Page 13 of Inferno

It would be far easier if he could dismiss the whole thing. Pretend God didn’t exist, or even convince himself of it. Buthe couldn’t. He knew the truth too intimately to ever believe otherwise.

So they were at an impasse.

“It’s gonna come down!” Paul put his good arm over his head.

“Anyone down there?” The call came from high above Julio, through the opening they’d made.

“We’re here!” Martin said. “Burks, Coda, and one civilian!”

“On our way!”

Julio let out a breath. “Let’s go, Paul. Time to leave, unless you wanna stay.” He went over and got his arm around Paul’s middle, on his good side. “Up we go.”

Over at the opening, Martin eased out. “Down here.” He hopped a couple of steps.

The room shuddered.

Paul whimpered, but Julio just moved him to the gap and said, “Squeeze through.”

Firefighters in full gear waited on the other side. Helmets and air tanks—which Julio had slid off when they fell. They grabbed Martin and passed him off up the stairs.

“Gotta move fast,” his lieutenant said. “It’s pretty unstable.”

Julio tried to talk, but no sound came out. He just nodded.

“We were pulling out two others when we heard you. So you can thank the Lord Almighty we did.”

Julio handed off Paul to another guy, and the lieutenant said, “Need my air?”

All he could do was shake his head, his throat raw and nearly shut. His head swam. The guy grabbed him around the waist. Julio didn’t do much to get himself out, and he was going to get this guy a gift card to his favorite burger place when they were out of here. The lieutenant took his weight and walked him out, lowering Julio to the ground outside.

He blinked. Red and blue flashing lights. There was something immensely comforting to him seeing firefightersmove around, and listening to the sound of water spraying on a fire.

“Here.” She crouched beside him and held out a water bottle.

Samantha.He stared at her.

“Drink.”

Julio took two sips, then poured the rest on his head. The water practically sizzled against the heat of his skin.

“I’m getting an EMT. You don’t look good.” She started to straighten out of her crouch. Blonde hair longer than the last time he’d seen it, curled down around her shoulders.

He reached up and snagged her hand. Still had his gloves on. Julio left a dark streak on her skin he didn’t like.

“What?”

He tried to speak. No words came out.

So frustrating. There were plenty of things he wanted to say to her, but their personal stuff aside, he also wanted an update on what was going on. At least his brain was getting oxygen, or he’d have a problem right now.

Namely, he’d be passed out and headed for the hospital.

No doubt he was going there anyway, but that wasn’t the point right now.

Greyson came over, standing a couple feet back from Julio’s boots. “How are you doin’?”

Uh-oh. Julio didn’t like that expression. He was going to be in trouble for going in, leaving his command post and pitching in when his guys—and innocent victims—were in trouble. As soon as Greyson knew everyone was all right, reports would be filed.

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