Page 72 of The Bratva Sinner

Could he really care about me like that? It seems impossible. I’m just some trailer-trash girl he took pity on. I look around at his estate and the luxury surrounding me. His women are gorgeous, experienced, and sophisticated. What could he possibly want with me?

But that look. God, that look.

I signal Outlaw to slow to a walk, and she immediately obeys. I feel a surge of pride. She and I are getting somewhere.

“You’re doing great,” I tell her. “Maybe tomorrow, I’ll try to mount you. What do you think?”

She snorts, tossing her head. Not quite ready for that, apparently.

I’m about to bring her in when I smell smoke. It’s sharp and wrong.

My head whips around toward the stables. Gray smoke billows from the roof and rises into the blue sky.

“No!” The word tears from my throat. “No, no, no!”

I slap Outlaw’s ass. “Go!”

And then, I’m running.

“Fire!” I scream as I run. “The stables are on fire!”

Guards appear from nowhere, running toward the building. But I’m closer. I reach the stable doors first and yank them open.

Heat blasts my face. Thick, black smoke pours out. Inside, I hear the horses screaming.

“The sprinklers!” I shout to no one. “Why aren’t the sprinklers working?”

I pull my shirt over my nose and mouth and plunge inside. The smoke is so thick that I can barely see. My eyes water instantly, burning like someone poured acid in them. How in the hell did it get this bad so quickly?

“I’m coming!” I call to the horses. “I’m here!”

Midnight’s stall is closest. I fumble with the latch, my hands shaking. The metal is hot. I get it open and slap his hindquarters. “Go! Get out!”

He doesn’t need to be told twice. He bolts past me toward the door.

Someone grabs my arm. “Get out! The building’s not stable!”

I yank free. “I have to get Willow!”

“We’ll get her!”

“Like hell you will!” I push past him toward the next stall.

I can barely breathe, even with my shirt covering my face. My lungs burn with each breath. But I hear Willow screaming in terror, trapped in her stall.

“I’m coming, baby!” My voice sounds strange. The fire is so loud. I never realized how loud the hissing and crackling were. “Hold on!”

I reach her stall. Through the smoke, I see her throwing herself against the walls, her eyes wild with panic. Her belly is huge, and the foal inside her makes her movements awkward.

The latch won’t budge. It’s stuck or melted, or I don’t know what. I pull harder as my injured shoulder screams in protest.

“Come on, come on!”

Someone appears beside me. Mike. His face is covered with his shirt, too. He pushes me aside and kicks the door. On the third kick, it bursts open.

Willow charges out, nearly trampling us both. Mike grabs me, pulling me aside as she thunders past.

“Now you!” he shouts. “Out!”