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IRIS

No, no, no, no, no.

My heart races in terror as I observe a portion of the roof giving way behind Kai, effectively barricading the back entrance. The weight of the debris leaves some unfortunate individuals pinned beneath, their bodies limp and lifeless.

Oh my god.

The air is filled with piercing screams of terror as people shout and flee in a desperate attempt to escape the chaos. In every corner, there are individuals on their knees, weeping over the lifeless forms of their friends.

My hands shoot up to cover my mouth, trying to contain the wave of nausea that washes over me.

This can’t be happening.

“Iris!” My head swivels, and I lock eyes with Jon, the bar owner who is standing nearby. His face is marred by several cuts, and his torn clothes are drenched in blood. “Thank god you’re okay.”

“My… My boys are inside. I need to get in,” I choke out.

He shakes his head in disapproval. “Are you out of your mind?”

“I’m not asking for your permission. I need to determine if there are any entrances that remain untouched by the fire or are positioned farther away, where the flames might take longer to reach.”

“Iris,” he sighs.

Anger wells up inside me, blurring my vision and making it hard to see clearly.

“Answer the fucking question. I don’t have any minutes to spare.”

Doubt fills his voice as he speaks. “I can’t see any way out. However, if there’s even a slight chance, the stockroom might be the only area untouched by the flames. It’s your best bet.”

Fuck, there’s no window there.

I nod, feeling the rush of adrenaline surging through me as I sprint to the other side of the building.

With each step, my body protests, making it seem like I have been running for miles instead of a short distance.

Shit.

The road is completely blocked by fire trucks, making it impossible to continue.

Think, Riss. You know this place by heart.

As I turn to the left, I notice a small alcove that leads me towards the changing room, but suddenly, someone forcefully grabs my arm.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Miss Rose? What the fuck are you doing here?”

“The police will be here any minute. You need to leave. Now.”

I shake my head. There’s no way she’s really saying that. She should know better.

“The boys are inside. I’m not leaving any of them behind. Even if I have to give up my life for it.”

“Shit. All of them?”

I nod.

“Your father will be here any?—”

“Kill him for all I care.” I breathe through my nose. “I love you like my own mother, but I’m losing time.”

My gaze drifts over her shoulder, and I feel an immediate tightening in my muscles.

His face may be obscured from this distance, but his distinct physique is unmistakable.

What the fuck is he doing here?

Miss Rose follows my gaze, her eyes narrowing with unease.

“What on earth?”

“Do you think he…” I swallow the lump in my throat. “Do you think he’s the one who ignited the fire?”

“I’m about to find out.”

Inhaling deeply through my nose, I grasp her hands tightly in mine.

“I need to go. I can’t lose time.”

Her eyes grow misty with tears as she locks her gaze with mine, softly kissing my forehead.

“Save them, my little girl.”

She leaves with the swiftness of a gust of wind, and I hurriedly search for a window to sneak my way inside.

A jumble of debris blocks every entrance I come across, but there is a small window higher up.

With no hesitation, I grab hold of the brick beneath me, feeling its burning rough texture against my fingertips. I tighten my grip and begin my climb, determined to reach the top.

My legs claw at the rough surface, leaving my thighs raw and stinging, but I refuse to give up.

C’mon, Riss. You’re almost there.

My muscles scream in protest as I finally reach the top, sending waves of pain coursing through my body. I tightly clutch the wall, determined not to lose my balance, before finally summoning the strength to shatter the glass.

One punch, two punches, three punches—the glass finally shatters, leaving my hands covered in a bloody mess.

Without wasting a moment, I squeeze my body through the broken window, feeling the stinging sensation of sharp glass against my skin.

The pain becomes insignificant as adrenaline courses through my veins, and the fear of losing them takes hold.

I can’t lose them. Not now. Not ever.

The smoke fills the room, making it hard to see through the haze as I cautiously move, avoiding the flames and embers.

“ELIJAH! THEO! KAI!” With every name, the acrid smoke fills my mouth, making me cough.

Where the fuck are they?

Jon mentioned the stockroom, which is near the staff restroom.

My feet move without conscious thought, guiding me in that direction as the building disintegrates with a thunderous roar of fire, and debris cascades down in a chaotic dance.

C’mon guys, where are you?

“ELIJAH!”

What if they couldn’t reach Arch and died?

No. I refuse to believe that.

They are strong and resilient.

The intensity of the heat and smoke become unbearable, causing me to fall to my knees and crawl through the wreckage, feeling each sharp edge piercing my skin.

The moment I reach the stockroom, a scream of agony escapes me as the searing hot handle sears my skin.

Fucking hell.

You didn’t think about it, smartass.

I remove my top and carefully wrap the fabric around my hand, hoping it will give me a better grip to open it.

The door creaks and groans before reluctantly swinging open, revealing a vast expanse of… nothing.

FUCK!

The dizziness in my head intensifies as I attempt to turn back, but the faint sound of muffled voices halts my movements.

I try to follow the voices, but the blaring Sirène outside and the cacophony of people screaming make it difficult.

Crawling slowly, I cautiously open one room after another, my heart pounding in my throat.

Until a cry escapes my lips.

“Starling?”

They all turn to glance at me, their bare torsos covered in sweat and burns, as Kai struggles to protect Angel’s face while cradling his limp body in his arms.

“What are you doing here? Are you out of your mind?” coughs Elijah.

He can be mad at me later. I don’t give a shit.

They’re alive.

With a surge of adrenaline, I leap up and dash towards them, throwing myself into Wolf’s arms and clinging tightly to Elijah’s arm as though my survival hinges on it.

I glance at Kai, then at Angel. “Never pull this shit on me again.”

“If that means keeping you alive, you can bet I’ll do it again.”

I groan. “You’re lucky I love each of you, assholes.”

“Did she just—” starts Wolf.

“Not the time.” I drop from his arms, my heart pounding in my chest. “We need to get out of here.”

“How did you come in? Every entrance is blocked.” Eli tightly grips my hand as if afraid I might vanish into thin air.

“I had to climb.”

Their eyes lock onto me, taking in the sight of my battered and torn body, with blood and scratches covering my bare chest.

The tension in their jaws and the sound of their teeth grinding together is impossible to ignore.

“Put that on.” Kai tosses me the T-shirt he’s been clutching in his hands. “You need to protect your body from the flames.”

I put it on quickly before gesturing towards the door.

“There is a window, but it is inaccessible because of the debris blocking its path. I had to climb the bricks.” My gaze lingers on them. “I could only find this one entry among all the others I looked for. If we go out that way, we’ll have to be extra careful with Archer. We’ll need to lift him onto our shoulders to ensure his safety.”

“Lead the way.” Eli’s lips brush against the top of my head as we exit.

“Stephen will be there,” I inform them. “Fire truck surrounds the building, and the police are on their way.”

I know Eli doesn’t understand why I wanted him alive, but at this stage, I don’t care if the whole department falls with him. I just want him gone for good.

“Let’s get the fuck out of this hell.”