Page 62 of Love Fire

“You’re alive?” I finally manage to say.

Leanne only chuckles while she’s frantically untying the ropes from my feet.

“Of course I am.”

The ropes are undone. Leanne stands up. I grab hold of her to hug her so tight.

It feels like I’m the only one affected by her sudden appearance. She’s acting as if she hasn’t gone off the map for an entire year. I squeeze her tighter, making sure she won’t disappear in front of my eyes again.

She grunts. “You’re breaking my ribs.”

I let her go. “Sorry, sorry. I still can’t believe you’re here! How? Why? And when?”

“I’d love to tell you all of that, but now’s not the time.”

The gunshots and yelling coming from outside answer for her. It’s an actual battleground down there. The floor’s lit up with the firing of the rifles.

“What the hell is going on?”

Her expression turn dark. “Dad’s at it again.”

“We need to save Brent and Nate!” I exclaim.

Leanne’s eyes widen. “Nate’s out there?”

I nod. “We need to go. Now.”

I get up from the chair and shake off the loose ropes off my body. I head towards the door, expecting for her to do the same. When I look over my shoulder, she looks at me as if I grew two heads.

“Absolutely not. We’ll die out there,” she says.

“So will they. That's why I said we need to save them.”

“Erin, did you see the absolute hellfire going on down there? We won’t make it!”

I grab her arm. “You left us once. You’ve been gone for years. You’re welcome to do that again, but I’m fucking going out there.”

She blinks several times, astonished at my words. Did she think I would hesitate? I didn’t even fucking stutter.

I let go of her arm and walk out, whether she follows or not. A few steps out the door and I hear a loud groan. A smirk forms on my face. There’s no way she’d try to go against me.

Two dead guards lay in the small hallway that leads to the stairs. I kick one of their shoes to make sure he’s not just injured. His body fell to the side. Dead alright.

I take the rifle from his hands. Leanne does the same without any qualms. It’s safe to say that she’s used to this shit as much as me. Should I be proud or sad?

“Ever used one before?” I ask while I reload.

She pulls an extra clip from the other guard’s pants. She reloads without any trouble. Then, she positions the rifle in her hands.

She smirks. “Here and there.”

“Good. When we walk out there, I want you to be behind me—”

“Are you crazy? I’m not going to let you be my shield.”

“I don’t care. Just do it,” I say, almost scolding her.

She bites her lip. “Fine. Then what?”

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