Page 88 of Inferno

Julio kept taking small side steps around the circle. He assessed the building, and figured with Dominic’s knowledge, the whole thing would collapse in on itself soon enough.

They might only have seconds.

“You didn’t have to do this,” Julio said. “You killed people.”

“I purified them!”

Yeah, this guy was bananas crazy. How had he not seen it before? “You shouldn’t have done this.”

Julio wasn’t going to let him kill anyone else. Definitely not him and Samantha when they’d only just found each other.

Dominic shifted closer to the edge.

Julio reached out a hand, and Samantha grabbed it.

She stood, levering herself up on his good arm, then pressed against his side. “How are we going to get down from here?” She knew he wasn’t going to let her die. She didn’t even consider it, because she knew he had a plan.

He wrapped his good arm around her waist. “We have to give them a minute to get into place.”

“He had a gun. I don’t know where it went.” Her voice still sounded painful.

Time was running out.

“It doesn’t have to end like this, Dom. You don’t have to stay up here.” Julio motioned with his free hand. “Come with us.”

“No one is leaving!” Tennet screamed. “You aren’t going anywhere!”

Julio tugged Samantha tighter against him and said quietly, “Trust me?”

She nodded. “Always.”

He felt the gentle touch of her fingers on his abdomen, and his muscles flexed.

Across the expanse of the roof, a burst of flames shot up into the sky. Samantha tensed. Julio took a half step back.

Dominic said, “This ends, now!”

“Not for us.”

The building shuddered.

Julio shifted Samantha another step back. “Get ready.”

He heard the crackles begin. The heat in the center of the opening increased. Things were going to reach a fever pitch in seconds.

Dominic screamed, equal parts laughter and terror.

Julio spun Samantha to the edge and looked over.

“It’s really far down,” she said.

“We don’t have a choice,” he said. “The whole building is going to come down.” He glanced over his shoulder in time to see a burst of flames collapse the floor under Dominic’s feet.

The arsonist fell down, tumbling into the great pit of flames under him. At the same time, the building swayed. The floor beneath them began to crack.

Julio stepped on the edge, holding tight to Samantha. “I love you.”

“Just do it.” She tucked in close to him, her arms around his neck.

---