Finally Us (Next Generation #5) - J.M. Walker Page 0,93
we were sleeping, set me on edge.
Vince rushed to the window, trying to pry it open. “Fuck, I can’t open it.”
I went to his side and tried helping him but even with both of us trying, it wouldn’t budge. “Do you think something’s blocking it? I open this window all the time. There’s no reason for it not to open now.” I tried again but as strong as I was, I couldn’t get it to budge.
“Hold on.” Vince went around the room, searching for something in the dark that he could use to break the window glass.
There was more smoke coming into the room when suddenly, the door went up in flames.
“Vince.” I gasped, grabbing whatever I could to help him break the window.
My lungs felt like they were on fire.
Vince ripped off his shirt and ran to the en suite bathroom before coming back. He tied a wet piece of fabric around my head, covering my nose and mouth.
“What about you?” I demanded when I saw that he hadn’t done the same for himself.
“I don’t give a shit about me.” He gently pushed me out of the way and smashed whatever was in his hand against the window glass.
“But I do.” I pulled the fabric from around my face and covered his mouth and nose with it.
“Gigi.” He tried pulling it from his face.
“Fight me later but right now, you need it too.”
“You’re fucking pregnant.” He ripped my hand from his face and tied the fabric back around my head. “You can fight me later.” His eyes were dark with fury. Not at me but at the situation itself, and I knew when to back down.
Vince smashed the object that he was holding against the glass until it finally broke. When he reached for me, I stepped back.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to help you out.” He grabbed a blanket off the bed and threw it over the windowsill. He grabbed my arm and lifted me.
“What about you?” My heart was pounding in my ears, the smoke making me cough.
“I’m right behind you.” He cupped my face, kissing me hard on the mouth. “I promise.”
The blanket made it easier so we wouldn’t get cut by the broken glass. Once I was out the window, I landed on the ground with an oomph. My house was only one floor and the window wasn’t too high but it had still been quite a drop. I turned back for Vince to help him.
“Go get help.”
“What?” I tried reaching for him. “No. I can help you. The window is big enough. You can get out and we can get help together.”
“I’m too heavy, baby. Go get help,” he said, his voice firm but hoarse from the smoke. “I’m right behind you.”
“No, I’m not leaving you.” I tried tugging him closer, but I wasn’t strong enough. “Please.”
“Gigi, go.” He pulled my hands from around his neck and kissed my forehead. “Go get help. Now.”
I huffed and rushed off, running through my backyard to the other side of the house. Unlocking the fence door, I continued running to the nearest neighbor. When I arrived, I bounded up the front porch and started banging on the door. “Help me! Please help me! My house is on fire. Please, someone!”
I didn’t know what time it was. It was the middle of the night. That was all I knew. But at that point I didn’t care. I looked behind me, my stomach sinking that Vince was nowhere in sight.
A light turned on inside the house, followed by the porch light.
“Please!” I continued banging on the door.
The door opened, revealing an older man. “What’s going on?”
“My house is on fire and my boyfriend told me to go get help, but I think something happened. He didn’t follow me. Please, call 911.” I was frantic with worry, my heart pounded hard against the walls of my rib cage but all I could think about was losing Vince when I had only just finally found him.
“Marge!” The older man called out. “Call 911. There’s a fire.” He looked back at me. “Show me where your boyfriend is.”
I ran back down the porch.
“I’m going to help the kids next door,” he called out to who I could only assume was his wife.
“I called 911!” she yelled back. “Firemen are on their way!”
“Alright, sweetheart, show me where he is.” The older man continued following me. I realized then that he was holding an ax. “What happened?” he asked me.