Page 114 of Reckless Princess (Knight's Ridge Empire 8)

My lungs burn with the smoke I inhale with each breath, and one look at Sara’s pale face tells me that if we don’t find a fucking miracle right this second, then we’re not going to make it out of here.

“Once more.”

“And then what?”

I don’t get a chance to answer, because there’s a loud, terrifying crash, and when I turn around, I discover that almost all of the kitchen has collapsed into the shop below.

“Oh my God, Jodie,” Sara screams before embarking on a coughing fit that has fear clawing at my chest, making it even harder to breathe.

“This last one will do it,” I say between coughs of my own. “Come on. Give me everything.”

“It’s not going to help, Jodie. We need to get down. We need to find air.”

I stare at her hopeless expression, my heart plummeting to my feet. She’s right. We’re stuck. We both sink to the floor in the hope of escaping the thick, suffocating smoke, utter hopelessness consumes me.

Sara pulls her phone from her pocket and hits call on Jesse’s number. But when it goes to voicemail, her cries of despair cut through me like knives.

Following her lead, I pull mine free and find Toby’s number.

“Please, please, please,” I beg silently as it connects and starts ringing.

“Jodie.” Just the sound of his voice sends a rush of relief through me before some more of the flooring falls and I’m dragged back to our terrifying reality.

“I’m with Sara,” I say, trying desperately hard not to let him know just how scared I am. “The betting shop is on fire. We’re stuck. Jesse isn’t answering.” There’s a beat of silence as I’m sure I hear gunfire on his end.

Holy fuck, we’re all going to die tonight.

“Fuck. I’m coming, baby. I’m coming, okay? Do anything you can to get out.”

“I’m scared, Toby,” I confess quietly as Sara screams beside me, reaching for my hand and squeezing tightly.

“I’m coming right now.”

The line goes dead and my head begins to spin.

No. No. I need air. I need… Fuck. I need anything but this fucking hopeless situation.

“Toby is coming. He’s going to get us.”

“How?” Sara asks weakly. “There’s no way in and no way out.”

She clings to me, her tears soaking my hoodie and her body trembling violently.

“If you get out of here and I don’t, tell Jesse I love him, yeah?”

“Shut up, Sar. We’re both getting out and you can tell him yourself. You’ll see. You’re too good to go out like this.”

“I’m sorry, Jojo. I never should have called you tonight. I’m so fucking sorry.”