Page 38 of Bliss with a Billionaire

“No,” she answered as she panned back to the pile of debris.

“That beam stretches to the floor above. Can you climb it?”

“Uhh, yeah, I can try.” Julia picked her way across the floor. As she stepped in the middle, her foot fell through, and she plunged closer to the floor below. The phone clattered to the floor as she dropped it in a desperate attempt to cling to the floor.

With a heavy groan, she scrambled up and snatched the phone. “Sorry, the floor caved in. I’m almost there.”

“No problem, Julia. Easy does it. I know it’s tempting to hurry, but be safe,” Ava said.

Julia nodded as she inched forward, testing the floor as she went before she placed her weight on it. She finally made it to the beam and scrambled up it into the smoky attic.

“Okay,” Julia said, her voice shaky, “there’s fire up here, too, but not as much.”

“That’s okay,” Ava answered. “We’re going to need to break a window as far from the flames as possible and see if you can climb down.”

“Okay. Lucky I’m a good climber, but I thought breaking a window would make the fire worse?”

“It will. But at the distance those flames are at, you should be able to make it out. Try to assess the drop before you break it, though, okay?”

“Yeah.” Julia raced through the thickening smoke to peer out of the windows furthest from the flames. “Okay, I’ve got one, I think. There’s a balcony on the floor below. And then I may have to drop after that, but I’d rather that than be trapped in a burning building.”

“Good luck,” Ava said. “We’ll stay on the line.”

“Okay. Sorry for what may be a lot of noise.” She shoved the phone into her pocket before she used her elbow to smash the glass from the window. After kicking away the remaining shards, she stuck her head out, grateful for the clean air.

She shimmied through the opening, clinging to the roof. With a hard swallow, she eased herself closer to the edge and dropped onto the balcony below. Flames danced inside the French doors.

Julia hurried to the railing and swung her leg over, climbing onto the outside before she lowered herself into a crouch.

She stepped off, dangling in the air before she dropped to the ground below. She landed on her back, knocking the wind from her lungs.

Her features pinched as she groaned, trying to get air into her lungs again. The crash of breaking glass got her moving, kicking her legs to push her further from the house. The crackling flames filled the quiet night air as she rose to her feet.

She tugged the phone from her pocket. “I’m clear.”

“Good job, Julia,” Ava answered.

“Good. And have you found the Grantster yet?” Alex asked.

“Grant? Why would he be here?”

“Well, uh…thing is Sunshine, he figured out you were gone and I may or may not have accessed your location and sent him to you along with Detective Dynamo and Badge McGee.”

“Oh, no,” Julia moaned with a shake of her head. “I’d better find them. Hey, Alex?”

“Yeah, kid?”

“I don’t know if Grant told Sierra and Kyle where he was going, but can you go make sure they’re okay? Just tell them I’m fine.”

“Will do, kid. Ace out.”

“Ava?”

“Still here.”

“Thank you so much for that. I wouldn’t have gotten through it without you.”

“No problem, Sunshine. Happy to help.”