Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 758

Tara watched the house burn from beneath a tree, her lips curling into a triumphant grin. No one had made it out so far the night was going her way. Maybe all those whispered prayers at the temple hadn't been in vain after all.

But then her smile faded. Out of nowhere, a group of strangers appeared, dousing the broken window with gasoline. The flames surged, crackling hungrily in the night.

Inside, Clara had been ready to carry the old lady out through that very gap, but now the fire was too wild-there was no way through. She stumbled backward, the heat flushing her cheeks, choking on the thick, blinding smoke that filled the room.

The old lady wheezed, coughing so hard it sounded like it might break her. "Clara, listen to me.” Her voice was ragged but insistent. "One of us has to die here tonight, or he'll never let this go. If I die, he'll want Dylan to hold you responsible. If it's you, then he wins no matter what. His people are watching-someone has to stay. If you try to save me, neither of us will make it. Dylan may be his son, but all he cares about is power. He won't care what happens to Dylan after. Promise me, you and Dylan will watch out for each other."

She clutched Clara's jacket, pulling it around her shoulders. "If we don't leave someone behind, we're both dead."

Clara froze, her heart pounding. "Ma'am..."

The old lady squeezed her hand, her sigh heavy with years of regret. "You know who did this. I just never thought, after all we've been through, it would end like this. Go, Clara. Please. I'm asking you."

Clara's throat ached with emotion-not for herself, but for Dylan, caught in the middle of all this.

I'll never forgive myself," the old lady whispered,

shaky breath. "You

her, disbelief flickering in her eyes, then managed a bittersweet smile. "Dylan made the right

pressed a slip of paper into Clara's hand-a charm she'd begged from

fingers around it before the old lady straightened, using the last of her strength to head for the broken window. Flames roared, and

gripped the charm and pushed deeper into the smoke, finally kicking open a locked door at the back. But instead of freedom, there was only a sheer drop-a cliff. Her foot slipped, but she managed to grab onto a low branch just in time, heart hammering. If

wonder the men outside only cared about the

edge, heading for a spot the fire hadn't reached. Her arms ached with exhaustion. Just

She reached up, struggling to climb,

red from tears. "I knew you'd make it. You nearly scared

out a shaky laugh and grabbed his wrist, letting him

you find

trying to save the main hall, and there were only a few people left by the guest house including some woman laughing like she'd lost

her up and carried her farther from the flames, into the safety

clear. She still clutched the charm, holding it