That’s when I saw it curling under the door from the kitchen.
My heart kicked into higher gear.Oh, crap.
I broke into a run, just as the fire alarm started blaring.
Shit.
Quickly, I snatched a fire extinguisher off the wall and shoved the kitchen door open.
The smoke was thicker in the kitchen, and I saw people stumbling and coughing.
“Everyone out!” I grabbed one of the servers by the arm and shoved him toward the door. “Go.”
I coughed, trying to shield my mouth from the smoke. More people hurried out.
“Keep moving. Don’t stop.”
Then I saw the flames coming from one of the big, industrial, stainless-steel stoves. I lifted the extinguisher and started spraying it.
A second later, Chef Harvey staggered out of the smoke and went down on one knee. He let out a hacking cough. I grabbed him and helped him up. “Come on, Chef.”
“I don’t know what happened.”
“We need to go.”
I got him to the door, then spun back. I had to put the fire out. I wasn’t letting anyone get hurt. I aimed the extinguisher again and kept spraying until the flames went out. The smoke was still thick and I coughed some more.
I heard a noise behind me and turned.
There was a shadowy outline in the smoke. I squinted.
“God, Rupert. What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to help.”
“We need to get out. Now.”
“We do.”
Suddenly, he grabbed me, wrapping both arms around me.
“Rupert!” The extinguisher fell from my fingers and clattered to the floor. “Let me go.”
His arms tightened and he whirled me around. “Never.” He yanked me backward and one of my shoes fell off. I struggled against him.
That’s when I knew.
I looked up into his face. “It wasyou. Everything was you.”
His face twisted. “Be quiet. We’re leaving.”
Chapter30
Ro
Isprinted into the lobby, Caden one step behind me. I saw smoke coming from the Summit restaurant, and people stumbling out coughing.
Chef Harvey’s stocky form staggered into the lobby. “What happened?”
