Page 60 of When It Rains He Pours

Chapter Fourteen

Liam

No!

No!

I couldn't see her anymore, the smoke was too thick from where I was standing to see anymore than a few feet in front of me. Running through the back room, I threw open the emergency exit door and darted out into the small alley behind the building.

The second I opened the door, I heard a loud whoosh and felt the heat grow by a million degrees. I didn't stop to see if I had just made the fire worse by feeding it more air, I had to get to Glory.

She was the only thing on my mind. The building could be fixed, but if I lost her, I wasn't sure what I would do. Her life was worth more than any one thing someone could own.

I had no intentions of owning her, I didn't want my brother to own her, and I'd be damned if I let her lose her life because she was allowing this place to own her.

This wasn't all she had anymore, she had me now. There was nothing I couldn't give her, and nothing I wouldn't give her if she asked.

With heavy feet, I ran around to the front and tried to open the door. Grabbing the handle, it was hot as fresh red coals, burning the center of my palm.

“Fuck!” I yelled, shaking my hand to ease the pain. “Glory!” Screaming, I pounded on the door, slamming it with my shoulder to try and break it down.

It hardly budged.

Taking a few steps back, I ran forward and kicked the door at the seam. I heard it crack, but it was still closed tight. Kicking it again and again, I used every last ounce of strength I had to force the door open.

Lifting my foot one last time, I kicked with my heel. Splinters of wood shot inward as the door exploded open. Black smoke billowed out from inside and I could see red and orange bursts between the massive cloud as the flames continued to grow.

Covering my nose and mouth with my arm, I stalked inside, not thinking about my own safety at all. I didn't give a shit about myself. I couldn't feel the burn on my hand, I couldn't feel the smoke as it filled my chest, I couldn't feel the heat as it singed the hair off the back of my neck; all I cared about was finding Glory and getting her out.

My eyes teared as the smoke battered the surface, making it even harder to see in the darkness. There were shadows everywhere. The outline of something large on the ground caught my attention.

Bending over, I grabbed it. It was hard, squared at the edges and soft in the center.

Canvas. . .

Dropping it to the ground, I pushed blindly in further. Taking another step, I hit something soft. Leaning forward, I felt around, tracing a thin curve and running my fingers through silky fibers.

Glory.

Pulling my arm off my face, I stuffed my hands under her body, and lifted her off the floor. Cradling her in my arms, her body was limp and motionless.

“I've got you, I'm getting you out of here.” Turning back towards the door, I walked carefully with powerful steps. “I'm not letting you die, not today, not ever.”

The cool night air spilled over my face and filled my lungs. Coughing, I placed her down gently on the sidewalk. Coddling her head, I listened closely to see if she was breathing.

I couldn't feel her breath on my skin or see her chest as it lifted in shallow breaths. She was so still, so stoic, like a sleeping doll. My brain was trying to process what to do and how to handle this.

Air! She needs air!

“No, Glory, no no no.” Tipping her head back, I placed my mouth around hers and sent a breath of fresh oxygen into her lungs. “Come on, come back to me.” Releasing a second breath, I watched her chest rise and fall.

Sirens were blaring in the distance, growing louder and louder as I did my best to bring her back to life. Her face was smeared with charcoal dust, her lips a pale shade of blue.

No! Come on!

“Breathe, Baby, come on and breathe.” Rubbing her cheek, I pinched her chin and placed my hand on her forehead, giving her another rush of oxygen to feed her veins. “Breathe, Glory, breathe.” The words came out against her lips as I kissed her softly, dropping my head onto her chest.

“Huuh.” Her chest lifted as she inhaled an audible gasp. It was weak, but I heard it, and it was the best sound I had ever heard in my life.

---