Page 186 of Mad Love

Behind Cori, the glass from Ryan’s window exploded. She squealed and jerked around, her feet slipping and nearly sending us over the edge.

I dug in my heels and held her against me. “We’ve gotta jump. I need you to trust me, Cor. Can you trust me?”

She gulped down a big breath. “O-okay.”

I laced my fingers with hers and squeezed. “On three, okay?”

She nodded, and I swore my heart was going to punch out of my chest.

“One,” I took a deep breath, “two,” I forced a smile at her, “three!”

Running forward, I hauled her with me and jumped off the roof.

We were suspended in air…and then we hit the water with enough force that Cori’s hand was ripped from mine. I kicked to the surface and sucked in a deep, burning breath as I spun in the water. “Cori!”

When she didn’t immediately surface, I dove back under, the darkness and water making it hard to spot her at first. But when I did, she was trying to kick for the surface, flailing her arms. I swam at her and wrapped an arm around her waist before swimming up.

As soon as we broke the surface, she took in a ragged breath.

“Are you all right?” I demanded as I kicked for the ladder at the side of the pool.

“Think so,” she replied.

I crowded behind her, pushing her up the ladder before hauling myself out and turning to look back at the house.

It was a fucking disaster. The whole thing was engulfed in flames, smoke and fire pouring from the windows.

“Maddie! Cori!” Royal’s roar cut through the night as he ran around the back of the house with a pair of firefighters.

“Here,” I called, lifting a weak hand as I wrapped my other arm around Cori’s trembling shoulders.

Royal fell to his knees in front of us, gray eyes wide. “Fucking Christ. Are you two okay?”

I took in a deep breath to tell him yes, and started coughing up a lung.

“Easy,” one of the firefighters advised, kneeling behind me. “You probably have smoke inhalation. Let’s get you two looked at.”

“Her first,” I croaked, nodding to Cori, who looked deathly pale.

“Hey, baby girl,” Royal murmured, reaching for her. “Can you come with me to get checked out?”

She turned and looked at me like she was asking for permission. As soon as I nodded, she dove into Royal’s big arms, and he picked her up.

“Beckett was here,” I told him, wondering where the asshole had gotten away to.

Royal’s expression hardened. “Oh, I know. I caught him trying to leave as I drove up. The police have him in custody.”

“Seriously?”

He nodded at me. “Let’s get you two checked out so I can call Ryan. He’s losing his fucking mind.”

“Language,” Cori chided in a tiny voice from where her face was smashed against his chest.

He chuckled and rubbed a hand up and down her back. “Sorry, kiddo.”

She glanced up and patted his cheek. “It’s okay. I still love you.”

It might have been the firelight and the smoke inhalation, but I could’ve sworn his eyes went a little glassy as his expression softened.

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