Summer staggered to her feet. Tina and Camille flew to the side, all braced for the impending explosion from Bill’s rigged device.

Nothing.

Summer flew down the stairs, then stopped in horrified shock at the gaping hole in the main floor.

The two men had fallen straight through to the basement below. Heart in her throat, she dropped to her knees at the torn, splintery edge. “Joe!” she cried.

From the terrifying black silence came a beam of light. Kenny was down there, on his knees, speaking into his radio, calling for an ambulance. His glasses were crooked, his face filthy when he looked up.

“Kenny,” she cried urgently. “There’s some sort of a device—”

“I got it.”

“Joe—”

“I’ve got him too. Listen to me, Summer. All of you. Back up away from the edge.”

He didn’t want her to see, which meant it was bad. Camille had dropped down next to Summer, gripping Tina with one hand, her daughter in the other. Summer looked into Tina’s blank and shocked eyes, and then back at Camille. “I love you both,” Summer said fiercely, knowing she’d never hold back those words again. Not ever. And then she ran for the stairs that would lead her down to Joe.

Kenny quickly moved to block her way. “Summer—”

She shoved around him. Joe lay on his side, covered in dust and debris, eyes closed. “Oh my God.”

“Don’t move him.”

“I won’t.” His big, long, beautiful body was far too still. Whipping around, she searched out Bill. He was there sitting up, his back to a wall, his leg bent at a funny angle, cradling his arm, his face pale and clammy, eyes closed. Summer didn’t waste another second on him and turned back to Joe, dropping to her knees at his side.

In the distance came the sirens, and she nearly cried in relief. “Hang on,” she told Joe. “You hang on.” She covered one of his hands with hers. It was warm with life, and she bowed her body over his, as if she could protect him, but it was too late for that. He’d put it all on the line.

For her.

“I love you.” She stroked a light finger over his jaw. “Joe. I love you so much. Please hear me.”

Pounding footsteps hit the stairs, and then there were more lights, and she was gently shoved out of the way. The paramedics moved Joe onto a stretcher with a c-collar and a firm backboard, immobilizing him, and then began an IV.

Surrounded by Tina and Camille, Summer watched him being loaded into the ambulance, then Bill into another one, with a police escort.

“I’ll take all of you to the hospital,” Kenny said.

Camille hugged him hard, then cupped his face and kissed him right on the lips. “Yes, take us to the hospital. And then you can take me. Anywhere. I’m yours.”