Page 19 of Passions Ignite

Zoey took a moment to catch her breath, her eyes scanning the area to make sure everyone was safe. The fire was still raging behind them, but they had made it out.

“Get them to the medics,” Zoey ordered.

The medics moved in and took the civilians to safety. Zoey watched them go, her mind already shifting back to the fire and the work still to be done. She grabbed her radio to check in with her team.

“Containment is holding, but we’re not out of the woods yet,” Ramirez reported.

Zoey nodded, even though she couldn’t see her. “Keep at it. We need to keep this fire from spreading any farther.”

She turned back toward the flames and pushed everything else aside—the exhaustion, the fear of losing someone, and maybe, she hoped, the moment when she nearly kissed Lux Valentine.

It didn’t work.

The fire still roared, but she couldn’t let her team lose focus. She paused for a moment and looked around. There were still a few members of the squad staying back in areas where the fires were less likely to affect trapped campers and hikers.

Zoey frowned. No doubt, they subscribed to Lux’s strategy.

“Haley, I need that hose over here now!”

Haley, a young firefighter with a strong build, rushed over. Her face was streaked with soot and sweat dripped from her brow, but she moved with purpose, dragging the heavy hose behind her.

Zoey grabbed it from her and aimed the stream at a particularly stubborn section of the fire, steam rising as water hit the flames.

“Ramirez, how’s it looking on your end?” Zoey asked over radio.

“We’re losing control over here, Knight. We’re keeping it from jumping the road, but it’s pushing hard,” Ramirez said.

Zoey could hear the strain in her voice. She knew Ramirez and her crew were exhausted, but they couldn’t let up. “Keep at it. I’m sending Captain Hunter and her team to reinforce you. Hold the line.”

“Copy that.”

Zoey turned to Hallie Hunter, who had just arrived on scene with her team, and nodded.

“On it,” Captain Hunter said. She motioned to her crew, and they headed off toward Ramirez’s location.

Zoey watched them go, her mind racing as she considered their options. The fire was still spreading, and they were stretched thin. They needed more resources, but she knew the other teams were just as overwhelmed.

Her radio crackled again, and she heard Lux’s voice come through. “Knight, it’s Valentine. I’m coordinating air support. We are seeing the fire pushing uphill. It’s going to be harder to contain if it gets over the ridge.”

Zoey’s heart skipped at the sound of Lux’s voice, but she pushed the feeling aside. There was no time for that now. “I know. We’re doing everything we can down here. What’s the status of air support?”

“Still ten minutes out. I’m trying to get them to prioritize your location, but they’ve got other spots to cover too.”

Zoey gritted her teeth, frustration bubbling inside her. Ten minutes could mean the difference between holding the line and losing control of the fire. But she couldn’t afford to lose her cool. Not now. “Okay, we’ll keep pushing. Just get them here as soon as you can.”

“Will do.”

Zoey lowered the radio, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. The fire was relentless, and they were running out of options. She looked around at her team, seeing the exhaustion on their faces and determination in their eyes. They were giving everything they had, but she knew they needed more.

Zoey’s mind raced as she considered their next move. They needed to hold the fire back, but they also needed to prepare for the worst-case scenario. She spotted Lux’s air team on the horizon, their helicopters slicing through the smoke as they approached.

“They’re here,” she said, more to herself than anyone else.

The helicopters swooped in low, dropping water on the flames, and the fire was momentarily subdued by the deluge. But Zoey knew it wouldn’t last. The fire was too strong, too determined to be easily defeated.

She grabbed her radio again, calling out to her team. “Everyone, pull back to the perimeter! We need to regroup and prepare for another push.”

Her team responded quickly, moving back to the established fire line. Zoey joined them, her mind still racing as she considered their options. The fire was still spreading, and they were running out of time.

---