Page 5 of Heart of a Hero

I grinned at him, my heart still racing in my chest. “Couldn’t get rid of me that easily, Cap. I’ve got nine lives, remember?”

He snorted, shaking his head. “Yeah, well, try not to use ‘em all up in one night, will ya? I don’t want to have to train a new recruit.”

I laughed, the sound echoing off the buildings around us. “No promises.”

I had no doubt he’d read me the riot act on my next shift. But for now, he was just glad we’d all made it out alive.

But even as I joked with my team, my mind was already spinning with the weight of what’d just happened. The image of the little girl’s face, the feel of her arms wrapped around me, and the sound of her mother’s sobs as I carried her to safety. I knew none of those things would leave me anytime soon.

It was moments like this that reminded me why I did what I did, why I risked my life day in and day out. To save lives, to make a difference, to be the hero someone needed in their darkest hour.

“Out of curiosity, how did you and the little one manage to get to the other rooftop and into the stairwell?” I asked, glancing at Evan.

“You really want to know?”

“Wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t,” I said.

“Took a running leap while holding her. I figured if she got some bumps and bruises it was still better than burning to death. Saw you outside the window on the way down the stairs.”

As I looked up at the sky, the stars twinkling above me like a million tiny lights, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. This was where I belonged, who I was meant to be. Dawson Kane, firefighter, hero, son of a Dixie Reaper.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The smoke billowed around us as we worked to keep the damage to a minimum. We hosed down the other two buildings, hoping it would be enough to keep the flames from taking hold of them as well.

“Kane, check the perimeter!” Cap shouted over the roar of the fire. “Make sure there aren’t hotspots or secondary ignition points.”

“On it!” I called back, already moving toward the edge of the building.

I reached the perimeter of the building and began my sweep, my eyes scanning the area for any signs of trouble. The smoke was starting to dissipate now, the flames slowly dying down under the onslaught of water from our hoses. Not that it was going to save the building. It would be a total loss, along with everything inside.

As I rounded the corner, I caught sight of something out of the corner of my eye. A flicker of movement in the shadows. I froze, my hand instinctively reaching for my radio. But before I could call it in, a figure emerged from the darkness. It was the woman from the apartment. What the hell was she doing over here? She should have been getting checked out by paramedics.

“Thank you for saving us.”

I felt a lump form in my throat as I nodded, my voice suddenly gone. The woman reached out and took my hand, squeezing it tightly. In that moment, I felt a connection to her. A bond forged in the heat of the flames and the desperation of the rescue.

Chapter Two

Nora

I stared at the apartment manager, completely dumbfounded. “What do you mean we have to figure something out? Did you miss the part where everything we own just went up in flames?”

The manager held up his hands. “Look, I’m sorry about that, I really am. But even if you contacted FEMA, it would take time to get you into a place. There’s nothing we can do tonight.”

“So, if we don’t have friends and family who can take us in, we what? Just have to tough it out on the street?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This had to be a joke, right? “I have a daughter! Doesn’t that mean anything to you at all?”

“I never said any of this was fair. Talk to the fire department. Maybe they can come up with something. All the other residents have something in place, whether it’s staying with family or at a local motel. You’re the only one having trouble in that area.”

I wanted to scream as loud as I could, but I knew it wouldn’t do me any good. Instead, I took Taylor’s hand and went to find a fireman who might be able to give us a better answer. It didn’t take long to spot the one who’d saved us from the burning building. I hurried over to him, my heart racing.

“Excuse me!” I called out as I got closer.

He turned and gave me a smile. “Something I can do for you?”

“Um, the apartment manager informed me the residents have to figure out their own housing for the night. And possibly longer. Something about the Red Cross not being able to do provide emergency housing.” He stared, waiting patiently for me to get to the point, but I seriously hated this. It made me sound so needy, and… unable to adult. “We don’t have friends or family in the area who can help us out, and literally all our stuff, including my purse and wallet, are now nothing but ash.”

“So, you don’t have a place to go, and no way to pay for a motel room,” he said.

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