Page 54 of Saving Jared

"Yes." Kinsley shook her head, her disappointment in him evident. "Brother, when you screw up, you really screw up."

Jared turned back in his seat and concentrated on the scenery flying by outside his window. Screwed might be an understatement. Hell, who was he kidding. He was truly fucked.

As soon as he got Willa alone, he would make it right. How, he didn’t know. But after she had reached out for him in the barn, he had to believe she didn’t completely hate him. That alone gave him some hope she could find it in her heart to forgive him.

"Jared," Kinsley breathed out. He glanced over his shoulder at his sister and met her stricken gaze. "Willa."

"Son of a bitch," Jude said low, then whispered, "Emma."

Jared faced forward and focused his gaze on the scene outside the windshield, then sat as far forward as he could in his seat—straining the seatbelt. "No…" His heart stuttered at the smoke billowing up into the late afternoon sky from Maribel. A shaking hand gripped his shoulder, and he turned his head to a teary-eyed Kinsley leaning over the seat between him and Jude.

Jared fisted his brother’s sleeve and twisted it, saying low, "Punch it." He let go at Jude’s stilted nod.

The truck lurched forward, then sped down the road, haphazardly passing slowing cars and others pulling off onto the shoulder. The closer they got, the denser the crowd of people and cars blocking portions of the road, eventually slowing them to almost a standstill.

"I can’t get the truck any closer than this," Jude said on a huff as he carefully maneuvered around several cars.

Jared peered ahead at the sea of people—a sea at least for a town the size of Maribel—mingling among cars, trucks, and news vans blocking their way. Further ahead of the crowd, red, blue, and orange lights flashed in a strobe pattern. He had to get closer, so he reached for his door handle. "Looks like we run, then."

"Hold up." Jude maneuvered his truck into a less congested side street and parked indiscriminately along several others. Jared didn’t hesitate as Jude put his truck in park, quickly opening his door and jumping out before slamming it and taking off at a jog. The Taggerts would be as close to the fire as possible, and he had to find them.

"Wait," Kinsley called after him. He didn’t want to wait, but with the number of people in front of him, he ended up having to anyhow. He slowed down and grimaced as she and Jude caught up with him. It looked like everyone in the county, and then some, had shown up.

His heart lodged in his throat. Rising over the heads in front of him, flames and smoke engulfed the buildings, filling the sky. It wasn’t just a fire.

It was an inferno.

He had to get closer.

Kinsley’s, "Sorry… Excuse me," barely registered as he shouldered his way through the crowd with her holding onto the back of his shirt. Then his steps faltered at the line of wooden barricades after he’d unapologetically pushed his way through the last of the people in his way. Police cars and ambulances on the other side blocked more of the street. Main wasn’t that wide, but firetrucks filled it for as far as he could see—along with sounds from the crowd, the whir of power saws, shouts coming up from those fighting the fires, and the roar of the flames filling his ears. Kinsley grabbed his bicep and squeezed, while a quiet, "Willa’s in there," left her.

"Oh, my god."

Jared took a quick glance behind him at Laurel’s low, gasped words. She, Russ, and Hart stood close to Jude, the fear and horror in all of their eyes reflecting what he felt inside. He hadn’t even been aware of their presence.

"Jared!"

He lifted up on his toes at Darin’s shout. It had come from somewhere to his right, but with the number of people spectating, he couldn’t tell exactly from where.

"This way," he threw over his shoulder as he wound his way through the crowd—certain everyone followed—until he spied Darin, Ben, and Eric heading his way.

The Taggerts didn’t seem to be paying attention to who was in their way either as they got closer to Jared. They finally met in the middle of a blocked Vine Street, where he grabbed Darin up in a hug.

"Have you seen her?" Jared whispered to his friend before letting go and meeting Darin’s worried gaze. He and Darin both glanced at the buildings. Maybe she wasn’t inside of what his idea of hell might be.

"No." Darin’s gruff voice sounded as swarms of firefighters disappeared into the buildings, while others worked the hoses. "Unless she’s one of them," Darin said, indicating with his head. "It’s hard to tell. They all look alike."

"Have any of you seen Emma Flowers and her daughter and mother?" Jude asked leaning close to where he and Darin stood.

Darin shook his head. "Sorry, man, I—"

"We’ve just found Willa," Laurel sobbed. "We can’t lose her now."

"We won’t," Russ said low.

Jared’s gaze flashed toward Darin, then behind him to the other Taggert brothers for any reaction. He didn’t have to wait long.

"What do you mean, you’ve just found Willa?" At Darin’s question, Jared focused on Laurel and Russ—the two sharing the same unsure look. Then his foreman’s mouth opened and closed with Darin’s, "Russ?"

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