.

I’ve got you, baby.Closing his eyes, Luther ran out of the house.

He stopped running when the steam from the blanket burned his back. He tossed it to the ground with a growl, then laid Anna down. Clear of the smoke, he saw her face was covered in soot, her hair matted with sweat. He felt for her pulse. It was there, but it was weak. Too weak.

She had to have smoke poisoning. Luther laid his head on her chest to check her breathing, and he howled in agony when he didn’t feel it move. “Noooooo!”

Luther refused to give up on her. He was trained in CPR. He would save her.

He started compressions, and his voice broke as he told her, “Stay with me, Anna.”

Adrenaline surged through his veins as Luther pressed hard and fast on her breastbone. Terrifying thoughts—thoughts of a future without Anna—wanted to cripple him, but he pushed them away and focused on counting.

At thirty,Luther tilted her chin up and blew into her mouth. The air filled her lungs, making her chest rise, but she didn’t start breathing on her own. After another rescue breath, Luther went back to compressions. The numbers rolled by quickly in his head until he was breathing for her again.

“Come on, baby. Breathe.” Silent tears tracked down the soot on Luther’s face as he started another round of chest compressions.

When he’d completed the fifth cycle of breaths, he froze at the unmistakable feel of a gun muzzle pressed to the back of his head.

“You’re not doing her a favor, Monroe. Suffocation seems better than burning.”

Luther recognized the voice. “What are you doing, Haines?” Except he knew. Red filled Luther’s vision as he understood Officer Haines had done this to Anna.But why? How does Anna factor into the money laundering scheme?

Haines didn’t answer his question. “Why don’t you stand up, nice and slow, and keep your hands where I can see them.”

No, I can’t. Anna!Luther stared down at her, and his heart broke, shattering into a million tiny pieces. The shards, as sharp as glass, sliced into his chest. He didn’t want to stop CPR, but he couldn’t save her if he had a bullet in his head.

Breathe, baby, please. Luther silently begged her as he did what Haines asked.

The gun stayed trained on Luther’s head as he got to his feet. “If you shoot me, Haines, they’ll know it was murder.”

“Not if all they find is ash. That’s why we’re going to the farmhouse.”

Luther glanced at the building out of the corner of his eye. It was now a blazing inferno. If he stepped foot in there, he wasn’t coming out. “What will the captain say when your gun shows up as the murder weapon?” He needed to keep Haines talking, to stall him until he could get the upper hand.

“First, it’s not gonna. And I think the captainandthe mayor will thank me. You’re a problem, Monroe. I’m fixing it. Hell, I may even get a promotion out of this.” He laughed and jabbed the gun in Luther’s back. “Now, walk.”

Luther took a step and stopped. “So the captain’s working for her?”

“We all work for someone, don’t we?” Haines pushed the gun into Luther’s kidney, and he winced. “Move it, Monroe.”

Luther took another step. “Whose money are they washing?”

“You know what? You ask too many questions. But I'll tell you since you’re about to burn to death.” He paused for a breath. “Gerald Harding.”

The real estate guy.Luther wasn’t surprised by that. He did wonder where the illicit money came from, but it was a question for the feds to answer.

“If you don’t start walking, you’re going to be making the trek with a bullet hole right here.” Haines moved the gun to Luther’s right shoulder and shoved.

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