by K. C. Lynn
“Is everyone out?” I ask.
He nods. “I think so.”
I watch the dancing flames, trying to gauge their direction while Cap starts passing out orders. Then it happens, the subtle scent penetrates my senses, sinking into the pit of my stomach. It’s one I could never forget.
“Cap, the smell,” I say, looking over at him.
I don’t have to elaborate, he knows what I’m talking about. It took one of our own.
His chin lifts as he takes his own whiff of smoke-filled air. “You sure it’s the same?”
“It is,” Jake says without hesitation.
“All right, we fight this on the outside, no one goes inside that building, understand?”
We all nod, springing into action when a piercing cry shatters the night. A woman with tears streaming down her face runs straight for us. “Help me! Please, my boy is still inside! He’s only nine.”
An iron fist grips my chest to think of anyone in that blazing fury, let alone a child. “What floor?”
“Third. Apartment 302. He left with us. I know he did,” she cries. “He was right behind his brother and sister. I don’t know what happened.”
I turn to Cap, ready to plead my case. “Let us go. Cam, Jake, and I can cover a large area in a short amount of time.”
Indecision wars on his face, the risk after what we endured the other week still fresh. “You have exactly three minutes,” he decides. “If I call it sooner you get the hell out of there. No questions asked. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
We waste no time masking up and moving for the building, these next few minutes imperative for not only us but also the little boy inside.
“Marks, Fuller, and Duggar,” I call into my radio. “I want each of you stationed on each side of the building. Be ready if we need to come out a window.”
“Copy that, Lieutenant.”
“We each take a floor,” I speak to Cam and Jake next. “Phillips, you take first, Ryan, you take second. I got the third.”
Their silence is all I need as compliance as we move in unison. We have fought side by side long enough that we know how the other works.
Moments later, we enter the raging depths of hell. The only other monster I’ve seen of this magnitude is the one we barely made it out of alive the other week. Regardless of the crushing thought, none of us falter.
Cam claps my shoulder as he enters further in, covering his designated area.
We barely hear his muffled calls as Jake and I take the stairs two at a time, pushing through the thick black smoke while flames threaten to engulf us at every angle. Jake takes a left on the second floor, leaving me to continue to the third. Once at the top, I crouch low, shoving my way through the fiery chaos with thermal imaging.
“Fire department, call out!” I listen for any signs of life; opening every cracked door I pass. Each time I’m met with nothing but sweeping flames.
“Hawke, report,” Cap bellows through the radio.
I press the button on my mic. “No sign yet but I still have half the floor to cover. I’m on the east side now.”
“You have less than two minutes. This smoke is taking a quick direction. I don’t like it.”
Teeth grinding, I push myself harder, blinking through the sweat dripping into my eyes and breathing the filtering oxygen into my lungs.
“First floor is clear,” Cam reports. “I’m coming up to help with the second.”
Just then I push open another cracked door and encounter something. Reaching inside, relief courses through me as my fingers grip a small ankle. “I got him!”
I crawl over top to get a better look, shielding the small boy from the chaos around us. My gut tightens as I take in his blackened arm and the raw flesh exposed on the left side of his neck.
He stares up at me helplessly, a single tear escaping his eye, sliding down his rounded cheek. “Help me,” he mouths, the words never making it past his throat.
“It’s going to be all right, buddy. Hang in there. I’m going to get you out of here.” I press my chest for the mic. “Cap. Have paramedics waiting and ready.”
“Copy. Now get out of there. All of you.” The concern in his steely command is unmistakable.
We’re running out of time.
I slip off my mask and hold it over the boy’s small face. My lungs immediately react, burning like an inferno as I inhale nothing but the black smoke billowing around me.
Cradling the young body in my arms, I climb to my feet, determination fueling each hurried step. My strides are quick, eyes burning as I take the stairs.
Jake and Cam meet us halfway up the stairs. They cover either side of me, offering the boy more of a shield from the suffocating heat. Jake slips his mask off and holds it to my face. I take in a few lungfuls of clean air before pushing it back in his direction.
“Let’s go!”
As we make it to the first floor, the roof starts to break, causing pieces of wood and debris to rain down around us.
“Squad five. Out now!” The roar comes from Captain just as we reach the front door. “It’s about to flash.”
All of us break into a run, heat roaring at our backs, reaching for us, threatening to claim.
I duck at the explosion, making it to the street before turning around to watch the building crumble into nothing but rubble. All of it incinerating in the blink of an eye.
“Isaiah!”
The boy’s mother runs for us as I help the waiting paramedics load the small child onto the gurney.
“Oh god,” she sobs when she sees the condition he’s in, falling to her knees. “Please, God. Not my baby.”
The boy’s eyes barely flutter open as my mask is removed and replaced with oxygen. His dark gaze locks with mine, saying everything he can’t. The tortured pain there strikes me in the chest. The depth of his wounds will be scars he will carry for the rest of his life, if he pulls through at all. The thought that he might not is unthinkable.
