Jake,” I cried.
With a nod, Liam grabbed the man’s arm. I smelled smoke, and watched as flames licked up the walls.
We all jogged together, the smoke thickening. I coughed.
“Go. Go.” I pushed Jake and Liam ahead of me.
There was a loud crack from above, followed by the groan of wood.
I looked up. No.
I shoved Liam hard. He stumbled forward, Jake falling with him.
Beams crashed down around us, flames crackling along them.
The burning debris had fallen between us. Cutting me off.
I stared across the flames at Liam.
“Aspen!” he roared.
“Get Jake out. I’ll find another way.”
Liam cursed. “Get your ass out, Aspen. Or I’ll come back to find you.”
18
I’m a Catch
Liam
Liam kept his arm clamped around Jake, hauling the man forward. More beams crashed to the concrete floor, and the smoke thickened.
Jake coughed, hacking loudly.
“Hang in there,” Liam said.
God, all he could think about was Aspen. She was trapped back there.
He had to get to her, but first he had to get Jake out.
There was more smoke—thick, oily, and black. Liam coughed. The ceiling crashed down to their left. Shit.
He spun Jake away. Then felt stinging on his arms and chest, and saw the fabric of his clothes burning. He slapped at it.
I…can’t…” Jake wheezed.
“Come on, Jake. Think of Erica.”
The man stiffened, then nodded.
They stumbled onward, and finally Liam saw a door ahead.
He flung it open. Someone rushed at them, and Liam tensed. But he quickly recognized Boone’s rugged form.
“Help me with him,” Liam barked.
The man got on the other side of Jake and together they hauled him out.
Fresh night air smacked Liam in the face.
So good. Boone helped Jake sit on the curb as Liam bent over and coughed. He breathed in more air.
“I’m going back for Aspen. Did you stop Doyle?”
Boone scowled. “I didn’t see him come out.” Boone looked up at the warehouse. “I neutralized the guys outside. They set the charges.”
Fuck, maybe Doyle got trapped inside. Liam stabbed a finger at Jake. “Stay with him.”
“Kensington, it’s a death sentence to go back in there.”
Somewhere on the upper levels, windows shattered. Liam scanned the burning building then met Boone’s dark gaze.
“I’m not fucking losing her.”
“Here.” Boone shoved some fabric at Liam.
It was a black neckerchief.
Liam quickly tied it over his mouth.
“Don’t get killed, Kensington,” Boone growled.
With a nod, Liam raced back into the warehouse.
It was like hell on Earth. Flames and smoke filled the space. He crouched down and ran deeper into the building, back toward where he’d last seen her.
Come on, Aspen.
He couldn’t lose her. He was obsessed. In lust. Falling in love. All of it.
In the blink of an eye, she’d become so damn important to him. She’d woken him up.
No, he wouldn’t lose her.
The heat intensified, but Liam pushed on.
He had to find his woman.
Aspen
Coughs wracked me. My chest hurt so badly.
I dropped to my hands and knees and found the air slightly clearer by the floor. I dragged in a breath and started crawling.
How the hell would I get out of here?
I coughed again. I really needed to find an exit.
I saw movement and turned. There.
Oh, God, it was Doyle. He was backlit by the flames behind him.
I pushed myself to my feet. “You have nowhere to go, Doyle.”
He spun, the lockbox clutched under his arm. His clothes were covered in soot.
“Aspen!” Liam’s voice came through my earpiece. “Where are you?”
I didn’t respond, I just prayed he was outside. Safe.
Doyle smiled at me. “It’s poetic if we die here together, Aspen Chandler.”
I frowned.
“When I looked you up, I recognized your father’s name. He was one of my first jobs. It was so ridiculously easy to lure him into stealing from his clients.”
My stomach dropped. “No.”
“Yes. Jeffrey and I worked very closely together. I saw you and your sisters once. You came to visit him at his office.”
I wanted to vomit. Doyle. This man had exploded our lives apart. Shattered my family. Changed my childhood forever.
“If not for me, I’m guessing you wouldn’t be a do-gooder PI.” His teeth gleamed. “You’ve spent your entire life trying to make amends for your father’s sins.”
Anger exploded. With a roar, I charged and hit him. We both went down and rolled across the dirty floor. The flames were so close that I felt the heat on my skin.
Doyle rammed a fist into the side of my head, and I saw stars. I rolled again.
“Aspen!” Liam’s agonized roar. “I’m not letting you die in here. I’m not leaving until I find you.”
My pulse went crazy. No. I couldn’t let him