Page 55 of Saving Jared

"She’s their daughter," Hart provided in the ensuing, awkward silence within their small group.

"What?" Darin’s shout nearly drowned out Eric’s, "The hell you say," and Ben’s, "I don’t understand."

Jude stepped in the middle of what Jared sensed could quickly escalate into a volatile situation, spreading his arms out—his head going back and forth between the Taggert brothers and Willa’s parents, before focusing on Darin. "From what I can gather, it’s a long story."

Jared joined in on Kinsley’s groan as his sister rounded on Hart. "Why would you just blurt something like that out?" Her glare narrowed on him while grumbling, "You truly are an asshat."

"Sure, but I’m a lovable one."

She shook her head. "That’s up for debate."

"Guys," Jared said, nudging Jude out of his way. "This is Willa’s story to tell, and she’ll tell you when she comes back to us." His body turned on its own toward the burning row of buildings.

"Please come back to us," he whispered. "To me."

His plea reached no one’s ears but his own when a deafening explosion sent him backing up as a collective gasp spread throughout the crowd. People pressed in against him—hands grabbing his arms and shoulders. He wasn’t even sure exactly who. But it didn’t matter. Not when the top of Maribel Antiques, the building to the left of the one housing Emma’s Delectables, had just basically burst open, sending portions of it falling to the sidewalk and street.

Jared pulled away from those holding onto him and moved back to the barrier, grabbing ahold of the top of it while desperately scanning the firefighters shouting for everyone to get back.

Was one of them Willa? Or was she…

His disbelieving gaze lifted to follow flames and smoke shooting from the building, while an avalanche of bricks and what might have been furniture fell to the sidewalk and street. Beside him, Darin’s strained, "No," and Ben’s, "Where is she?" competed with the pulses pounding in his ears. Then his fingertips dug deep into the wooden barrier when the building collapsed—portions of it slamming into the buildings on either side in a plume of fire and debris.

"Oh, my god." Eric’s quietly groaned words seemed loud in the sudden silence of those around them. "What if she’s—"

"She’s not." Jared refused to believe it. She couldn’t be.

Because if she was, his life was over.

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