Page 59 of Saving Jared

How was she going to—

A loud creak blotted out any other concerns—that and how the step she’d just lighted on dipped with her weight. One hand tightened on the railing as she quickly used the other to grab at a higher point on it, before taking the next step. Thirteen steps total—she knew because she’d counted them numerous times while mounting them when she’d visited Emma—and she had five more to go.

"Willa, get up here."

She raised her gaze to a haze-covered Cord standing at the top of the stairs with his hands on his hips. If he’d managed the climb, so could she. So, she made short work of getting to him, only breathing out a sigh of relief when she finally stood on the top floor landing. It too had taken on a dangerous slant.

Time was running out.

"Let’s get the hell out of here," he said, motioning with his head toward the door right behind him where another set of stairs would lead them to the roof.

"You don’t have to tell me twice." She clicked on her mic. "We’re headed to the roof stairs."

"You need to get there… Now." Captain Walter’s somber, strained tone did a lot to get her and Cord moving as they both took off at a run—a run that wasn’t as fast as it might have been without all their gear on, but a run, nonetheless. It was just moments later, and they had cleared their way onto the roof and were dashing across it. Directly in front of them through the smoke, a white platform with red railing rose up over the roof’s edge.

Her elation at knowing they were saved was short-lived when she glanced toward Maribel Antiques and her steps stuttered to an appalled stop. Flames spewed from what remained of the building’s top floors, while smoke from it and more businesses beyond nearly obliterated the setting sun.

How many buildings had been lost?

"Get a move on!"

Willa gave herself a mental shake, forcing herself to pull her focus from the catastrophic loss and took off once more toward where Kevin waved at her from the platform suspended over the rooftop. Cord had already climbed onto it and stood beside him.

"Took you long enough," Cord called out as she firmly took hold of the red railing surrounding the ten-foot by three-foot platform. She glanced up at him, ready to give him a smart comeback, but his eyes held so much relief she didn’t.

"Had to do a little window shopping," she answered with a grin as she hoisted herself up. "You know—"

The explosion wasn’t totally unexpected, but it still startled her. With it, a violent wave rippled across the roof, cloaking her, Cord, and Kevin in a cloud of dirt and debris. Willa kept a death grip on the rail, doing her best to make it to the other side, but floundered in her attempts—the metal bar her only lifeline as the platform swayed.

A hand appeared in front of her, and she grabbed it, finally managing to drag herself over the railing and landing in a heap on the hard, metal bottom with the help of…

"Thanks, Cord. That—"

A terrified scream boiled up inside her when the platform swerved and the aftershock of the explosion rolled over them. Incoherent shouts from her radio and the men with her drowned out her own labored, heavy breathing as the platform careened back and forth. Would it hold? She closed her eyes while gripping tight to the rungs, grimacing at the grating squeal piercing her ears and sending shivers through her with each twist of the metal arm holding the platform aloft.

Then her breath caught and eyes flashed open as the platform jerked, before swerving away from the roof—perilously teetering in place with nothing but a three-plus story drop separating the shuddering platform from the street.

We’re going to die.

That fair certainty took a turn into reality when everything pitched, forcing her to renew her grip on the rail’s crossbars as her body slid.

"Shit!"

Her panicked gaze flew toward Kevin.

"No," she cried out when with the next hard tilt he nearly flipped over the railing. Cord fell beside her—his gloved hands clawing at the platform’s bumpy surface as he slid toward Kevin who had managed to make it to a sitting position—his arms splayed out on either side holding tight to the rungs behind him.

"Grab my leg," Willa screamed to Cord. And he did, nearly costing her the hold she had on the rungs when he grabbed her around both legs. But she gritted her teeth and managed to keep her grip while her world tilted and wobbled, before slowly evening out—stilling with a final, loud, squelching groan. It was a hell of a ride for what could have only lasted seconds.

"Someone check in with me," Captain Walter’s voice yelled over the radio. She was fairly certain he’d been screaming his head off the whole time, but for the life of her she couldn’t repeat what he might have said if she’d tried. Even now, hearing him over her own rapid breathing filling her mask and pulses pounding in her ears seemed far away.

"Everyone okay?" Kevin’s tremulous voice called out while Cord let go of her, loudly replying, "Ask me in about five minutes when my heart slows down."

All Willa could manage was a nod as she pulled herself up onto unsteady hands and knees, before twisting around and flopping onto her butt with her back against the rail. She let out a quavering breath and peered at her teammates. Was she shaking as badly as they were?

"One of you had better answer me. And now."

The three of them stared at each other. A hint of humor filled Kevin’s gaze before she glanced at Cord. Her partner’s eyes had taken on a decidedly cheery glint. They’d made it. Her tremulous lips couldn’t help but form a shaky smile before laughter bubbled up inside her—laughter Kevin and Cord joined in on.

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