Page 133 of Engulfing Emma

“Evelyn will be home at four,” I say. “I can’t let this happen to her, Mom.”

“Youaren’t doing anything to her. Nobody is.”

I look at the television again, sickened by the images of a forty-story building being engulfed by flames. The entire thing is going up in smoke, like a chimney.

“I knew this would happen.”

“Stop it, Emma. You don’t know anything.”

“I have to go. I’ll see you when you get here.”

Ivy and Sara flank my sides as Becca keeps a close eye on me from across the room. Just this morning we were talking about how lucky we were. How happy we were. Butshe’sthe lucky one. Becca doesn’t have to worry about this happening every time Jordan walks out the door.

Sara’s phone rings. I hear bits and pieces of her conversation. “Denver, she’s freaking out. Isn’t there anything you can tell us?” She holds the phone out to me. “He wants to talk to you.”

I take it. My hand is shaking. “Hello?”

“I only have a minute. We’re in contact with Brett, but personal conversations aren’t allowed over the radio. I wanted to tell you what he would say if he could talk to you right now. He’d say that if you or Evie or Bria or Leo were ever in a situation like this, he hopes someone like him would do everything they could to help you without thinking twice about it. That’s what he’s doing right now, Emma. He’s saving people so they can go home to their husbands and wives and children. Those people being airlifted off the roof? They’re alive because of him.” Someone shouts in the background. “I have to go. Just know he’s not him, Emma. Brett is not your father.”

“He t-told you?” I ask, shaking with sobs.

“Yeah. He did. Listen, Brett is the most skilled firefighter I’ve ever known. Have faith in that.”

I can only nod.

“Bye, Emma.”

The line goes dead.

I feel likeI’mgoing to die when I see part of the building explode. Audible gasps come from the three women in the room with me when glass is blown sideways, along with concrete and other debris.

For the next thirty minutes they try to comfort me, but I’m not sure I hear any of their words. My ears ring and my head is spinning. My thoughts go to Leo. I wonder if he’ll ever forgive his dad. Then I go numb. I shut down, waiting for the fateful call.

“Emma! Emma!”

Ivy is shaking me, trying to get my attention. I look up at her.

“He got out. Brett is out. He’s okay.”

I’m not sure I heard her correctly. “What?”

“The explosion somehow created a pathway for them to evacuate down through the building. He’s being taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, but Bass said it’s just a formality. He’s fine.” She puts her hands on my shoulders and looks me in the eye. “Did you hear me? Brett’s going to be fine.”

Sara hands me my purse. “Let’s go. You can see for yourself.”

We leave for the hospital, and all I think the entire time is that I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be doing this. I don’t want this to be my life.

I have to protect my daughter.

Chapter Thirty-five

Brett

My body aches badly. My throat is sore. I’m covered with sweat, soot, and dust. But I smile anyway.

Being in that building was as bad as it gets. I’ve never been so worried about getting out before. We were trapped. Literally trapped more than twenty floors up with no way down. The fire was eating more and more, burning faster and hotter, and there were still over a hundred people to evacuate. None of us said it, but we were all thinking that maybe there wouldn’t be enough time.

My eyes close and I rest against the pillow, breathing through the oxygen mask they put on me as a precaution. As hard as it was, these are the days firefighters live for. I beat it. I beat the fire. It didn’t get me. It didn’t getanyone. Zero casualties. It’s almost unbelievable, considering what a disaster it was.

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