Page 42 of Revived
“Sullivan. So, you sneak into my daughter’s room often?” His lips twitch in a teasing manner. If I were any other man, I’d be strung up by my balls by now. Thankfully I’ve proved my love and loyalty to this woman my whole life.
“Only the mornings that I get off shift, sir. When I’m off shift, she sneaks into my room.” I laugh playfully, only to laugh harder when Elle glares up at me.
“I knew this would happen one day. I know I’m supposed to be the broody and scary father. I’m supposed to break out all my threats, reminding you that if a hair on her head is hurt, it falls solely on your shoulders for not protecting her well enough. Make no mistake, if you were any other man in this world, I would. But you know all of that already, and I’ve been watching you protect her since you were small. I know she’s in good hands with you.”
Respect and understanding pass between us in a way that I didn’t even realize was possible. It makes sense that he’s chill about this entire thing, but it still makes me pause and let the gravity of this settle. He trustsmewith his only daughter. That’s not something that I’m going to take lightly. It’s been Elle and Theo since we were fourteen. Now he’s giving me the green light– that I didn’t need but appreciate– to be with his kid.
I don’t say that to leave Lee out of the equation. Quite the opposite actually. Lee’s happy with her family, and the relationship that she’s working on with Elle. She doesn’t want to be included in the Rossi’s affairs, and as her brother-in-law I wholeheartedly respect her decisions.
I nod to him silently inthanks.A ghost of a smile pulls at his lips as he nods in return. With that settled, I’m content sitting back and watching Elle interact with her dad. Her hands fly as she talks, and her face lights up. She’s fucking perfect, and I’m the lucky bastard that she chose to let stand in her light.
***
“Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore.”Steel’s voice crackles over our radios. We went from the middle of a shopping trip for groceries to standing inside of this burning building in less than five minutes. We’ve been told a mom and two kids are inside, so we’re conducting our primary search. We’re spread out over the expansive house, but no one’s found anyone yet.
I’m crawling through the back hallway when I hear soft crying. “Fire department. Call out.” I yell above the roar of the fire. I think I hear it again and make my way to where it’s coming from. I test the door before pushing it open and quickly crawl inside before shutting it again. Somehow there’s nothing aside from a thick layer of smoke in here. “Fire department. If you’re in here, call out.”
“Help.” I hear a small voice yell. It takes me a minute, but I finally find the little girl hiding in the corner of the closet. Her dark brown hair is soaked in sweat, and her scared navy eyes take me in silently.
“Hey, it’s okay, sweetheart. I’m Sully, and I’m going to get us out of here, okay?” She’s still eyeing me wearily, but I don’t have time to focus on that right now. Right now, all I can focus on is the soot covering hermouth and nose. I can’t get her out of here with no fresh air in time. Dammit, my Chief is going to kill me for this.
Without letting myself think too long about it, I remove my helmet and hood before taking one final deep breath of clean air and removing my mask. I try my best to secure it over her face before replacing my hood and helmet and scooping her up in my arms. She can’t be older than seven or so.
“I’ve got one kid. Female, about seven. Awake and alert We’re headed out. I need medics as close to the door as they can get.”
“I’ve got a male about nine or so. Awake and alert.” Hal calls over the radio immediately after me.
With the little girl in my arms and secure, I squat down and duck walk to her door. I thought about going out the window, but one, I’m on the second story, and two, it could very easily create a flashover. Thanking myself for all the PT I put in, I quickly maneuver us into the hall before beginning to duck walk to the stairs. It’s imperative that I stay as close to the ground as possible. Heat and smoke rise.
I’ve got us down the steps and almost to the door when the fucking floor gives. In one last ditch effort to save the girl, I toss her as far as I can from where I am.
Shit, this is going to hurt.
I land on the concrete basement floor with a cry of agony. I force myself to put my mask back on over my hood just as my PASS alarm begins to go off to alert everyone where I am. With the last bit of strength I have, I grab the radio, and with a weak voice and shaky arms, I make the call.
“Mayday, mayday, mayday. Lieutenant Byrne down. Basement. Get the family out.” I’m cut off by my own cough before I can finish. My eyes are getting heavy, and the last thing I see before I pass out is Steel scoop up the girl and get her out. Good, she’s safe.
If this is the end for me, I hope Elle finds love again. She deserves it, even if I’m not here to give it to her.
Chapter nineteen
Elena Rossi
Chiropractors are the best humans on Earth, and I don’t care what anyone else thinks. Getting adjusted is so relaxing, and for once my brain is void of anything and everything except the sound of my joints popping and cracking as she adjusts my hips. I’ve only been on the table for a few minutes when my phone begins to ring. Looking over, I notice it’s Flynn; he’s probably wondering where I am or wants to meet up for lunch or something. I reach out and hit the ignore button. He immediately calls back, and I put my phone on silent. He’s not ruining my appointment with his needy nature.
“Do you need to get that?” Samantha, my chiropractor, asks.
“Nope. Just my needy best friend. He probably wants to grab lunch or something.”
The best part about these appointments is that they’re at a pop up clinic in the gym. I don’t have to go anywhere extra. I’ve just relaxed back into my appointment when I hear a commotion coming from the gym. Samantha and I look at each other in confusion before I push myself up into a sitting position. Hopping off the bed, I slowly make my way to the door. I’ve just cracked it open when I hear the distinct voice of the drama llama that was just blowing my phone up.
“It’s an emergency. Can someone please go get Elena Rory, now.” Flynn bites out.
I’m confused as to why anyone is giving him a hard time until I step out and see him disheveled and half of his hockey kit still on. Behind him stands Knox, who must have just got back in town, because he wasn’t here when I left this morning. Panic radiates off of them in waves. Yeah, no one here is going to give two giant beasts masquerading as men my location when they’re acting and looking like this.
“Flynn?” I call for him, figuring my blood sugar must be messed up. “Calm down. I’m fine. Is it my dexcom?”
His and Knox’s eyes dart over to me, and that’s when I notice the way Flynn’s are glossed over. What the fuck is going on? Why would he be crying? If something was really wrong, Sully would be– Sully.
