What the hell was she thinking?!

I nearly tripped as I pulled on the first pair of pants I could lay my hands on. I’d been in bed, not able to sleep, thinking about everything that’d happened over the last two days. Some of it had been about my brothers and the strange realization we’d all come to that afternoon about our involvement in BDSM, but even finding common ground with my brothers hadn’t been enough to stop me from thinking about what happened with Syll.

It’d been a complete misunderstanding on her part, and I’d been stung that she’d thought so little of me. I’d never fucked someone to close a business deal, and I never would’ve done that to someone I…cared about.

I had to admit at least that much to myself. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been scrambling around to get dressed so I could go save her.

I called her on a whim, knowing she’d still be up. The plan had been to explain to her that I’d simply been admiring the space and thinking of ways she could build business because I knew it was something she worried about. I wasn’t sure when it happened, but I’d stopped wanting to buy the bar. Not because I didn’t think it was quality property anymore. It was still perfect for a club, and I still wanted to build one.

But that was all it was. I wanted to build a business that interested me. That’s what the club was to me.

To Syll, her bar was her life.

And that was what had panic flooding me. The bar was her life, and she was going to defend it with her life.

She was going to get herself killed, and that wasn’t acceptable. I didn’t want to even think about a world without her in it.

I knew that meant I didn’t simply care about her, but that wasn’t something I had the luxury of analyzing at this moment. I had to get to her before it was too late. I’d figure the rest of it out after she was safe.

I started toward the parking garage but kept my eye out for a taxi. Whichever car I saw first, I’d take. I didn’t even feel the bite of the air as I broke into a jog. A cab pulled up before I’d gone more than a few feet and I got into the back, giving the address before I even closed the door.

“I’ll give you double the fare if you get me there in ten minutes or less.”

I sat back and closed my eyes, knowing that the cabbie would be less likely to start up a conversation if he thought I was resting. I couldn’t handle talking to him, not when I was trying so hard not to think of all the things that could be happening to Syll without me there.

I never should have let her kick me out that night. If my fucking pride caused her to get hurt because she was alone, I’d never forgive myself. I should have been there with her. Better yet, she shouldn’t have been there at all. She should have been with me, at my house where I could protect her.

I promised myself that, as soon as I had the opportunity, I was going to make things right. I’d be honest with her about the things I wanted, and I’d tell her that we could come to some arrangement…

“Fuck,” I muttered.

I didn’t want an arrangement. I wanted her. She was tough and independent and smart-mouthed, all the things a Dom shouldn’t want in a sub. Normally, I wouldn’t either, but what I felt for her was different than what I’d felt for anyone else.

Different. Stronger.

I’d been miserable this week. Snapping at my brothers had just been the last straw. When I was with her, things weren’t easy, but I felt like I could be me around her, more than I could be around anyone. Hell, half the time, I didn’t really know who I was, and I definitely didn’t like him. But when I was with her…

“You okay, Mister?” the driver asked. “You don’t look so good.”

I made a dismissive gesture that probably came off as rude, but I was too focused on the revelation that was slowly opening up in front of me.

I was falling for her.

No. I had fallen for her.

I was in love with Syll.

“What the hell is that?”

I didn’t look up, not caring about whatever it was that had caught the cabbie’s attention. A moment later, however, I did look up because we’d come to a stop. I handed over three twenties even as I opened the door. I stepped out into the cold night and noticed two things, one right after the other. The first was that there weren’t any cops here yet. The second was that I’d seen what caught the driver’s attention.

Smoke.

Thick smoke billowing out of the open door. Of the bar. Where Syll was.

I started forward, only to be knocked aside when someone came running out of the door. I caught a glimpse of Billy’s panicked expression before I turned and ran inside. If he’d done something to Syll, I’d deal with him later.

The heat hit me hard, and I sucked in a breath. The smoke that was stinging my eyes filled my lungs, and I started to cough. I hunched over, trying to get to some of the cleaner air. It wasn’t much better, but I could see where the flames were now. The entire right side was in flames, and the air was so thick with the smell of gasoline, I could taste it.

“Syll?!” I yelled her name as best I could. “Syll?!”

I ran into a chair and cursed. How was I supposed to see anything in here? I moved around it and spotted a dark shape on the floor. Syll was on her stomach, blood trickling from a cut on her temple. Her eyes were closed, and I couldn’t tell if she was even breathing. I didn’t want to think about that though. I needed to get her out of here, and then I could deal with whatever came next.

“I’ve got you.” I scooped her up and started back to the door.

I was almost outside when the blast of an explosion hit me, and I stumbled forward, sharp pain blazing across my back and shoulders. I ignored it, taking the last few steps I needed to get us outside. I didn’t stop there though. Behind me was a building full of alcohol that wouldn’t fare well soon. I couldn’t let Syll be anywhere near that.

I’d gone another half-dozen steps when I realized that I was hearing something other than the roar of flames in my ears. Sirens. A few moments later, two cop cars came screeching around the corner.

I ignored them and knelt on the sidewalk, still cradling Syll in my arms.

“Syll, you have to wake up, okay? There’s so much I need to tell you.” I brushed hair back from her face. “Please, Syll. Don’t do this to me.”

I only hoped I wasn’t too late.