Turning to locate the direction of the shot, Jaxon spotted the General now standing beside a grand piano, his gun still pointed toward the ceiling. A large hole marred the spot above him where the bullet had hit.
The General slowly trained his gun on him. “Well, you have our attention,” Jaxon said. “What the fuck do you want to say?”
The General’s eyes were maniac—wide and darting around the room. Spit dribbled from the twisted grin across his face. The roar of the fire around them made it almost impossible to hear.
“I may be finished,” the General snarled, “but I’m dragging every last one of you sons of bitches down to hell with me.”
Jaxon shrugged. “If you want to die, it’s okay with me. But it doesn’t have to play out that way. Drop your gun, and we’ll get you out of here. Prison is better than being dead.”
Brick nodded, adding, “Especially like this.”
The General ignored them, laughing hysterically. “I’m not going to prison, I’m going to be governor.”
“This guy’s lost it,” Brick said.
A small piece of the ceiling plaster dropped onto the General’s shoulder, catching everyone’s attention.
As one, their eyes all lifted to the hole the General had made in the ceiling. Before anyone could move, a crack rent the air, loud enough to be heard over the roar of the fire.
Jaxon took a step toward the General just as the ceiling above him collapsed, engulfing him in flames.
Waves of blistering heat blasted down from the burning ceiling, scorching Jaxon’s face and neck while fiery debris rained around him like hell itself was collapsing. He automatically moved forward, as if to rescue the General.
Fortunately, Brick didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the back of Jaxon’s shirt and directed him toward the exit. The General’s sickeningscreams followed them across the porch, but ended by the time they were down the steps.
Collapsing onto the grass, covered in soot and blood, they both began coughing violently while the building began to collapse in on itself with the deafening roar of falling timber and shattering glass.
Ravage had been holding Tazzy back, his arms wrapped around her as she fought desperately to run toward the burning house, her small body straining against his hold.
“Jaxon!” she screamed, tears streaming down her soot-streaked face, voice hoarse from smoke and fear.
Ravage let her go the second he saw Jaxon. Jaxon regained his feet and waited for his girl, arms wide. She threw herself into them, and nothing had ever felt better. He lifted her off the ground, holding her so tight he was probably hurting her, but she didn’t seem to care.
She kissed him hard, tasting smoke and blood and tears. He kissed her back just as fiercely, one hand cradling the back of her head, the other wrapped around her waist like he would never let go again.
“I knew you’d save me,” she whispered against his lips, sobbing. “I knew you’d come. I kept telling him, warning him, but he just laughed.”
Breathing hard, voice raw from smoke and heat, he managed to speak. “He’s not laughing now, Darkling, not now, not ever again.”
He took her face between his hands to make sure he had her undivided attention. “I will always be there for you. Nothing will ever keep me away. Your forever belongs to me.”
She clung to him, shaking, as he carried her further away from the burning house. Sirens wailed in the distance. Today had been a victory, but there was still a cost. Looking down into her eyes, he committed himself to do whatever it took to soothe her and erase every dark memory from this day. They would have time now, because the General was gone and his Little girl was safe in his arms, right where she was supposed to be.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Tazzy couldn’t let go of Jaxon’s hand. Not even for a second. From the moment he stepped out of the burning house, covered in soot and blood, she had thrown herself into his arms, she stayed there. Her fingers stayed laced tight with his while the paramedics checked them both out.
She watched the flashing lights pull away down the long driveway, taking the wounded driver to the hospital.
“I hope the man will be okay. He wasn’t cruel to me. At least not like the General.”
“Wasn’t he the one who tied you up so you could burn to death?”
“Well, yeah, but he was nice about it. I guess you think it’s kinda crazy to wish him well.”
“Darkling, it’s because of that forgiving heart you were able to take me back. So no, I don’t think it’s crazy, I think it’s beautiful. Just don’t expect me to feel the same way. Although the thought of him living and being put on trial does have its appeal.”
Ezra Harper and his partner, Liam McKenna, were the only police on scene for now. Ezra had made sure the rest of the department wouldn’t swarm the place right away. The two detectives stood at arespectful distance, giving Jaxon and her a moment, but now they were heading over.