Page 36 of Up in a Blaze

“Just a word of warning, kid,” Saint said, and I was sure we all saw Sawyer tense. “If you don’t pass the training, you won’t be able to move over to the Playhouse.”

His hands tightened together, but he nodded. “I understand.”

The door abruptly opened, and Loyal slipped in, closing it after him. Adrick and Saint stood.

“What’s wrong?” Saint asked.

Tensing, I bounced up to my feet, hands pressed to my chest. Blaze was downstairs.

“Theres a situation. A customer demanded someone. They want to take them with them.”

My stomach bottomed out when Loyal flicked his gaze down to Sawyer and back up.

Unfortunately, Sawyer saw it too since he was looking up at Loyal with a blush to his cheeks. He scrambled up and backed away. “W-Who’s down there?”

“Chéri, this will be handled. The brothers will deal with it quickly.” I walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder while looking at Loyal. “That is why you’re in here, oui? To make sure Sawyer stays in here until it’s dealt with?”

“Yeah.” His mouth pulled into a tight line. There was something else going on.

“Henri, stay in here with Sawyer and Adrick. We’ll be back in a sec,” Saint said, starting for the door with Gun.

When they left with Loyal, Adrick tried to reassure us. “I have men downstairs. They will assist too. There is nothing to worry about.”

Panic and fear pushed at me to seek out Blaze, but I knew he would want me to be safe. I would be nothing but a distraction for him if I walked out there. And I also stayed put for Sawyer’s sake. He wasn’t faring well.

His shoulders rounded, gaze wide and wild as he shook his head and backed up another step. “Who’s down there?”

“Some people want things they can’t have,” I tried to say, wincing when his bottom lip trembled. “I think?—”

Two shots were fired. I jolted and cried out. Sawyer screamed, slapping his hands over his mouth.

“Both of you on the floor behind the desk,” Adrick ordered. As he made his way to the door, he pulled a gun from his back holster.

I grabbed Sawyer’s hand and dragged him behind the desk, then tugged him down to the carpet. I hugged him to me as he whimpered. “Everything will be all right, chéri.”

Voices rose outside the door just before another shot went off. Adrick stayed by the entrance with his back to the wall. There was more shouting beyond, followed by another shot fired.

Sawyer and I clung to each other.

“I have to get out. I have to go home. I can’t stay here. I need to go.”

Loud footfalls sounded outside the room.

I rubbed up and down his arm and gripped his other hand. “You will. This will be over soon.”

Please, please let it be over soon.

And I swore Blaze had better keep himself safe or I was going to beat his ass.

I peeked around the desk when the door opened. Adrick had his gun pressed up under Blaze’s chin. In a swift move, Blaze knocked his arm away and had Adrick around the throat.

“Blaze,” I yelled, getting to my feet hands out. “Mon amour, let him go. Adrick was helping us.” I wiggled my fingers down at Sawyer. He grabbed my hand and stood. “Look, mon amour. No one got hurt.”

My beautiful beast released Adrick, grunted at him, and stomped over to me. He tugged me into his arms and stuck his nose into my neck, inhaling.

Someone got close. Blaze let out a grumbly noise and moved me away from them.

“The guy had held the receptionist hostage,” Saint explained.