Chapter 43
43
Aviva
I was going to die here.
I was going to die in this fucking asshole’s office, tied to his desk. Would I die of smoke inhalation first, I wondered distantly, or would I burn alive? I’d never thought about it before, but maybe the way my parents had died was better. At least it was over fast. At least they hadn’t had to stare their death in the face with nothing to do but think about how they were leaving behind their loved ones to mourn them.
I knew Asher would mourn me. I wasn’t sure he could take another hit. But would Jack?
At least I’d kept him safe.
At least I’d gotten the chance to tell him I loved him.
If only I could tell him one more time…
I pictured him in my head: his dark hair with the short, tight curls, his piercing gray eyes, his little smirk when he knew he’d backed me into a corner I couldn’t get out of. The way those eyes turned dark with lust, or pain—silver with anger…or love.
He loved me.
He’d told me.
He’d move on and meet someone else and be happy.
“I want you to be happy,” I whispered into the burning room. “Please be happy.”
The smoke made my tears sting.
I shut my eyes. I didn’t want to die, but it looked like once again, I didn’t have a fucking choice. At least I could distract myself with memories of Jack until it was all over.
I shut my eyes.
I love you , I thought.
“Aviva!”
Pounding on the door.
I had to be imagining things. He was at the coach’s house, wasn’t he?
More pounding. “Aviva, goddamn it!”
Maybe I wasn’t imagining things. I coughed.
“Here,” I tried to say, but my throat hurt so much I could barely get the word out.
I couldn’t hear anything over the roar of the flames. Had he left? Thought I was somewhere else?
Oh god, I was going to die. And so was he. The fire had to have spread so far…
Except there he was before me, whole and coughing, towering over me like an avenging angel.
I ignored the heat of the flames, staring up at him as he stared down at me, throat working.
“You’re here,” I tried to say, but my words turned into coughs.
“Holy fuck,” he said. “Did he tie you up?”
“Yes,” I tried to say .
“Did he touch you?”
I shook my head.
“Let’s get you out of here.”
He kneeled down, ignoring the flames around us as he worked on the tight knots.
“Fuck, it’s not working,” he growled as he rose, going to the desk and rifling through it. “Hang on.”
“Don’t have much other choice,” I joked on a rasp.
He kneeled back down, holding scissors. “Don’t move.”
Quickly but carefully, he sliced the blades through the tie around my wrists, and then I was free.
Jack gathered me up in his arms, covering my face with his hoodie sleeve as he walked determinedly toward the door.
He grabbed the knob before I could tell him not to, only to stumble back with a yell.
“Fuck, it melted.”
He placed me down on the floor gently, before throwing his body against the door, again and again. I watched him, tears burning their way down my face.
“I can’t,” he heaved, “get the door open.”
Something on fire fell from the rafters.
“Jack, don’t?—”
“We don’t have much time!” he yelled over the roaring flames. “I’m getting you out of here.”
“With you,” I cried.
He shook his head, picking me up in that bride carry he liked so much, making my heart shatter into tiny pieces.
“No, little fury,” he said sadly. “I don’t think I can get us both out of here.”
“What do you mean?” he was carrying me over to the window.
“Like I said, not enough time. ”
“You’re coming with me,” I insisted. “I’m not leaving you.”
“Aviva, you are. I refuse to let you die in here with me.”
“I’m not leaving you!” I screamed. Or tried to. “You don’t get to make that choice!”
“You are not dying. What did I say to you before, little fury? You don’t get to make the decisions anymore. I love you.”
And then he was breaking the window, with the same shattering sound as my heart, and pushing me out of it.
I turned my head at the last moment—just as another flaming rafter dropped…
…right on top of him.
“No! Jack!”
I fell, and fell, and fell.
Even after I saw the rafter fall, I still expected him to follow.
He had to follow.
But he didn’t.
“Jack!” I screamed again, as I was caught by a pair of strong arms and carried away.
I looked up. I was surrounded by Isaac, Judah, and Levi.
“We have to go back!” I yelled at them. “We have to go back for him.”
Isaac shook his head, jaw tight, as he took me away from the fire. Away from Jack. Away from the only man I’d ever truly loved.
“We have to go back,” I sobbed.
“He made me promise to take care of you. So that’s what I’m doing. Taking care of you.”
“Where are the ambulances?” Judah asked.
“On their way,” his twin replied.
I tried to fight Isaac, but he was as strong as the rest of them. He held me easily as we both stared at Hallister Hall. The old athletics administrative building was engulfed in flames, red and orange burning bright against the night. I willed the door to open, for Jack to stumble out. But the doors remained closed, and Jack remained absent. I sank to the ground, screaming, sobbing, I wasn’t sure. Was that shrieking, keening, wailing sound me?
I’d lost him.
I’d truly lost him.
I hadn’t even told him I loved him one last time.
“It should’ve been me,” I whispered. “It should’ve been me.”
But all I could do was stare at the burning building that had become my true love’s funeral pyre.