He lowered his head to her ear so that she could hear him over the howl of the wind that began once the window shattered. “Hold me tight and don’t let go! We just need to get to the stairs.”
No sooner had he finished speaking, everything became still again, except for the wind. It continued to weep and whine. People were pushing and shoving. They were panicked, and their screams were deafening.
Imani nodded then realized they were going the wrong way. She pointed to where everyone else was running.
He shook his head no as he dragged her along. “There’s an emergency exit by the executive conference rooms.” Garrett knew there were too many people trying to get out through the other exit, and the one they were headed towards would probably be less crowded.
Imani wasn’t sure what was the loudest, the pounding in her ears or the rapid beating of her heart. She did her best to keep up with Garrett but moving was awkward. She was almost seven months pregnant and not as quick as she would have liked.
They finally made it to the doors, and it was blocked. A steel beam had fallen in front of it, and office furniture blocked the door.
“Dammit!” He yelled. Garrett had to release his hold on her in order to slide the heavy-ass beam and the furniture out of the way. Gently, as if she were a porcelain doll, he moved her to the side.
“I can help.” Imani hadn’t taken one step before he stopped her. “Don’t. Stay over there. You might hurt yourself or the baby.” He looked up at the ceiling and all of the light fixtures hanging by an exposed wire or two, and the sparking it was causing. He prayed nothing caught fire until they got the hell out of there.
Considering a beam had already landed in front of the door, it was possible more things could drop out of the ceiling. He yelled back to Imani, “Watch out for more falling debris.”
Garrett had to act fast. He wasn’t sure if the earthquake was finished, if they would experience significant aftershocks, or if the entire building was going to collapse on top of them. Regardless, he had to get them out.
Imani stood to the side, looking on. She hated feeling helpless and weak. She wanted—needed—to do something, but she didn’t know what.
Garrett took off his suit coat and sent it flying into the air where it landed somewhere in the chaos of the building. He loosened his tie, then quickly bent to move the huge obstacle out of the doorway. As he lifted, then shoved, it moved slightly. Garrett lifted again with all his might, and Imani could see his shirt tighten every time he flexed those chorded muscles. They bulged from beneath his white dress shirt. It had been almost four months since she’d run her hands over that body. Was she crazy? Her only thought should have been to thank God that Garrett had hit the genetic lottery and kept himself in tip-top condition. It was for that reason that she had no doubt he would get that thing out of their way. Garrett would not only move it, but that desk and those chairs stacked up beside the door would be tossed aside before the building started to move again. She was sure of it.
Imani turned her head at the sound of voices. There were a few stragglers left behind. Two men, she didn’t recognize, and Lucinda, Garrett’s admin.
Imani took off in a sprint toward them, or as fast as she could, with her little basketball sitting in the center of her stomach, and called out. “Help! Please over here. Please help us!” She held her arms above her head crisscrossing them as she waved frantically.
The three of them quickly made the short trek over to the alcove where she and Garrett were. One of the guys saw what Garrett was trying to do and immediately went over to help.
Sweat was pouring down Garrett’s face as he continued to try to move the beam, and now he had help. The man’s voice was strained. “I forgot about this exit.” Another second or two, the other man started to lift too.
It moved, slightly.
Frustrated and breathing hard, Garrett stopped. “Seth . . . Anthony . . . wait . . . wait.” Garrett let go, and so did they. “This will work better if we lift at the same time. I’ll count it off, and we’ll lift on three.”
They nodded in agreement.
“One . . . two . . . three.” They heaved and lifted. Finally, the beam moved but not enough.
Seth yelled out. “Ahhhhhhhh . . . Just our luck this thing would fall here, Mr. Hadley.” He had turned beet red as he gave it everything he had.
Imani and Lucinda looked on helplessly. Imani hadn’t seen Garrett’s administrative assistant in a while and regretted it being under these circumstances.
The three of them grunted and growled, attempting to move something with limited success that, most likely, a crane had probably placed there.
Magically, another pair of hands was added to the mix. It was only then that they were finally able to make progress moving the thick steel.
Those hands belonged to Raymond.
Granite was softer than Garrett’s face when he looked up and recognized who had helped
