Misguided Vows: Chapter 45

I’ll definitely owe Alek a new car because I don’t even think as I’m driving toward the building that’s billowing with smoke and engulfed in flames. I accelerate toward the two men standing out front. The windshield smashes and blood splatters the glass. I’m out of the car before I even put it in park.

Cold terror grips me as I scan the outside of Dawson’s shop. Through the front window, I can see smoke filling the space. I try the door, but it’s locked and there are chains securing it. Sirens blare around me as Dawson arrives, but I don’t look at him twice before I pull out my gun and shoot at the chains.

Fucking amateurs.

But they’re enough to keep anyone inside. I crumble into a panic as the chains fall to the ground, and I shoulder the door open. Heat sears my forehead, and Dawson grips my shoulder, trying to pull me back.

“Get the fuck off me!” I fling him off and run into the smoke, using my shirt to cover my nose and mouth. I can’t see anything, just smoke and red flames. “Alina!” I scream. It must have only been burning for a few minutes but was quick enough to catch everything alight. “Alina!” I continue screaming as I move through the smoke.

My heart is pounding, my nerves teetering on the edge as terror strikes me. I should’ve been here. I should’ve protected her. I should’ve killed him. I underestimated him. I should’ve—

“Help!” I hear someone call. I turn in the direction of the backroom. A low, hoarse coughing sound makes its way to me.

“Alina!” I take off at a run, then skid to a halt as a flaming piece of the roof lands in front of me. Fuck! I pull back my hand; certain a piece got my arm. I run around it and follow the sound of the coughing. “Alina!”

“Will!” she screams, and I use her voice as my beacon. I find her in the bathroom. It’s filled with smoke, and she’s trying her best to reach the small window; a small section of it is cracked where she’s tried to break it. “Will?!” she cries, and her silhouette is a tangled mess.

“I’ve got you, baby.” I scoop her into my arms, whipping my head back and forth, searching for an exit.

“Wi—” She breaks out in a coughing fit.

Fuck. I grit my teeth as I try my hardest to cocoon her and press her face to my shirt, trying to fight the smoke. I look back in the direction I came from, but I can’t guarantee getting her out without being burned. I look back at the small window.

A shotgun goes off, and glass rains down on us from the outside. I cover her, shards slicing down my back, as I realize Dawson must’ve heard us from the outside and is breaking the window.

I don’t even think as I look up and hear Dawson’s voice. “Bring her through.”

I stand, lifting her to the opening despite her best efforts to cling to me. Sweat beads down my face as I shove her through, and her weight slips through effortlessly.

“I’ve got her,” Dawson calls.

I cough, choking on the smoke, and push through watery eyes as I grab the window pane and pull myself up. I drag myself out, dropping to the ground. I’m scampering toward her within seconds, pushing Dawson out of the way so I can check her over.

“Alina, baby, talk to me,” I say desperately, my voice raspy. I’m not sure if it’s from the smoke or the fear that’s gripping me at the thought of losing her.

She coughs, then begins to cry, and I pull her into me, my heart pounding. “I’m so sorry,” I sob. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”

She clings to me and tries to say something but can’t. I kiss her cheek, her forehead, every piece of her I can reach, hoping I can take away the smoke that’s filled her lungs, that I can scare away her monsters and the asshole who did this.

“Will,” she cries, as if not entirely conscious. “You’re bleeding.” Her voice trembles as her hand reaches out for me.

For the first time since I arrived, I focus on something other than her. It’s chaos as fire trucks and police cars arrive. Dawson is standing over us and is already on the phone with someone. I’m bleeding, and that’s undoubtedly a burn on my arm that’s aching, but I don’t care about any of that.

I cup her face, staring at her in disbelief. My hellfire vixen is shaking, and I only have myself to blame for underestimating the fucker who did this to her.

“Was he here?” I growl.

Her eyes go wide, and she knows exactly who I’m talking about. With the knowledge alongside it that she’s been my target all along. But she’s so much more to me. She is everything. At this moment, she’s the one person I can’t possibly lose.

“We’re going to have to check you two over for injuries and smoke inhalation,” one of the firefighters says.

“Yes,” I reply absently, my thoughts on only one thing—killing the man who did this to her. “Take her.”

“Will, no,” Alina sobs. “Let him go. He took everything. He has what he wants.” She coughs.

My eye twitches at the reminder that all this man wants is money. He assumed she’d childishly clung to the jewels he thought would bring him a fortune. Instead, he made the mistake of robbing my woman and hurting her.

“No, Alina. He does not get to haunt you anymore.”

“Please,” she whispers. “I don’t know what he’s on right now, but I don’t want you to get hurt.”

My heart sinks, but a cruel smile curves my lips. Because she has no idea how dangerous the man she thought was just a fuck buddy is. I’ve never wanted to kill anyone more, not since I’d hunted down Hayley’s killers. And make no mistake, this asshole is going to pay tenfold.

“I’ll come back to you. I promise.” I kiss her on the lips. “Watch over her!” I shoot the demand at Dawson.

“Where are you going?” I hear him shout, but from my expression alone I’m sure it doesn’t take him long to figure it out.

I’m going to hunt the monster who thought he could touch my woman.