Claim - Page 63

Thank fuck. Dropping the chair, I charged into the room.

“Bell! Bell!”

She crawled out of the smoke, her face streaked with black. “Here. I’m here.”

I grabbed her. Relief was so strong that I felt dizzy.

“Rest of the rooms down the hall are empty,” Kav said, followed by a cough. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Just as I’d told her, Bell had a wet towel wrapped around her. I tucked it more securely around her head and held her tight under my arm.

We hurried back down the hallway. Kav leaped through the growing flames and down the stairs.

I hunched over Bell, and followed.

The heat was immense, and I felt it on my cheeks. I kept my head down. The fire was getting worse, devouring the old house.

“Careful down the stairs.” We took them slowly.

Suddenly, one of my boots went through one of the stair treads. I lurched to the side.

“Beau.” Bell gripped me.

Then Kav was there. He grabbed my arm. “The stairs are deteriorating. Move faster.”

I yanked my foot free and kept Bell close as we reached the ground floor.

It was like Armageddon. Bell gasped. I couldn’t hear it, but I felt her chest hitch.

Two firefighters in full gear approached from the front door. “You need to get out.” One bellowed through his mask.

They shoved us forward.

“Anyone else in the building?” the second firefighter asked.

“I think it’s clear,” Kav said. “We helped get the last few residents out.”

When we stepped into the cool night, I sucked in air and shoved my mask down. Bell thrust the towel off, lifting her soot-covered face up as she breathed.

She was alive.Thank God.

“That was close,” Kav said, then he bent over, and coughed.

I slapped his shoulder. “Thanks.”

He glanced at Bell, then back at me. “Anytime, you know that. You’ve had my back too many times to count, and London’s and her sister’s.”

I curled my arm around Bell as we crossed to the sidewalk. Dante, Colt, and Reath were helping some women out on the curb. Some were crying, and the paramedics had oxygen masks on others.

“Anyone injured?” I asked Reath.

He shook his head. “Some smoke inhalation, but nothing life-threatening.”

“Thank God,” Bell said shakily.

“You need to get checked out,” I told her.

She arched a brow. “So do you.”