“Nice job, Lieutenant,” Duggar says, clapping my shoulder, though he looks at all three of us. “Seems like you guys have nine lives lately.”
The joke is amiss. Cam, Jake, and I share a grim look, knowing we once again escaped death by precious seconds.
This was no accident.
If we don’t find out who’s doing this, and soon, there’s no telling what will be at stake next.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Zoey
The late night rush has just started to settle, my aching feet a cold reminder that I need more help around here, but with more help comes more pay and I need all the money I can get right now, especially with this new drug Chrissy is on. I’m paying more out of pocket than ever before, but it’s worth it.
She’s worth it.
I will walk a thousand steps, wait on a thousand tables, and exhaust myself to no end in order to make sure my sister gets the help she needs.
Despite the financial hardship lately, nothing can dull the happiness in my heart that’s been growing every day since that morning with Austin and my sister.
He has come to see me every day since then. Sometimes only for a few short minutes before shift and other times he stays longer, tempting me with that sexy smirk and good boy charm.
He always leaves me with a kiss on the cheek, one that I feel for hours after. It leaves my lips burning in mourning and regret, wishing they could feel that explosive touch just one more time.
He’s slowly wearing me down and he knows it. All the reasons I’ve been telling myself of why I don’t think we are a good idea doesn’t seem to matter anymore. It’s dangerous for my carefully guarded heart.
“Still got that smile I see,” Frank remarks from behind the bar, a knowing look in his eyes.
“Smile?” I feign ignorance.
It makes the older man chuckle. “You know what I’m talking about. Clearly that man is on your mind again.”
Busted.
“It’s a pretty smile, sweetheart. You should carry it
around more often.”
The light moment becomes heavy with the truth. I hate to think how sad I look most of the time. Mainly because I am. Some days it’s really hard to remain upbeat when my sister is constantly fighting for her life, but I need to do better at it, not only for my sake but everyone else’s around me. I need to appreciate the things we do have going for us rather than what we don’t.
I decide to start right now. Lifting to the tips of my toes, I bend over the counter and give him a kiss on the cheek.
The older man’s dark face reddens. “What was that for?”
“For being you. Thank you for being here and helping so much. I couldn’t do it without you.”
He shrugs off my gratitude. “Get outta here, kid. This is all you. I’m just glad you let me come along for the ride. Besides,”—he pauses, clearing his throat—“being here is good for me, too. Stops me from being home alone and in my head. Trust me, nothing good ever comes from that.”
Being a veteran, I can’t even imagine what memories haunt him. I do, however, know what it’s like to not want to walk into the darkness of your own thoughts. If being here helps silence his demons, then here he will stay.
“I’ll keep you around for as long as you want me, Frank.”
“You ain’t ever getting rid of me, sweetheart.” He finishes that vow with a wink, igniting a warmth in my chest. I have more friends than I realize, it’s been hard to remember that since Sam moved away.
As happy as I am for her to be living her dreams over in South Carolina, I’ve missed her. She’s always been my biggest confidant. We’ve known each other since junior high. She’s been with me through some of my hardest obstacles and so has her family. If not for her father, I wouldn’t even own this bar. He helped me with start-up costs so I would have income to take care of Chrissy after my mother bailed.
When Sam and I do have time to talk, I never want to bore her with my problems. Lately, we chat about her upcoming wedding, something I’m so excited for. To know she’s coming back here for it is even better, especially since funds are low right now and the thought of leaving Chrissy for only a few days doesn’t sit well with me.
I’m honored she asked me to be her maid of honor and with Austin being Jase’s best man it means we will be walking that aisle together. The thought triggers an almost giddy sensation inside of me. It makes me even more excited for our friends’ upcoming nuptials.
“Hey, Zoey?” Tara walks over to where we are at the bar, hands fidgeting. Her visible nerves instantly put me on alert.
“Yeah?”
“There’s someone here to see you.”
When her gaze shifts over my shoulder, I turn around, shock rooting me to my spot at the woman standing just inside the bar. It’s been over a year since I have seen or spoken to my mother.
My wide eyes drift over her, taking in her worn appearance. I resemble this woman more than I care to admit, but where my long sun-kissed hair is clean and wavy, hers is dirty and tied back. My blue eyes are clear and hers are clouded with whatever she’s on at the moment.
It doesn’t take long before the shock lifts and anger quickly takes its place. I waste no time walking up to her, my fingernails biting into my palms.
She shoots me a nervous smile. “Hey, baby. You’re looking good.”
“What are you doing here?” I ask, forgoing all pleasantries.
“Can’t I come by and see how my daughter is doing?”
“You could but it’s been a year and you have another daughter who needs you more.”
Her lips press into a thin line at the mention of Chrissy. “Look, I know it’s been a while. Things have been…hard lately.”
She doesn’t know the meaning, because anytime life gets hard, she bails.
“I didn’t come here to fight. Can we talk for a minute, please?”
I contemplate kicking her out, not caring what she has to say, but my curiosity ends up getting the best of me and I gesture to one of the tables in the far corner. She heads that way, leaving the scent of vodka in her wake.
