Page 47 of Secrets at Dawn
Riley carried his wet shirt with him, which was smart. If the fire got too close, the wetness might actually save Riley’s life.
Cass drew Riley into his arms.
“Can we put this out with magic?” Riley asked.
Dad shook his head. “If we were the source, we would be able to, but since none of us are, we can’t.”
Cass growled. “We’re trapped.”
Smoke billowed into the room, hovering above them, threatening to enter their lungs.
Griffin pulled out his cellphone and called Toby.
Toby answered on the first ring. “I see it. The fire is on Main Street. It must be the roof. Please tell me you’re not there.”
“We’re trapped inside, baby. I’m gonna need you to get us out.” As soon as Griffin said it, he knew why the arsonist had set the building on fire. If Toby saved them with his magic, he’d be exposing himself. If Toby didn’t use his magic, then Cass and everyone trying to make the pack better would be out of the way.
“They want us all out of the way. If he saves us, then he exposes his magical ability. Ball will involve the Magic Council. It’s a win-win for him.”
Dad’s eyes widened, and he cursed. “We need to get out of here before Toby even shows up.”
Griffin grabbed the hammer from his belt. “Toby’s close enough to see the fire, Dad.”
When Griffin hit the glass, it didn’t break at first. He had to hit it three more times before he made any headway, and by then Riley, Cass, and Dad were helping to break it, too.
The glass shattered.
It was when the smoke didn’t billow out that he knew something wasn’t right.
“The building is spelled. It’s keeping us in.” Dad cursed, then focused on undoing the spell.
Griffin helped, but partway through, he had to stop because the smoke filled the room. The black cloud became so dense that he couldn’t see. It was from memory that he made his way to the sink. He took off his shirt, got it wet, and then brought it back to his dad, who was struggling to breathe as he worked quickly to get them out of there.
Cass and Riley were already on the floor. Riley had his wet shirt torn in two. He’d given half to Cass.
“Griffin!” The second he heard Toby, he wanted to kiss him. The relief was strong, but he wanted to tell him to leave, all at the same time.
“Here!” Griffin could see Toby standing outside on the sidewalk.
“I can’t see you!” Toby touched the spell, keeping them inside, and frowned.
“Take my dad first!”
Dad fell to his knees, coughing. But he crawled to the window.
Toby shook his head. “I’ll get you all out at once!”
The fire roared above them. They must have set the roof on fire and the back of the bakery, knowing those weren’t the areas Griffin usually worked in, so he wouldn’t sense the fire right away and put it out.
One minute Griffin was inside, struggling to breathe, and then the next he was on the opposite side of the road, across the street from the bakery. He still struggled to breathe.
Riley, Cass, and Dad were with him.
Toby ran across the road. Tears streamed down his face. He pulled Griffin in for a hug. He shook as he held on as if he thought Griffin would disappear.
Sirens wailed, growing closer.
They would be okay. Everyone made it out alive. They could rebuild the bakery.
