Page 139 of The Convict Gets His Girl

"Shit, and we're in a dry spell. Probably a burn ban too. Let's at least get these little fuckers to safety."

Together, they burst through the back door of the barn, taking in the scene around them. The bonfire was too close to the barn, but at least the grass had been cut away from it. A broken bottle lay against the wall of the barn, and fire licked up the dry, cracked wood.

Three boys laughed beside the fire, and another one threw a bottle at the barn wall. Glass shattered, and Gunner swung the flashlight into their faces. "Freeze, nobody move."

Teens scattered like startled birds, running in every direction as Gunner took off after the one who'd thrown the bottle. Chase followed another around the side of the building toward the vehicles, only able to tackle the kid because he slowed to navigate between them.

He opened the back door of Gunner's SUV and tossed the boy inside, shutting the door behind him before the kid knew what hit him. The door locked as Gunner pushed another boy toward them.

Gunner jerked his head. "The third one's cuffed. Bring him this way. We need to get the rest of the kids out too. Some of them look passed out."

Chase raced around the side of the barn, the heat from the fire hitting him first. The barn's wooden frame groaned, the fire spreading faster than Chase expected. Dry summer grass crackled and sparked, orange tendrils licking hungrily across the field toward where the teens lay sprawled.

Years of prison work and emergency training kicking in. He moved toward the cluster of teenagers sprawled near the bonfire's dying embers. Some were face down, others mumbling incoherently.

"Hey!" he shouted. "Fire! Everyone up!"

A few stirred, but most remained motionless. Gunner was already back, pulling the closest ones away from the spreading flames, his movements professional and precise.

Chase grabbed a young guy in a football jersey, hefting him over his shoulder. The kid was dead weight, reeking of cheap beer and something chemical. Two teens stumbled toward their vehicles, and Chase spied a truck.

He pulled down the tailgate and tried to gently put the footballer on it, but he just lolled and groaned, hitting his head pretty hard on the truck. He didn't wait but turned and steered the drunken teen girls toward the back of the truck too.

"Hey, who are you?" the brunette asked.

"What are you doing? Are we going tailgating?"

The first one giggled. "No, the season is over. No more tailgating, remember?"

"Just get inside and stay there where it's safe," he grumbled, offering them a hand. They sniffed and took his hand to climb into the back of the truck. When they saw the boy passed out, they both exclaimed and bent over him, poking and prodding. Satisfied that the distraction would keep them there for a few minutes, Chase turned back to the barn.

The fire had grown, consuming the barn's wooden frame with ravenous intensity. Sparks flew upward, creating a hellish constellation against the dark sky. Chase could feel the heat pressing against his skin, hear the crackle and pop of burning timber.

Gunner appeared at his side, radio in hand. "Fire department's five minutes out. We need to get everyone clear."

Chase nodded, scanning the field. More teens were emerging from various hiding spots, some stumbling, others looking terrified. The barn fire cast flickering shadows across their bewildered faces.

"Destini and her friends?" Gunner asked, his voice tight with concern.

"Safe in the car," Chase confirmed. "But we need to get these other kids out before this entire field goes up."

They worked in tandem, Chase moving and ushering several more into the tailgates of various trucks. He counted as Gunner appeared at his side, sweat streaming down his face. "I think we've got them all. Let's get these vehicles moved back. Can Destini and her friends drive?"

Chase nodded. "Destini can. I don't know about the other two. But there's two missing, even if we're only counting ten instead of twelve."

The barn was now fully engulfed, flames shooting skyward like angry orange tentacles. Heat waves distorted the air, making everything shimmer and dance. Chase could hear the wooden beams groaning, ready to collapse at any moment.

Someone stumbled out of the front of the barn, coughing. Gunner and Chase rushed to the kid, dragging her toward the vehicles.

"Danny's inside!" she screamed unconsolably, pounding on Gunner's chest as he held her to keep her from collapsing too close to the barn. "Oh my God, get Danny!"

"No." Gunner grabbed his arm. "Wait for the fire department. It's too dangerous."

But Chase was already moving, ducking low beneath the smoke. The interior of the barn was a hellscape of burning timber and crackling hay. His eyes stung, lungs burning with each breath.

"Danny?" he shouted, dropping to his knees and removing the shirt to yell before breathing back into it. "Danny!"

A weak moan came from behind a fallen support beam at the back of the barn.

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