Her gaze moves around the bar as she takes a seat. “The place looks great. Business good?”
I shrug. “It pays medical bills.”
Her chin juts out, eyes narrowing. “Why do you always do that?”
“Do what?”
“Throw your sister in my face.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her she has two daughters, one of whom needs her constant care and attention, but I bite back my retort. Chrissy and I don’t matter to her. I often wonder if we ever did.
“Say what you want, Mother, then get out of here.”
She lifts her hands in front of her, surrendering. “All right. Fine. We’ll do this your way.” She pauses, her bottom lip trembling.
I barely refrain from rolling my eyes. She has always been a great actress.
“Jerry and I broke up,” she blurts out.
I stare back at her, wondering why she thinks I care. I didn’t even know she’d been dating a guy named Jerry.
“He ran out one night, taking pretty much everything I owned, and never came back.” The words are delivered on a sad whisper but I have no sympathy for her.
“Well, Mom, maybe it’s time you clean yourself up and stop shacking up with losers.”
Her shoulders stiffen, face pinching in anger. The façade is slipping, just like I knew it would. “I’m trying here, Zoey. I just…I need some help to get me back on my feet.”
Her motive for being here finally dawns on me, a bitter laugh escaping my mouth. “You’re unbelievable.”
“It would be just a small loan,” she rushes to say. “I’ll pay you back once I get my life in order.”
“How dare you,” I snap, my voice carrying through the bar but I’m too angry to care. “How dare you come here and ask me for money when I can barely afford to take care of my sister!”
“I want to get better, Zoey. For you and Chrissy.”
“Bullshit! I fell for that once before and I never will again.”
A few years back I managed to scrounge up five thousand dollars to give her because she promised she was going to get clean and become a better mother. It never happened. She used it for booze and drugs.
“I mean it this time. I’ve even been looking into rehab centers and—”
“You smell like alcohol right now. Always solving your problems with a bottle, isn’t that right, Mother?”
“Says the woman who owns a bar,” she fires back.
“This bar pays for Chrissy’s medical bills. Ones you left solely on my shoulders.”
“What do you expect?” she cries. “You want to know why I am the way I am? Take a good long look at your sister. Do you have any idea how hard it was to take care of her?”
“Yeah, Mom. I have a really good idea. I’ve been doing it since I was a child.”
“Oh please, Zoey. You’re always feeling sorry for yourself. You didn’t have to pick up the financial responsibility. The state would have put her up in that hospital and neither of us would have had to pay a cent. You chose to take that problem on yourself.”
“She’s not a problem, Mother. She is a human being. My sister. Your daughter!” Tears sting my eyes as I think about the unfairness of this all, especially for Chrissy. “She’s a bright, beautiful girl who deserves to be loved as much as anyone else. We both do and you never gave it to us!” My hands slam down on the table as my temper takes hold. “You are crazy if you think I will give you a dime. All the money I make goes to my sister.”
“I’m your mother!”
“You are nothing of the sort. Not to me or Chrissy. Now get the hell out of my bar and don’t come back.”
She pushes from the table to stand, knocking the chair over in her anger and points down at me. “Both of you were the biggest mistakes of my life, just like your father was.”
The hurtful lashing is not a surprise, but all the same, the cruel words rip through my chest, slicing my soul deep.
I reach for his comfort, needing it to mask the cold pain thrumming through my veins. A pain I should no longer be feeling when it comes to this woman.
“No, Frank. That’s all right. She was just leaving.”
My mother spins on her heels, an angry cry fleeing from her as she storms out of the bar. It isn’t until the door slams shut behind her that I take in my first full breath but it’s a painful one, making it difficult to breathe.
“You all right, sweetheart?” Frank asks, sympathy laced in his voice.
I nod since I can’t manage words. Swallowing thickly, I finally find them. “Do you mind closing up? I really need to go see my sister right now.”
“Of course. You go on. Tara and I got this.”
“Thanks.” After giving his hand a gentle squeeze, I grab my stuff and leave, thankful to see my mother nowhere in sight.
On the drive over, her hurtful words replay, reminding me of the abandonment she inflicted upon Chrissy and me. All the times I had to come up with some lie to tell my sister as to why our mother just disappeared from our lives and why she never comes to see her in the hospital. Now she has the audacity to come and ask me for money when I’m barely making ends meet as it is.
The thought has my hurt quickly morphing into anger.
By the time I arrive at the hospital, I’m raging. I head up to the third floor, ignoring the looks from strangers as they stare at my hot face. My sandals furiously click down the hall as I head toward my sister.
The moment I step into her room, I find Austin sitting next to her bed. I blink several times, shocked to find him here.
“D-oey!” my sister greets me, excitement laced in my name.
My eyes remain on Austin as he stands. He’s in his turnout gear, smelling like smoke, his face dirty with soot. Despite all that, he looks as handsome as ever.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, fearing something has happened.
“I was in the area and thought I would stop by to say hi to Chrissy.” He nudges her chin gently, smiling down at her.
