Swept Away (Wildfire Lake #3) - Skye Jordan Page 0,2

wasn’t enough and I’ll find them gone.

But both women are still clinging to the iron pole, and all my air whooshes from my lungs.

“Oh my God.” Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I force myself to my feet to move and meet them midway up the stairs. They both look at me with terrorized gazes. Blood trails down KT’s face, but I can’t tell where it’s coming from.

KT’s hand moves to the strap around her chest, and the next thing I know, a gust of wind grabs the tank and swings it toward me and Laiyla. I duck, Laiyla doesn’t, and the tank hits her squarely in the side of the head with a clank that’s loud enough to hear above the wind.

A sick sensation swirls in my stomach, and Laiyla goes boneless. I barely have time to cushion her head before she hits the ground. And now she’s bleeding too. She’s also unconscious.

“Fuck,” KT yells. “Get her arm around your shoulders,” she tells me, doing the same on the other side.

We fight our way up a few more steps before Laiyla regains consciousness. KT orders us to stop, and the three of us crouch to gain some strength. The rain comes in torrents and buckets, and I struggle to breathe. I wonder if this is how it feels to be waterboarded.

The air is a minefield of tree branches, stones, tables, chairs, umbrellas. Roof shingles peel, siding rips, all becoming lethal projectiles. My head is filled with the chaotic scream of the storm. All we need is a cow hurtling through the air, and we’d fit right into a Hollywood blockbuster.

When we start out again, Laiyla is moving mostly under her own steam and we make progress toward the resort. If we can just stay clear of the larger debris, we’ll make it.

I hate to bother you again, Michael, but this situation is going to require multiple miracles. Please help us to safety.

I lead the way, and KT and I keep Laiyla between us. A thundering crack rips through the air, and my feet jerk to a stop just before a tree falls directly into my path mere inches from crushing me. A violent whoosh of air hits me. Branches cut at my face, arms, legs. The ground thunders beneath my feet so hard, I’m knocked off-balance.

For what feels like a long time, I stand there, wondering if I’m dead or alive. When I force my eyes open again, I find one of the century-old banyan trees that populate the island lying across the stairway.

Thank you. I shoot my gratitude heavenward. I’ve lost count of the miracles we’ve received. Certainly, KT making it back to shore, Laiyla regaining consciousness, and now all three of us cheating death. Again. But with the tree blocking our path, we’ve got another barrier to safety.

“Link arms,” KT yells. Once we do, she says, “This way.”

With KT in the lead, I bend my head to block the wind and rain and debris as we use our human chain to press on. I have no idea where we’re going, but KT exudes command and confidence, so we follow.

Then we climb a set of wooden stairs, cross a threshold, and slam a door behind us.

Inside.

We’ve made it inside—somewhere. All three of us slide to the floor, and my eyes close on another silent prayer. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

When I open my eyes again, I see we’re in one of the resort’s studio cottages at the edge of the property.

For several long moments, no one speaks, no one moves. We just catch our breath and absorb the shock of our near-death experience.

I don’t know how long it takes me to roll my head toward the other women, but I’m instantly alarmed at the sight of blood flowing down the side of Laiyla’s face. I roll to my knees and take her face in my hands, searching for the source.

“Oh, Laiyla.” She opens her eyes, but they’re dazed. “Look at me.”

“I am.”

KT mirrors my move, inspecting Laiyla, but KT doesn’t look much better. “Her pupils look okay. Laiyla, talk to me.”

“Jesus,” she says on a breath, her gaze floating toward KT. “I hope I don’t look as bad as you.”

An unexpected puff of laughter escapes me, and the terror eases.

Something outside hits the wall facing the property. We all jump and look that direction, which is when I realize the wall is made up of glass louvers. I may not have all my faculties, but I know that’s