Page 3 of Heart of a Hero

“I’ve got a plan, Cap. Trust me.”

Briggs narrowed his eyes at me, suspicion etched on his face. “What are you thinking, Dawson?”

I pointed to the adjacent building. “I can get to the roof from there, rappel down to her window, and bring her back up.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Briggs barked, his face turning red. “That’s suicide! I order you to keep your ass on the ground, Kane.”

But I was already moving, sprinting toward the neighboring building. Briggs shouted after me, but his words were lost in the chaos. I knew he was just trying to protect me, but I couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Not when a life hung in the balance.

I burst through the door of the adjacent building, my heart pounding in my chest. The stairwell stretched before me, a daunting climb to the top. But I didn’t hesitate, taking the steps two at a time, my bunker gear weighing me down.

Sweat poured down my face, my lungs burning with each breath. But I pushed through the pain, focusing on the task at hand. I had to reach the roof. I had to save her.

I reached the top floor, slamming through the door to the roof. The cool night air hit my face, a stark contrast to the heat of the stairwell. I rushed to the edge, my eyes scanning the burning building before me.

There, on the eighth floor, a window illuminated by the dancing flames. A woman leaned out the window, screaming for help. A little girl clung to her. My heart clenched at the sight.

I knew I didn’t have much time. The building could go at any moment.

I stepped back from the edge, my mind racing. The gap between the buildings was wide, the flames licking at the sides of the apartment complex. One wrong move, and it was all over.

But I couldn’t let fear take hold. This was what I was meant to do. Even if this next shift was my last, it didn’t matter. Every life I saved made it all worthwhile.

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. The heat of the fire was palpable even from this distance. I forced myself to focus, to draw on every ounce of training and experience I had.

“You can do this, Dawson,” I whispered to myself, my voice barely audible over the roar of the flames. “You were born for this.”

I opened my eyes, my gaze locked on the window across the way. The woman and child were still there, the woman’s movements growing more desperate by the second.

My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I knew what I had to do.

I took a step back, my muscles coiled like a spring. The weight of my gear seemed to fall away, my mind crystal clear. I could almost feel the presence of my team below, their silent support giving me strength. Except the captain, who looked ready to murder me for defying his orders.

“Hang on,” I whispered, as if the woman could hear me. “I’m coming.”

And with that, I took a running start, my feet pounding against the rooftop. The edge rushed toward me, the gap between the buildings yawning wide.

But I didn’t hesitate. I pushed off with all my might, my body arcing through the air. For a moment, time seemed to stand still, the world falling away beneath me.

And then I was flying; the wind whipped past my face, and the flames reached up to meet me. My heart was in my throat, and my pulse pounded in my ears.

I didn’t look down. I kept my eyes on the prize, on the window growing larger with each passing second. I could see the woman’s face now, her features etched with fear and desperation.

I braced myself for impact, my body tensing as I prepared to land. The heat of the fire was overwhelming, and if it hadn’t been for my gear, I knew the smoke would have choked my lungs.

I landed on the opposite rooftop, rolling with the impact. One of my firefighter brothers was on the rooftop behind me, the one I’d just vacated. He held up a coil of rope and I nodded. I’d been so focused on reaching the woman and kid, I hadn’t even thought to grab anything. I’d have figured it out once I got there.

Evan ran toward the ledge, much like I had to just done, then he was airborne. He landed a little more gracefully than I had, then found a place to tie off the rope.

“I’m going to rappel down to the window,” I said.

Evan looked around. “Better hurry. This building isn’t going to stand much longer, and the flames will probably eat through the rope pretty quick.”

I nodded and braced my feet on the ledge of the building, my hand gripping the rope. It seemed to be holding, so I started my descent. The window came into view, and I swung through the opening.

The woman and her daughter were huddled in the corner, their faces streaked with soot and tears. The fire had already eaten through their door and was fast approaching.

“It’s okay,” I said, my voice steady. “I’m here to help.”

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