She nodded, glanced at Roy. “C’mon! The building could go down.” Then she put her arm around Roy and pulled them toward the terrace.

His gut said take the stairs.

But the woman he loved was gesturing to him outside. “Where are you going?”

She glanced over her shoulder. “Trust me!”

Oh wow. But—maybe it was time he started trusting her.

He carried the woman out to the terrace. “RJ —”

She had already helped Roy over to the edge of the terrace where she’d set up a chair. He climbed up it, then onto a clay-tiled roof, kicked off a tile or two scrambling up to Ziggy who waited at a window.

Huh.

RJ had returned to him. She’s changed clothes—wore black pants, a black shirt, her hair down, and looked every inch the kind of woman that might run through fire to save someone.

Yes, he needed to start trusting her.

“You got her?” RJ asked as he walked over to the chair.

The woman started to rouse.

“Put her down!”

York set her on the chair, crouched in front of her. The woman’s eyes opened, and she stared at York, then RJ—

“You’re okay,” RJ said, stepping in front of York. “There’s a fire in the building, and we need to get out. He’ll help you, okay?”

The woman looked at RJ, her brown eyes big, then she nodded, and looked at York.

Probably better than lifting her by himself, but he did most of the work as he got on the roof, then helped her up.

He put his hand behind her as Ziggy grabbed the woman’s arms and pulled her up.

Behind her, the rumble from the hotel grew louder.

“RJ, let’s go!”

York reached out for her, and she got up on the chair.

Another explosion rocked the hotel. It rippled up through the stories, buckled the roof—

The chair toppled as the roof caved in. Just like that, falling into the story below, rubble and dust coughing up.

Flames broke through.

“RJ!”

She clung to the side of the roof, her feet dangling. “York, pull me up!”

He leaned over, grabbed her arms. “Hang on!”

He pulled her up, fighting for purchase on the roof.

Ziggy came down and helped.

RJ got her elbows on the edge, then pressed up, scrabbling with her feet until she rolled over onto the roof, next to York.

She stared at the sky, breathing hard.

He too rolled over, his heart thumping.

“What is wrong with you two? Get off the roof!” Ziggy had returned to the window.

RJ rolled over and reached for her hand. Scrambled up to the window and dropped inside.

York was right behind her.