Page 97 of Sinner's Storm
“I don’t understand.”
“I know you don’t, which makes this entire situation all the more troubling.”
“Then explain it to me. What can I do to help?”
Montana turned to me and simply said, “Love him. Be there for him. Trust that he knows what’s best and will never put you in harm’s way. Storm will go to the ends of the Earth to protect you and Harlow. You wanted a peaceful life. Well, he’s going to give you that and more. But, Delany, he’s going to need something from you in return.”
“What?”
“Acceptance,” he stated firmly, as he leaned back in his chair. “Storm is going to do things, say things that won’t make any sense to you. He’s going to be absent when he would rather be with you and Harlow. He’s going to miss important dates, dinners, birthdays, time with his family, and it’s going to weigh on him heavily. He’s going to need your understanding, your acceptance of this life, so he can do what needs to be done.”
“I think I understand,” I muttered, looking at the water bottle in my hands. I knew being with Jason would not be easy. He was an important figure in society and within the Soulless Sinners. Couple that with my past, being with me and giving me what I want, I knew he would be pulled in two different directions.
“I never wanted to complicate his life. I only want to make things easier. I’ll do anything to help him achieve that.”
“Then don’t fight him when the time comes, Delany. Because it’s coming. It’s closer than either of you think.”
Nodding, I didn’t know what else to say.
Turning to leave, I stopped dead in my tracks as the water bottle slipped from my hands.
“Delany?” I vaguely heard Montana say as my body immediately became alert. My heart picked up, beating furiously against my chest while a familiar pungent smell assaulted my nose.
“Delany, what is it?” he urged, stepping in front of me.
Unable to move, I whispered, “Do you smell that?”
“Smell what?”
“Fire.”
The second I said the word, alarms started blaring loudly throughout the house, sending Montana running for the stairs. I needed to get to Harlow and get her out of this house. As the daughter of a firefighter, I knew never to play around with fire. Yet, I couldn’t get my feet to move as the acrid smell engulfed me, freezing me to my spot.
It was an intense smell that curdled my stomach and burned my nose. Fire was unpredictable and always more intense than anyone thought. From the moment I could walk, my father taught me everything I needed to know, what to do, and how to protect myself. Yet, faced with the real thing, all I could think about was my parents and how scared they must have been the night they died.
“Delany!” I heard Jason shout my name while a gloved hand clamped over my mouth. Hearing muffled breathing, I reached up to remove the hand when something sharp poked me in the back.
“Come with me,” the voice clearly said.
Turning, I saw a firefighter in full gear, mask and all, as he motioned for me to follow. Not thinking, I did as I was told when something hit me on the back of the head, knocking me to the floor.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Montana
The second Delany uttered the word fire, I didn’t need to be told twice. Running for the stairs, I found Jason and Tessa running toward me with the babies in their arms.
“Delany!” Jason shouted, frantically looking around as he covered Harlow’s ears due to the deafening alarm.
“She was in the kitchen with me. Get my wife and son out of here. I’ll go get her.”
“Montana!” Tessa shouted when I turned to leave, only to look back over my shoulder. “Mrs. Alice.”
“I’ll get her,” I promised. “Just go. Get out of the house!”
Racing back down the stairs, I trusted Storm to get my family to safety. Running for Mrs. Alice’s room, I went to throw open her door only to curse loudly, yanking my hand back as the searing sizzling sound of my flesh burning wafted around me, the smell burning my nose.
Not thinking, I kicked open the bedroom door only to throw my hands up, covering my face as flames shot of the room, singeing my skin.