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CHAPTER 1

Time stops as clouds of sh the air, landing on my shoulders like blackened snowflakes We instinctively throw our helht for what's to co to happen Sean is going to run back inside There’s no way he’s going to leave knowing his mother is still inside the mansion

Before he has the chance,by ainst my ribs, as I summon every last bit of speed I cantoward the side lawn that rap around to the roolass roolass shatter, an explosion of wind chi cement There’s no way she’s alive, but for Sean’s sake, I hope she is

“Avery! Stop!”

Sean’s voice rings out behindthe grass faster and faster I hit a patch that’s too slick My foot slips to the side and before I can correct it, I hit the ground, tackled frorass and stop abruptly

“Stop! Just, stop”

Sean rollshis beautiful face contorted with fear Terror seeps into those sexy blue eyes His dark lashes flutter as he holds round beneath hi to catch his breath

In that s--the way a bead of sweat rolls off his terenade His breath is warainst ash on his palers in dark red blood He doesn’t seem to notice the wound

Sean places his hands againstco at me as if I were his soul and he was about to lose it His hands slip overhis forehead against mine

“Avery, I can’t lose you Don’t--” His voice is too light, too high The sound cuts off Sean blinks, and it’s easy to see how glassy his eyes have become My lip quivers as I throw my arms around him

“I can’t lose you either You can’t run inside Sean, if so happened to you This is my fault I--”

But he doesn’t let me finish He lowers his head and presses a soft kiss tohas subsided The steady feel of his hands returns and I know he’s taking all the eh this moment He’s in survival oes back to that place within hi

I can't fatho No s fro to the surface at the worst times

Like now

I pull Sean into a tight hug and kiss his face Sweat clings to his grimy skin as the dust cloud settles over the lawn I pull back and look at him

“Pro for a response

Sean’s sapphire eyes lock on le with pain Darkness lies in wait, ready to reclaiht it any Sean fro a monster to save his family I know his choice

He pushes off the ground, his expression pure steel, and I can no longer read hierous He points toward the other end of the driveway

“There’s a car in the gardener’s shed down by the road I can see it from here They overlooked it Take the car to Trystan’s and stay with him until I come back” The way he says it is final There is no other choice He won’t let o with hier flashes across his eyes “Avery, I said go!”

Sing hard, I fold aze

“No I’ precious ti with me”

“You can’t be here If Vic Jr comes--”

“If he comes, I’ll kill him myself” Wow, that sounded scary When did I become a badass? The tone of my voice makes Sean raise a brow

“I won’t let him hurt you”

“Then don’t send me off alone Sean, come with me” I reach for his hand, but he pulls away

“I have to get rabbing my wrist “Stay close behind Do not run in front of et a bullet in your ass Do you understand? I’ll shoot you ain Understood?”

As he speaks, my stomach flips and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end He means every word

CHAPTER 2

I nod once and look back up toward the house There hasn’t been a sound since the last explosion, which is weird Rescue vehicles should be tearing up the sunrise with noisy sirens, but it’s quiet

Sean leads the way toward the back of the house, stepping over blown-up bits of wall, beams, and what looks like a piece of the front door The splintered wood is snant s as we pass Sean suddenly pulls his shirt off and rips it in two, then hands one piece to me

“Tie it on and make sure you cover your nose and ets to be too much, tell me and we’ll turn back” He looks over his shoulder at me and I know he doesn’t want to do this If we step back into this house, it’s possible neither of us will come out

I do as he says and take the torn piece of fabric and tie it behindthe front to coversure I’ve done as he wanted A giggle escapesover the top of the fabric

“You’re laughing?” He sounds surprised I shove the sa

in I shrug

“I’gles Besides, if I didn’t laugh right now, I’d cry instead” Sean rolls his eyes and is about to turn back toward the s house when I catch his arm “Hey Don’t do that to me You deal with stress your way, and I deal with stress my way If it helpsa bank and riding off on horses, then let me”

I rise onhi except his eyes, which seehs that I back down Sean clears his throat

“I love you Be the lunatic you are Fly your freak flag, Avery That’s one of the reasons why I love you I’m just worried I’m too late Mother wasn’t supposed to be here” Sean turns back to look at the house His eyes scan the tree line surrounding the property His eyes stop and narroatching a single spot intently as if he sees so

I grab his forearlance back at me

“Thanks, partner” I tip le come from under his mask, and I know he s him smile

He takes my hand

“Let’s get inside before another bo to Masterson It should have exploded by now”