Page 87 of Sexting His Son's Ex
“No.” He shakes his head, banging on the glass. “No! I will not lose you like this. I won’t lose you both like this. You aren’t done! We just got started. Damn it! Someone get me something that can cut this chain!” He yells and so many people run in opposite directions to try to get him what he needs.
“Hey, Sweet Girl. Help is on the way. The fire department is coming. I need you to last, okay? I need to live for me because… I can’t do this. Any of this. Without you. You’ve brought me so much brightness. I can’t go back to the dark.” He places his hand against the glass, and I do the same, wishing I could feel thewarmth of his skin against mine instead of the fire daring to lick my back.
I won’t go out like this.
I can buy a few minutes. I snag one of the larger plants and yank it out from the soil, creating a barrier between me and the flaming hell in front of me.
I do that with all the plants until there is a thick barrier in front of me that probably won’t last long. To my right is a small pond filled with water and I groan and cough, doing my best to lift it. All I need to do is pour it over the barrier.
It’s so heavy.
I lean my head against the window, losing strength. Blood coats my face from my head wound and I don’t think I have any more energy to give.
Santino pounds on the glass. “No. No! You aren’t giving up on me, do you hear me? You are not giving up! Please,” he begs.
He rams his shoulder into the glass, over and over again, the sound of a man trying to break down a barrier to save the one he loves.
If he’s not giving up, then neither am I.
I drag the small pond with water lilies and other flowers across the floor. Water splashes over the rim and onto the floor. Once I get it to the small fence of soil I created, I tilt it onto its side and the water is freed, flooding the space immediately.
The hiss of fire touched by its enemy is a sweet sound. The fire that was eating its way towards me dwindles, buying me the time I need for Santino to get me out of here.
“Oh, good fucking girl. Good girl. Lis—” His attention is caught to the right of him. The desperation twists into something else, something far more sinister than I have ever seen him.
He disappears and drags Luca over, smashing his face against the glass. “Did you do this! Did you!” Santino sneers.
Luca and I lock eyes. The same is reflected in his.
He’s scared.
“Give me the key!” Santino flips Luca onto his back, shoving him against the glass. “Give me the key or so help me, I will slit your throat and send your head to your father,” he sneers, the desperation controlling him again.
I shake my head, tapping the glass, knowing he will regret speaking those words. Even if Luca did cause this, he needs help.
“I didn’t know! I didn’t know she would be in there!” Luca shouts on a sob. “I thought she was at lunch. I didn’t see her return. I swear, I never would have—” He does his best to turn to me “—I’m so sorry, Jovie. I’m sorry.”
Santino grabs Luca by the shirt and smashes him against the glass over and over again. “Don’t you dare look at her! Give me the fucking key!” Santino’s a mad man. His hair hangs in his face and his eyes blaze with panic.
Luca fumbles as he digs in his pocket but pulls out the key in question. Santino punches Luca across the face so hard, his son lies unconscious on the ground.
Sirens sound. Help is nearly here, but it’s Santino is unlocking the chains and yanking the doors open to save me.
“I got you, Sweet Girl. You’re safe.” He swings me into his arms and rushes out of the building.
I try my best to stay conscious. “Santino.”
“Shhh, shh, don’t talk, baby. You’ve inhaled a lot of smoke. Oh my God, I almost lost you.” He falls to his knees, cradling me against his chest. “I couldn’t survive losing you,” he whispers into my ear. “I love you. I love you. I love you,” he chants.
“I love you too.” I press my head against his chest, wheezing.
The paramedics and cops arrive in front of us at the same time. With Luca in handcuffs and Santino by my side, I know I can’t be any safer than I am right now.
I’m exactly where I’m meant to be—in the arms of my mafia boss.
EPILOGUE
SANTINO
