Page 129 of Betrothed
After another few seconds, we thought we were alone. Somehow my flashlight had ended up being tossed across the hole, providing limited light to the entire room. A grim sight.
Then Vivian let out a muffled scream and someone jumped Dante, pushing him over the edge. As the two men tumbled below, a loud thump was followed by silence.
Both Kazimir and I dropped down, peering over the edge, his flashlight providing some light.
“Fuck,” Dante hissed. “I’m fine.” He huffed and pushed himself off the assailant’s dead body, immediately picking up his flashlight. “There’s a window and a fire escape. A way out.”
“Then get out,” Kazimir told him. “We’ll be right there. Get the others out. Now.”
“We can’t leave you.”
“Yeah, you can,” I told him. “We’re saving Vivian.”
“Alright. I’ll finish off any others.”
I knew Dante would.
Without waiting, I moved to find a way to bridge the hole.
“We’re coming, Vivian. Just hold on. I’ll be right there.”
Kazimir didn’t ask question or bark orders. He simply did the same, both of us struggling to find pieces long and large enough. Once we did, I swung the flashlight toward her. She was fighting with the rope, almost managing to get herself freed.
The fire was worse, the smoke acrid and the building unstable.
“Come on,” I told him. “We don’t have much time.”
Kazimir laughed. “Your wedding will go down as the one with the most excitement.”
“Over yours? Any day.” With the floor, the ceiling and everything in the building creaking, it was only a matter of time.
We’d both crossed the makeshift bridge when the building began to shake. Smoke stung my eyes, the air stagnant.
A loud explosion caught our attention. We glared at each other before rushing toward her just as my lovely bride managed to free herself.
“Oh, God, baby.” I pulled her into my arms.
She clung to me, gasping for air. “You came. I knew you would.”
“What a nice little reunion.” The accent was Italian and the three of us stiffened.
Kazimir was quick to react, lunging toward Enzo as I yanked her out of harm’s way.
“How do we get out of here?” she asked.
I glanced at the bridge we’d come across and down the hall where the stairs were located.
Flames had taken over the passageway.
“Let me worry about that.”
Boom!
A rush of smoke billowed through the hole from below, flames following. The entire room was on fire and I knew enough about construction to realize within seconds, the building was going to begin to crumble from the inside out.
“Stay here. Don’t move,” I instructed and rushed toward Kazimir, who was having difficulty killing Enzo. I threw myself at him the second the bastard broke free of the Pakhan, tossing him against the wall. In the process, Kazimir was pitched backward.
Vivian screamed but I couldn’t pay attention. I needed to finish the bastard off.
