23. Jovie
JOVIE
I keep the store signed flipped to closed when I come back from lunch to give myself time to catch up on orders. Ever since I started dating Santino, I’ve gotten a little behind on work because now, my life isn’t completely ruled by flowers.
I’m jamming to music and on my fifth bouquet of flowers when I think I hear a crash. I turn down the music and wait to see if I hear it again.
It must have been in the song.
I crank the music up, dancing and singing along as I cut the stems off the flowers. I spin and twirl, cutting the scissors through the air and shake my hips as the beat drops.
When the song changes, I take a break and check my phone to see a hundred texts from Santino.
“Whoops,” I mutter to myself.
I forgot to text him when I was in the shop.
Him: “You’re lucky I can see you with the cameras. I’m still going to spank your ass later for disobeying me. Your safety is my top concern.”
Me: “Spanking doesn’t sound to bad.”
Him: “Don’t tempt me. I’ll make you count every single slap.”
Me: “You’re the one tempting me. I’m not sure what the problem is.”
Him: “I’m on my way.”
I grin, tossing my phone to side. I love that he is dropping everything because he wants me so much. I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt this way.
With more pep in my step, I close my eyes and spin around, stopping midway when the smell of smoke hits me in the face. Snapping my eyes open, smoke in the backroom sways and drifts in the air, almost as if it’s following a beat to the song I have on.
Turning off the speaker, I keep the scissors in my hand, stepping into the thick cloud of smoke.
The air is hard to breathe, and I cough, covering my mouth and nose the best I can.
My legs stop moving when I come face to face with a wall of fire roaring to the ceiling.
I watch horrified, the hunger of the blaze swallows my plants and eats its way to another the wall. The heat becomes unbearable.
Sweat clings to my skin. The smoke wraps around me like a blanket, forcing me to stay warm.
I pull out of my stupor when the fire jumps onto the ceiling, embers falling down on me like snow on a cold winter day. My vision narrows as I try to see past the bright orange flickers and the thick of smoke. The backdoor is covered with fire.
Time slows as I spin on my heel and dart to the front, nearly tripping over myself.
My hip catches the counter and I clutch the edge, groaning from the pain.
My eyes sting from the smoke. The cloud infiltrates the front room.
I can’t see anything. The heat from the fire comes closer and I turn to see it inching its way through the doorway.
I’m trapped.
I run to the front doors and unlock the deadbolt. I push and push, but they don’t open. “Come on!” I scream, tears pouring down my face.
There are chains on the handles outside with a lock clamping them together. Someone wanted this. Someone planned this.
Someone wants me dead. My first thought is Luca or Bianchi. Maybe both.
I can’t run upstairs. It’s blocked by fire.
This is my only way out.
Keeping my head down, I drop to all fours and crawl to the counter, staying low to the ground since smoke rises. Grabbing the barstool by the bottom of the leg, I drag it across the room, having to stop to catch my breath, but all I inhale is smoke.
I cough until I taste blood, my eyes pouring with tears. I continue to crawl. When I’m close enough, I use the table for leverage to lift myself to my feet. Grabbing the barstool, I lift it above my head and throw it as hard as I can against the glass.
It practically bounces and soars through the air, one of the legs smacking me on the head.
Bullet proof glass.
I never stood a chance. I lift my hand to the wound and pull it back.
So much blood.
Red covers my palm. My vision swims.
A pounding on the glass has me run towards the sound.
“Santino!” I cry out to him, shaking the doors. “I’m trapped. I can’t get out. There’s nowhere for me to go.” I scream.
He roars, yanking on the chains trapping me inside. A crowd has gathered behind him. His eyes are frantic and if I’m not mistaken, his cheeks are wet.
The fire is getting closer.
The vases explode from the heat, and the flower petals turn to ash as the fire eats them too.
“Jovie! Jovie, look at me. Look at me.”
I look at him, my fate written all my face, and my hand drops to my stomach.
“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 the warmth 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.