Page 31 of Grayson

“Hollywood and Hawk,” Cap’s voice echoes through our helmets, “Fed and Hayes, start clearing all units.” We don’t wait as we move into the building beating on the doors.

“Fire department,” the sounds of our voices echo through the radios and we clear every unit one by one. The sounds of crackling boards can be heard, the heat filtering through the building can be felt as we move together.

“Fire department, call out.” No one had indicated anyone was missing. But in the chaos, it’s our job to ensure everyone that was once inside has been accounted for and are now safe.

“Are we clear?” Captain asks as we move upstairs.

“Fire is contained to the front unit of the building on the second floor,” I tell him. “Can we speak with the tenants outside and clarify no one is still left inside?”

“Fire department, call out!” Fed beats on the apartment door marked 2B as Hollywood takes 2D. Hayes and myself move toward the front where the heat grows more intense. Beating on 2C he hollers out and opens the door. I use my sledge and get in position before glancing back at my brothers. All three give me the go-ahead before I swing into motion. I shift to the side as the door bursts open and a wave of heat comes out in a rush.

“Everyone from the second floor is accounted for,” Captain’s voice comes through the radio.

“First floor residents all outside,” Atta assures us.

“Perimeter is secure,” Myles is the last to check in.

“Okay everyone out,” Cap orders and we all fall in line.

By the time we get downstairs and exit the building the rest of the guys are lined up and ready with the hose.

Standing back we watch as the water penetrates the fire, dancing along the roof, through the windows and the vents placed in the roof by our team.

Glancing around at the residents I feel the same deep ache I get whenever we are met with those that are suffering the loss.

Their lives will never be the same after tonight. They are all safe, but the lives they’ve built, they are now soiled by this memory.

Things can be replaced, but the fears, they will linger.

In the search bar, I’d already typed in her name, but my finger hovered over the enter button. A sense of betrayal nagged at my thoughts, keeping me from the last step.

I know already that they lost their parents, Tori had freely told me that much but the details, I couldn’t help but wonder.

“What are you doing?” Hayes enters the room and flops down on the couch. He is sweaty and shirtless, most likely coming from the workout room. Lifting a small towel, he wipes at his forehead then drapes it around his neck before relaxing back onto the cushions.

“Nothing.” I pull back my hand and figure I’ll just ask.

“Doesn’t look like nothing.” Pointing to the screen he cocks his brow. “Isn’t that your neighbor’s name?”

Leave it to Asher to point out the obvious and make me feel like more of an ass.

“Why would you be searching the internet for your neighbor’s name? Was she or is she a stripper?”

“No, you dick, she is not or has she ever been a stripper.”

He holds his hands up in surrender. “Hey now, this is not me knocking the profession. I happen to think those women are dedicated, and strong-minded. So what gives then?”

I’d hoped the stripper topic would detour us away from why I’d been searching for Skye on the internet, but Hayes swings right back to it. “So what gives then?” He settles into the cushions a little deeper and Coop enters the room too, followed by Hollywood.

“What are we doing, boys?” Coop takes the recliner, kicking out the footrest and grabbing the controller as Rhett lays at the opposite end of the couch. All three of them are now watching me, as that sinking feeling returns.

“Hawk is searching for his neighbor on the Internet.”

“Oh wow, is she a stripper?” Rhett asks and before thinking it through I pick up the throw pillow off the floor and bean it as his head.

Direct hit.

“She isn’t a stripper.” We are all built the same I swear. “The crazy teen living with her is her sister. They lost their parents in a car accident a couple years back and she got full custody.”

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