Page 137 of When We Burn

“That’s the gist of it, yeah.” I sigh and watch as our guys send more water into the pub. “All those homes, the families hurt, all of this just because he didn’t get his way. Like a fucking toddler. Scratch that, my daughter didn’t throw fits this bad when she was a toddler.”

Jones sucks in a breath. “Yeah, well, I hope he doesn’t claim insanity or some shit and get away with it.”

“Me, too.”

“Chief!” I turn when Martinez comes running over to us. “We have another call in town. One of the engines is on the way there now.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I scowl at him. “Where?”

He rattles off the address, and sheer terror rolls through me.

“Isn’t that your house, Chief?” Jones asks.

“No, it’s across the street, but my whole world is in that house.” I take off to my truck. “Handle the rest of this, Jones!”

“I got it, Chief!”

Dani and Birdie went over there to pack. Jesus fucking Christ, they’re in the house.

I pick up the phone and call Dani, my heart hammering in my throat and blood rushing through my ears as I drive down the mountain toward town.

“This is Dani. Please leave a message?—”

“Fuck!” I end the call and try again, but it just rings and rings and rings in my ear until her voicemail picks upagain. “They have to be out of the house. Theyhaveto be out of that fucking house.”

The road down to town is windy and treacherous, and add in the dark and it’s not quick or easy, and that only fuels my frustration and panic because I can’t get to my girls.

I can’t get to them.

Finally, I turn onto the road that gets me back into town, and as I approach, I can see the flames from two blocks away, where I have to park because the road is blocked off for the engines and first responders.

My blood runs cold when I see the ambulance.

In the second dead run of the night, I sprint down the middle of the street toward the fire, scanning the faces for Dani, but I don’t see her.

“Status,” I bark at my man as I approach the engine.

“It’s a loss, Chief. We’re focusing on keeping the homes around it safe while it burns out.”

“Was anyone inside?”

“Bridger!” And just like that, my heart starts to beat again. I turn in time to catch Dani, who launches herself in my arms, and I hug her close. “Oh, my God, Bridge, you’re here.”

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m right here. Birdie?”

“She’s okay,” she assures me. “She’s fine. She’s with Blake at Holden and Millie’s.”

“And why are you here?”

She shakes her head, almost like she’s in a daze. “Because I had to wait for you.”

“No, Dani, you shouldn’t be here. This whole block is evacuated. Come on, we’re going to your brother’s.”

I lead her the few blocks to Holden’s and then see the group of them on Holden’s porch.

“I’m so sorry,” she says over and over again, her face pressed to my neck as she clings to me. I nudge her head up so I can look in her face, and she looks like she’s in shock. Her gorgeous face crumples, and the tears start to come. “I’m so sorry.”

“Hey, sweetheart, you didn’t do anything wrong.”

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