Saving Tally (last Book 6) Jacobs Broken Mercenaries

chapter 22

Tally

What the fuck was that? Lifting my chin off the floor. I open my eyes, but all I see is smoke and debris. There’s light all around me. I think it’s fire until the air begins to clear. That’s when I realize the light is coming from the sky and I’m no longer on the main floor. The building has collapsed around me. I can’t move my legs. Twisting my upper body, I look behind me. It seems I’m pinned by a beam. I drop my forehead to the floor. What’s that smell?
OH, no! It’s not enough. I’m pinned beneath a massive beam, but the complex is! On fire. This isn’t the distraction I was looking for. Where is everybody? Are they already dead? Okay, I’ve got to focus. I need to get out of here before I become ashes. I push off the ground, trying to lift the beam, but I’m not strong enough to do more than budge it. I really wish I transitioned. I’d be able to get free if I had my full power. I try again.
It’s hopeless. I can’t believe this is how I’m going to go. There’s so much I didn’t get to do or say. Cole is the first person who comes to mind. He’ll never know how I truly feel.
“Tallisa!”
“Cole?” I call his name. Am I imagining him? Is this what happens when you’re dying?
“I’m coming, pet.”
His voice gives me butterflies in my stomach. It’s really him. I can hear shuffling and the unmistakable sound of footprints getting closer. 
“I’m going to lift this, but you need to move fast and forward only. Don’t go to the side. Once I lift this beam, it’s going to collapse everything in on itself.” 
It’s really him! Collapse? The buildings gone. The place I grew up in.
“Tallisa! Do you understand?” Cole’s stern voice makes me snap out of my daze and focus.
“Move forward. Fast. I got it.” I repeat back to him.
“Good. On three. One... two...”
On three I hear Cole grunt and metal scrape across cement. The moment I feel the pressure relieved, I move as fast as I can forward. My legs wobble but I can still use them, thankfully. On the last step, I launch; landing on the sidewalk outside the complex, or what’s left of it, as I hear a loud series of crashes and metal grinding behind me. Turning around, I take in the mess of the complex. 
“Cole!”
I don’t see him. Carefully easing to the edge, I look over. His hand clasps the ground in front of me. I grab his body, helping him out of the pit that used to be a beautifully constructed basement. He collapses onto his back on the ground next to me. I lean over him with a small, unsure smile.
“Hey, you.” I say.
He focuses on my face, taking my mouth in a passionate kiss. When he breaks away, I’m out of breath, craving more.
“What happened?” he asks. Cole’s hands encase my face while his eyes rapidly scan my body for injuries.
“I don’t know. I left my room and everyone was gone.”
The ground shakes beneath us. There’s a deep rippling across the city, like something you’d see in water. Poseidon!
“It must be Cael. Jacob and Poseidon have been waiting for him.” I say, finishing my thought out loud.
“Think Tallisa. Where would they be?” 
Like I would know. Why does he want to know? My thoughts must be obvious because Cole shoots me a disappointed look before saying:
“I’ve changed Tallisa. I’ve come to realize the humans need us, and the world is better with them in it. So, I need your help. Did Jacob mention any plans? Anything that would lead us to them?”
I can’t think my head is clouded by everything else. Poseidon wanted him to himself. He’s the god of the sea. The docks!
“Poseidon is strongest in water! He would take Cael to the docks!”
Cole smiles at me, impressed with my train of thought.
“That’s good Tallisa. Now stay here. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
What?
“No! No way! I’m coming with you.”
He stops mid-sift, looking like his angry, bossy self I haven’t seen in months. It sends an excited jolt through my core. I push aside. Now is really not the time.
“you’re too vulnerable right now, pet. How am I supposed to concentrate  you’re in harm’s way? Stay here. I promise I’ll be safe and I’ll come back to you. I’ll always come back to you.” 
Damn it! How can I argue with that? My cheeks are wet as I nod at him. The next minute he’s gone and I feel cold. Even with the sun beating down on me, I shiver.