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Sean reacted. He heard the sirens, heard the alarms, and heard the storm itself. And she was in danger.

That was all he could think about.

Glass shattered around them. Debris flew everywhere as he fell to the floor with Autumn Jane wrapped up in his arms. He yanked her closer as they slammed into the cheap hard linoleum floor.

The table was big and sturdy.

He rolled them both until they were beneath it.

Still, it wasn’t good enough.

The building was coming apart around them. She was on her back beneath him. He felt every curve of her pressed to him, but he didn’t have time to think about that. He tucked her head under his chin, used his hands to protect her as best he could.

The roar was deafening.

The building was going around them. There were two floors of offices and people above them.

They were going to be crushed. It was inevitable.

But if he was going to damned well die today it would be with Autumn Jane in his arms. He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead. “It’ll be ok, baby. I promise. We’ll be together when this is over!”

He knew she couldn’t hear him over the storm, but he had to say it at least once before he died. “I love you, Autumn Jane Evers. And I always will.”

He covered her as best he could as the sounds around them intensified.

And the TSP building came crashing down on top of them.