Page 103 of The Firefighter's Fate

We burst into the office and burst straight into a meeting.

I instantly recognize the man behind the desk as Joseph Wilson, the United States senator for this great state. His head spins around to us as we enter his office and the meeting he’s conducting. The other members of the gathering all turn and stare at us in surprise, all in their expensive suits and with their impressive watches. Their money won’t save them against a team of pissed-off firefighters. The senator stops mid-word as we interrupt.

He’s totally shocked that ten burly firefighters have rocked up here, unannounced.

Well, he’s about to get the real big shock of his life in a moment...

I don’t waste a second. I stroll straight up to him and, in one movement, grab his fancy suit’s collar and use it to drag his body over the desk. The man cries out as I manhandle him. He’s so used to getting his own way that he’s totally surprised when someone might even dare touch his entitled ass.

He can’t do anything to me. Not even with all his power and all his money.

The other two people in the meeting sprint out of the room, guided to the door generously by my firefighters.

I ignore Joseph Wilson’s pitiful cries and lean down next to him so that I can speak directly into his ear.

“I know what you did,” I whisper to the corrupt senator. “I know what you ordered.”

“What?”

His voice is shaking. He’s scared out of his mind.

Good.

He doesn’t even know who I am.

I pull up his collar so that we come face-to-face and he can have a good look at me.

“Look at my face,” I growl. “Who am I?”

He splutters.

“You... you’re a Penmayne.”

He’s not as stupid as he looks.

I pull the collar and drag the man over the table to the ground. He tries to get to his feet, but I continue to drag him over to the window. It’s not over for him yet. The other firefighters stand around on guard - they aren’t going to let anyone else in here until I’m done.

I pull the senator and tip him over the open skyscraper window so that his head hangs out into the open air and his legs are held by me. All he can see is the ground nearly a hundred levels below. I want him to truly appreciate having the highest level office.

He’s squealing like a pig. All the arrogance he so uncaringly displays in public has faded, leaving behind a sniveling, sad, little man.

“You are correct, Joseph. I am a Penmayne. And I am here as vengeance.”

“Please take me back in. Please.”

He’s crying now. Tears flutter in the wind.

I would feel sorry for him if I didn’t know who he is and what he’s done. I might even feel a touch of pity for the man if I didn’t know the details of the helpless victims he has created... or the money he’s stolen from the public purse... or the innocent people he’s hurt.

Or what he attempted to do to my family... and our mansion...

And, most of all, what he attempted to do to Ember.

Burn her alive?

Yeah, I’m not feeling the slightest bit sorry for the bastard.

“Do you know why I’m here?” I ask him.

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