The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 281

Laura opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. She could only stare at Franco, desperate for him to listen. “Franco, I just wanted you to—”

He didn’t even let her finish. Franco turned away, not bothering with a single word. He walked out onto the porch, lit a cigarette, then strode down the steps, his back broad and unyielding, and disappeared without a second glance.

Laura’s teeth sank into her lip as she tried to keep herself together. Her eyes stung with tears.

Why didn’t he mention what happened this morning at The Glades? Why didn’t he bring up that she had tried to hire someone to kill him? Was it because he believed she had some kind of get-out-of-jail-free card, thanks to her blood?

What was it about her blood that mattered so much to Franco? Who was important enough to him that he would ignore everything else?

She’d tried to look into all of this behind his back but hadn’t found a thing. Nothing made sense.

Before Franco got into his car, he turned to the waiting bodyguards. “Keep an eye on her. No more accidents. Especially nothing involving blood.”

“Yes, sir,” one of them replied immediately.

...

By the time night settled over Misty Vale, the place was dead quiet.

Jay walked the guards out as they got ready to patrol for the night. “Keep it down when you pass the main house,” he whispered. “Don’t wake Mrs. White.”

The hush was broken by a sudden shriek—the sharp cry of an alarm coming from the main house.

“Fire!” someone yelled.

Jay spun around and his heart skipped a beat. Flames lit up the second floor of the old, dark mansion. Black smoke started pouring from the windows, swallowing the building fast.

“Where’s Petty?” His voice cut through the noise.

Jay opened his mouth, “I’ve already sent men up to—”

But Franco was already moving, heading for the house before Jay could finish. He tried to stop him, but Franco just shoved past, storming toward the fire as if nothing else mattered, his jaw clenched and eyes wild.

A big black German Shepherd darted down the stairs from the burning second floor, barking like crazy. It skidded to a stop right in front of Franco, staring up at him with intense eyes and wouldn’t stop barking.

That dog was way too smart for its own good. Its frantic barking made it clear—someone was still upstairs. And at this hour, the only person who could be up there was Petty.

Jay was right behind Franco as they ran inside, both barreling straight into the smoke and heat.

But in the swirl of chaos, with everyone distracted by the fire, no one noticed the slim figure that had slipped quietly around the other side of the house. She pulled a rope from her waist, one she’d snagged from the attic, and without a second thought, sprinted for the black sedan waiting quietly in the courtyard.