Page 61 of I Want Crazy (Loco, Texas 3)

It worked. She heard his retreating footsteps and then the sound of the door opening. The heat and smoke had become suffocating, but she was afraid if she got up, he might still be there. If she could make it to the kitchen, to Ray, maybe she could get them both out the back.

She climbed to her hands and knees and crawled across the floor toward the kitchen, her eyes tearing as the smoke burned. She hadn’t even gotten past the bar before she was too exhausted to move anymore.

Her last thought before she passed out was she wanted to tell Red she was sorry.

* * *

Red saw the smoke and flames, and his heart stopped.

Slamming on the brakes and shoving his car into Park, he jumped out, nearly face-planting into the gravel. Panicked, he ran toward the doors, yelling, “Jessie!”

He reached the front door and saw the barricade across the handles, as if to keep someone in. Raw fury took over his body, and like the Hulk, he tore away the wood from the handles and stepped into the smoky inferno.

“Jessie!”

He searched the room, coughing as the bitter smoke filled his lungs. Despite the burning in his eyes, he saw her crumpled by the bar and raced to her side.

Red gathered her up against his chest, trying not to crush her. He hurried toward the door until he reached the front porch, and safety.

Taking the steps down to the parking lot, he felt her spasm in his arms as she started coughing. Relief replaced his rage. “Jessie?”

“Yeah, I’m here.”

Her voice was quietly rough, but it was there. She was alive.

“Thank God.” Gently, he tilted her face up, noting the swelling, and his hands shook against her skin. “I am going to kill him.”

A small smile tilted the corners of her mouth. “Once my head stops hurting, I’ll help you.”

The fact that she could joke made him less worried but still murderous.

Her eyes widened, and she suddenly started struggling in his arms. “Ray is still in there! Will knocked him out in the kitchen, and he’s trapped.”

“Baby, I’ll go back in for Ray, but I need to make sure you’re safe first. I’m going to put you in the car—”

Jessie cried out, and Red turned, expecting to see Will coming at him, but instead, Ray came around the corner of the building, hauling an unconscious Will over his shoulder. As he drew closer, Red notice the large gash on the right side of his forehead.

“Looks like he clocked you pretty good. How did you get out?”

“I crawled through the window in the kitchen and saw this snake creeping through the trees. Is she okay?”

“Yeah, she’s bruised and bloody, but she’s still got some kick in her.”

“I’m right here, and can answer for my own damn self.” The glow of the fire lit up the concerned expression on Jessie’s face. “What about you? The last time I saw you, you were lying on the floor.”

“Just a monster of a headache, but I feel a little better after giving this piece of shit a taste of what he gave me.” Ray unceremoniously dumped Will on the ground, and the other man groaned as he hit the dirt. Considering Red wanted to tear him apart with his bare hands, he thought it showed a lot of restraint on Ray’s part that he hadn’t killed him.

“We need to call the fire department and police, but I want something to tie the bastard up with first,” Ray said.

“I have some rope in the trunk of my Charger.”

Ray’s face split into a grin. “Aren’t you a Boy Scout.”

Red smiled back. “Never hurts to be prepared.”

“I can stand on my own.”

Jessie’s soft voice drew his attention away from Ray and Will. He let her slide down his body, but he continued holding her against him with one arm as he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “Not yet. I almost lost you, so you’re going to have to give me a minute to make sure you’re really okay. And while I’m holding you and inspecting you, I’m going to call for help.”

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