Page 67 of Burning Justice

He tried to inhale and coughed again.

Someone sat up close by. Dark-blonde hair in a braid.

“Jade!” He scrambled to her, touching her cheek.

She pressed a hand to her front, breathing hard, in and out.

“You good?”

She nodded. “Check the others.” Her voice cracked, thick and rough.

Water. They needed water, and a way to call for rescue.

But first, he had to see who was alive and who was…

“Call out!” Kane got to his feet and looked around. “If you hear me, call out!”

A fire shelter whipped open to his left. Hammer.

“You good?” He held out his hand and dragged his buddy to his feet.

Vince emerged from the smoke, sweat rolling down his face, what looked like some singed clothing on his left side.

Hammer patted himself down. “Nearly lost the beard.” He touched the side of his face where the heat had burned away some of the hair on his chin.

“Come on.” Kane waved at the area around them. “Spread out.”

Vince, Hammer, and Kane walked slowly out in three directions. Kane watched for the telltale silver glint of…

There.

He tugged up the edge and found Orion. The younger guy blinked at him. Kane said, “You good in there, buddy?” He didn’t want to call Orion’s father and let him know the worst had happened. Charlie had only just found his son last year, and they had so much time still to spend with each other. Charlie needed to see his son get married—to Tori, would be Kane’s guess. Then Charlie was going to have grandchildren.

“I’m good.” Orion sat up. “Let’s never do that again.”

“I’ve got JoJo!” Hammer called out.

“I found Skye!”

“Keep talking!” That was Cadee. “I’m walking toward you.”

“Over here, babe.” Vince.

“We need to find Tori.” Kane’s words got Orion up and moving. Kane called out, “Is anyone hurt?”

They called out one by one. No one had any major injuries.

When they were done, Orion said, “Tori!”

No answer.

“Everyone spread out and find her,” Kane said. He prayed with each step. Looking on the ground for another fire shelter. Hoping she’d managed to get inside it. “Did you see her before we hunkered down?”

“She was nearby me.” Orion’s voice shook. “I didn’t go that far from her, did I?”

“Keep looking.” Kane prayed harder as his anxiety grew, knowing exactly how Orion felt, because if Maria had been out here, he’d be feeling the same thing.

Finally, he spotted a glint of silver foil in the haze of smoke. “There!”

---