Page 97 of Where There's Smoke
A sob tore free, and I shook my head. “You knew this place means everything to me! You could’vekilledme!”
Reed shook his head, eyes still wide and unblinking. “Andthatwas the problem. Instead of doing what's best for your family, you decided to do what was best for a bunch of fucking mutts! And now,now? Your goddamn firefighter is opening anofficial investigation withmyfingerprints! I'll lose everything! Between you running off and ruining our business deal with Pack Bronze and that investigation, my life is over! And it’s because of you, Melody.” Reed’s voice was deep now, too low and slow as he towered over me, a subtle shake to his head as he reached behind his back. “Youdid this. And you’re going to pay.”
My heart hammered so hard in my chest that I wouldn’t have been surprised if Reed could see it. He was acting like a man possessed, and even if he was a beta, I still didn’t stand a chance against him. There was no doubt in my mind that he was going to do whatever he wanted to me if help didn’t come soon.
Shit, shit, shit. Think, Melody. Your phone…the guys…
The guys!
Glancing at the clock, I released a small, silent sigh in relief, half-hearted though it was.
Three fifty-four.
The guys were coming to pick me up at four, and they were nothing if not punctual—especially when it came to plans involving pizza and snuggling, two things that seemed so far away right now. I just needed to hold on a little longer. My pack would be here and?—
“Get up!” Reed yanked on my arm, hauling me off the floor toward an open kennel.
I wasn’t an idiot. I could put two and two together, and I wasn’t getting in there. I’d be screwed. I needed to stall. I need to get Reed thinking about anything else.
“Reed.” Again, I kept my voice as steady as I could, holding up my hands as he pushed me against the kennel bars behind me. “Maybe you should call Mom and Dad. Maybe they can help. I’m sure that?—”
“Help?!Help?!They’re furious because of your little stunt! I failed to get you home before you did something stupid. Why the fuck do you think I’m out here?!” he growled.
Dammit, that wasn’t good. My eyes burned as I forced myself to stay still. I knew my parents weren’t the best people, but all this? How had I failed to see the truth? I couldn’t stop the tears now, and I shook my head as Reed went for the front of my shirt.
“Reed, you’re not a bad person. Please. Please, don’t do this. I’m sorry things didn’t work out for you. I am. Please let me go.”
“Sorry? Oh, no. You know nothing about being sorry. But you will now. You’ll pay for ruining my career, my deals, my life!” he snarled, holding up a lighter.
At that moment, the smell that had been assaulting my senses finally registered.
It wasn’t acid. It wasgas.
“You destroyed my life, and for what? A fucking shelter for some stupid animals? You really think I would allow you to keep it? Allow you to just run off into the sunset with your precious pack?” He shook his head. “No.”
“Reed! Don’t!”
My shouts were useless as he grinned maniacally at me, a victorious look as he dropped the lighter. The room ignited in the blink of an eye. Why hadn’t I realized that Reed had doused the place in it?
“Get in!”
Reed tried to push me into the kennel, but I threw myself to the side, quicker than he expected. Smoke was already billowing around me, and as Reed lumbered toward me, I kicked hard, leveling my heel with his crotch.
He reeled back, stumbling, but then glared at me. “Dumb bitch. You’ll still burn! Just like your precious shelter!”
Reed, cackling like a madman, turned and sprinted for the back door, slamming the thing behind him. I heard something grind just outside it, and I had to imagine that he was blocking it from the outside.
Staggering back, all I could do was watch helplessly as the flames burst into life, spreading across every surface.
I had been in a fire before, though. I was bonded to firefighters. I knew how serious a situation this was and knew that I had to act quickly. Silently, I thanked the gods above that there were no animals in the building.
Only me.
I was standing in a part of the building that had no emergency exits, and the only thing between me and the door that my brother had just run out of was a lot of flames.
The room was rapidly filling with smoke. Glancing around, my eyes landed on the desk where I had a bottle of water. Although the tiny bottle would be useless when it came to dousing the flames, I grabbed a scarf off the nearby chair and soaked it in the water before wrapping it around my face.
Elliot had told me time and time again just how dangerous smoke inhalation was. Crouching low, I did my best to avoid the smoke that was gathering at the ceiling, trying to figure out how the hell I was going to get out of here.
