Page 7 of Rescued Faith

“I’m fine. Where’s Eddie and Ridge?”

“I’m fine.” Eddie’s voice came through the speaker. “I think Ridge is hurt.”

Bryce lifted a section of metal from the pile. More fell. A flaming piece of insulation dropped from the ceiling, forcing Bryce back against the wall again.

“Talk to me! What’s going on?” Bryce tried to keep the panic out of his voice.

“Ridge is pinned. He’s not moving.”

Bryce had to get over there. Help them. But a wave of dizziness hit him. He leaned on the door in the wall to catch his balance. His eye caught on the dark-red puddle under his boots. Was he injured? Bleeding somewhere?

Everything hurt, but nothing felt like an open wound. He kneeled down and peered closer. The puddle seeped out from under the door. Maybe some kind of storage area. And was that blonde hair?

Someone was in there!

“Ridge! Wake up, man.” Zack sounded panicked. “I think he’s got a broken leg. And he’s knocked out.”

Chief James’s voice came through the intercom. “What’s going on?”

“We got a man down. We need help.” Eddie coughed and gave their location.

How was Bryce going to get his guys out of this?

“I’ve got an injured civilian too.” Bryce looked around for his pry bar and ax.

They needed to get Ridge out. Now. And whoever was caught behind this door. Bryce spotted his tools. Grabbed them offthe floor as he listened through the comms. Sounded like Izan Collins and Amelia Patterson were already there, stabilizing Ridge’s leg and lifting him out on a backboard. They must’ve entered from the other side of the building.

Bryce moved back to the door with his irons in hand. Jamming the pike end in the seam between the door and the frame, he torqued the tool up and popped the lock. The door swung out. On the ground lay a female, long blonde hair splayed over her face and the floor. Her black leather jacket was covered in dust and debris. A paint can rolled near her head. She moaned.

Good. She was still alive. But the fire was moving closer, already eating up the mountain of shelving and boxes.

“Ma’am, can you hear me?” Bryce asked.

“Roof is caving in! Crawford, get out of there!” the chief yelled over the radio.

Without another thought, Bryce scooped her up in his arms. No time to stabilize her, so hopefully they weren’t dealing with a spine or neck injury. He ran out of the closet and headed for the side door. A pile of wood pallets fueled the flames, almost cutting off their exit.

With a loud screech, a section of the metal stairs fell and clanged as it hit the cement, sending up a shower of sparks. More of the ceiling fell.

He was going to have to make a run for it. He adjusted his hold on the woman in his arms. She moaned again, starting to rouse.

Bryce kept his back to the flames and ran for the open door he had come through with Ridge. They spilled into the alley just as the roof collapsed.

Bryce jogged with the woman out to the front of the warehouse, where the ambulance and other trucks were parked on the street.

“We need a medic!”

Maybe it was his yelling, but the woman stiffened in his arms, lifted her head. The hair that had covered her face fell away, allowing big green eyes to stare back at him. Green eyes he knew well. Bryce stopped moving.

“Penny?”

Her jaw dropped open. “What are you doing here?” Her voice cracked. She must be able to see him through the mask.

“Rescuing you, apparently.” Because maybe Goddidanswer prayers. Here she was, back in his arms.

Penny winced, eyelids slamming shut tight as if she were in pain. “You can put me down now.”

Or maybe not.

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