Shattered Then Healed By His Love (by Haley Blanton) novel Chapter 15

hapter 15 He Saved Her

Chapter 15 He Saved Her

Just as the thought crossed her mind-

Two strong hands suddenly grabbed her by the arms.

There was something hard on the man’s right index finger pressing into her elbow, causing a sharp sting.

Before she could even turn her head, her body was pulled to the side.

And along with her, the man behind her fell as well.

Bang-

The massive round chandelier crashed to the floor, landing right next to Natalie’s feet.

It hadn’t struck her, but when it fell, the flames surged outward violently. The fire caught her skirt, and the heat scared her ankle.

She let out a small gasp of pain.

Someone yanked her forcefully out of the way, dragging her into a safer area.

The man beside her stood, quickly pulling off his suit jacket and swatting at the flames on her skirt.

Natalie lifted

Marcus?

her eyes through the thick smoke and saw the man’s sharp, familiar features.

What was he doing here?

“Aaah–1”

A child’s piercing scream came from the back of the warehouse, snapping Natalie out of her

daze.

She snatched the jacket from his hand. “Go save the kid! Don’t worry about me!”

Marcus glanced down at her. Once he saw the fire on her skirt had started to die out, he turned. and sprinted toward the back of the warehouse.

At the same time, a security guard rushed in.

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Chapter 15 He Saved Her

“I’ll help you.”

He pulled off his own uniform jacket and helped smother the flames on her clothes.

20

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Smoke poured into Natalie’s nose and lungs. After going in and out of the burning building twice–even holding her breath–she’d still inhaled a lot of toxic fumes.

She couldn’t stop coughing. Each breath grew harder and harder, the smoke overwhelming her lungs.

It felt like a dozen hands were wrapped around her throat, squeezing the life out of her–no air in, no air out. Her heart raced so fast it felt like it was going to burst from her chest.

It was unbearable.

Even worse than when she nearly drowned all those years ago.

She hadn’t been crushed by the chandelier. That had been luck.

But she might not escape the smoke.

The flames on her skirt were gone, but Natalie couldn’t get up. Her body was completely limp.

“Miss, hey, stay with me…”

“Come on, wake up! I’ll help

ou out of here!”

The security guard’s voice echoed in her ears. It sounded close, and yet oddly distant.

Natalic was losing her hearing–her vision too. Everything was going fuzzy…

And then everything went black.

Marcus had already found the last child and brought them out safely.

By the time he returned to the site of the chandelier collapse, Natalie had collapsed into the smoke.

The security guard’s voice was panicked. “Mr. Collins, she passed out…

“Take the kid and go.”

“Right.”

Marcus handed the child off to the guard.

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Chapter 15 He Saved Her

The man took the child and hurried out of the fire.

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Marcus grabbed a jacket from nearby and covered Natalie’s legs. Then he knelt, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her out of the fire.

By the time he reached the front gate, emergency personnel had arrived in force.

He brought Natalie to a safe zone and laid her down. People quickly gathered around.

Marcus knelt beside her and checked her vitals. When he pressed his fingers against the philtrum under her nose, his brows furrowed.

“How is she, Mr. Collins…”

James stood by, watching Natalie lying on the ground, his heart sinking.

“All non–essential personnel, clear out!”

Marcus barked, and James immediately began clearing the crowd with the other officials.

Soon, only Marcus, Natalic, and James remained at the corridor.

“Mr. Jackson, is it her heart? Has it stopped?”

Marcus didn’t answer. Instead, he moved over her, knees on either side of her waist. His hands pressed down firmly on her chest, starting compressions.

Natalie’s

body rose and fell with each movement.

He repeated it over and over, but there was no sign of improvement.

Sweat beaded on Marcus’s forehead. His sharp eyes stayed fixed on Natalie’s pale face. He braced both hands beside her checks.

After a brief pause, he made a decision. He lifted her chin, pinched her nose shut, and leaned in without hesitation.

James’s eyes widened. He had never seen anything like this before.

With Marcus performing CPR and mouth–to–mouth resuscitation, Natalie’s breathing and heartbeat finally returned.

Marcus stood up and turned to James.

“Is the ambulance here yet?”

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Chapter 15 He Saved Her

“Two more minutes.”

Natalie woke up at eight o’clock that evening.

When she opened her eyes, all she saw was a stark white ceiling.

The sharp scent of disinfectant filled her nose, making her cough softly.

“Natalie, you’re awake?”

Lucy, who had been dozing off at the bedside, immediately jerked upright.

Natalie looked around but didn’t see Marcus.

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