Page 119 of Branded Hearts

Somehow, we’ve managed to keep our relationship under wraps, even with our friends around. The other night at the Loose Lasso, the sexual tension between us was palpable. I just hope it wasn’t too obvious to our friends. My mum’s been acting strange, but Olivia… Well, she hasn’t said or noticed anything. Thank fuck for that, at least for now.

But life always has a way of throwing curveballs, disrupting our rhythm.

A series of house fires have broken out in a town about an hour away, and all units have been called to assess the damage. Of course, that includes our station. I’m gearing up at the station now, ready tohead out with the boys—Faulkner leading the case. Nerves start to prickle at my skin. We haven’t had anything this drastic in years.

And this? This is bad.

The fire has spread wide, with five homes now a total loss and fifteen people severely injured. Casualties? We’ll know when we arrive at the scene. I pull out my phone and dial Xavier’s number. He answers on the first ring.

“Xavier?” I say, my voice tense.

“Bradley,” Xavier’s voice comes through the phone, full of relief. “We’re all here—Isla, Liv, Mum, and Dad. I’ve put you on speaker so they can hear you. What’s going on? We just saw the news.”

“I’m good, Xav,” I reassure him quickly. “We’re about to head out there now. I can’t say much more until we assess the situation. I just wanted to let you all know I’m safe.” Mum’s voice in the background cracks my heart. They shouldn’t worry; I’ll be fine. If anyone’s sweating it, it’s me, not them. All in a day’s work, for a Friday.

But something deep down tells me this isn’t going to be one ofthosedays.

Xavier’s voice snaps me back. “Okay, be careful, Bradley. Keep us updated. We love you.” His words hit hard, crack something open, but I can’t say it back now.

“Alright. Gotta go.”

Dad’s voice breaks in. “Son. See you back home later, yeah?” They act like they’re not sure I’ll be coming home. But we’ll get it under control, with ambulance and fire services, surely.

“Yes, Dad. Relax, I’ll see you soon.”

“Love you, son.”

“Yeah. You too.”

Faulkner gives a quick nod, signalling to wrap it up. “Okay, gotta go. Bye.” I end the call, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me—concern for the situation, gratitude for their support, and a steely focus on the task ahead. I know I gotta let Amelia know I’m alright, but the thought of her fretting tears at me. Those three little words are on the edge of my tongue. Do I feel that? Fucked if I know. Right now, all I know is I’ve got a job to do, and I need my head on straight.

Still, I pull out my phone and shoot her a quick text.

A text from her pings back almost immediately.

I’ll be waiting for you.

That’s all I need to keep my worries in check.

As we get closer, the glow of the flames paints everything in an eerie light, giving the whole area a spooky vibe. The houses, all lined up in a row, look like they’ve seen better days. They’re off on their own, away from the busy town square. The rural Fire and Rescue Team is already there, with their bright red trucks and flashing lights standing out against the dark night sky, like a sign of hope in the middle of all this chaos. Faulkner walks off to meet a few of the other team members, and I join in on the conversation, Daniels and Reynolds following behind me.

“Faulkner, good to see you,” Gerry Holmes, the Deputy Captain of the NSW Fire and Rescue Team, greets him, his voice tense. “We’ve got a real mess here. Looks like it started from one of these houses.” He gestures to the row of homes engulfed in flames. Faulkner nods, his expression grave.

“We’re trying to contain it, but the spread is rapid. We need to get everyone out of these homes,” Gerry continues.

“We need to find the source fast. If it’s a gas leak, we’ll need to shut it off before it causes more damage,” Faulkner adds.

Kurt Black, who I know to be the lead unit commander forNSW SES team, joins in. “We’ve got ambulances on standby for any injuries. Let’s get to work, boys.” The three of them exchange determined looks, knowing the urgency of the situation.

“Let’s do this,” Faulkner says, rallying our team. “Safety first, everyone. Let’s get these people out of harm’s way.”

Faulkner’s voice cuts through the chaos as he directs Woody and Stokes to lead traffic control for all conjoining, adjacent roads and concealed driveways.

He then turns to us—Reynolds, Daniels, and I—ordering us on scene safety. “Ensure that the scene remains safe for firefighters, emergency service workers, and members of the public working in its vicinity,” he commands. Faulkner’s words put us right on the front line of the fires.

We’re not firefighters, but our jobs are just as important.

Reynolds and Daniels both nod to me, understanding the gravity of the situation. We quickly gear up with our protective wear before heading closer to the fires, ready to do our part in ensuring the safety of everyone involved.

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