Page 209 of Nanny and the Beast

"Sir, we need you to stay out here where it's safe," the chief firefighter says, placing a hand on my chest.

"My woman's inside. I'm coming with you."

"We don't have a spare oxygen mask," he says.

"I'mnotleaving her in there."

He must see the determination in my eyes because he lets me join his team.I head straight toward Helena's room because I know that's where Emma was headed.

My heart drops when I see the pool of blood in the middle of the foyer.

But it's a man. Upon closer inspection, I recognize him. It's Emma's stalker. He's dead, his entire body crushed by the fallen chandelier.

Seeing him dead should give me some relief, but I feel more anxious than ever. If he was here, it means he was only here for one thing.

"Emma," I scream, my voice cracking in the heat.

The firefighters clear the way to Helena's room.

There's so much smoke that I can'ttake a single breath of clean air. Every inhale burns my windpipe on the way down.

The walls are covered with soot. Everything in sight is charred, black, smoking.

Someone hands me a damp towel to breathe through.

I see a small, limp figure in the center of the room. She's curled up on her side like a newborn kitten. The sight of her like this makes my heart stop beating.

Time itself freezes.

I rush to her side and cup her cheek in my hand. She's unresponsive.

I act on instinct. I scoop her into my arms and climb out the only window in the room, careful not to scrape her delicate skin against any sharp edges.

"We need medical help," I say out loud, not taking my eyes off her face.

Her cheeks are covered in grime and tear tracks. Ilift my fingers to the pulse point at her neck.

This girl is the center of my universe. She's what everything in me revolves around.

I breathe out a sigh of relief when I feel her pulse.

The medics take over, fitting an oxygen mask over her nose. Someone clips a pulse oximeter to her finger to check her vitals.

"Uncle Klaus, is Miss Turner going to be okay?" Rosalie asks.

I glance over at the kids. They're standing close, eyes wide and silent. I haven'thad a chance to speak with them since I arrived.I went straight for Emma because I knew she was still inside the house.

I get on my knees before them and open my arms.

Their eyes widen for a moment.

They don't question it, though. They step into my arms and bury their small faces against my shoulders. Both of them wrap their arms around me.

I'm hugging my niece and nephew for the very first time.

"Emma's going to be fine," I say. "How are you guys? Are you doing okay?"

Both of them nod into my shoulders, not breaking the hug. They're only kids. They needed this affection from me. And I wasn't able to give it to them until now.

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