Page 79 of Playing With My Fire

She must’ve known I’d find my way back out here because there’s a book and another note waiting for me.

This is the best book I’ve found on Shibari, and I want you to read at least the first two chapters. We’ll discuss it later.

xoxo.

I grin as I climb into the center of the circular couch reclining back on a million pillows before I crack the book and sink into this new world she’s led me into. I well surpass the first two chapters, consuming almost half the book, before the warmth of the sun and my exhaustion catches up with me.

Chapter Twenty Six

? Estrella ?

I’ve barely laid down when my phone starts ringing. I grab it quickly so as not to wake my hummingbird.

“Yeah?”

Captain Blake Falcon’s deep voice travels through the airwaves. Big ass fire at that old abandoned motel. Need you, Essie, if you can come in…”

I’m already sliding out of bed and grabbing a pair of work pants from the top of my dresser. “Be there in ten.”

We both hang up, not worried about niceties.

I consider waking Sakura, but instead, write a few quick notes that I leave as I go.

It’s late enough that the streets are dead, so I manage to make it in record time. The firehouse is bedlam as everyone gets their gear, and hurries to the trucks. Blake wasn’t kidding. I see nearly every face. Understandable, considering how big that motel is. It’s a freaking eyesore that should’ve been torn down ages ago.

In a matter of minutes, I’ve jumped into my gear, years of practice and adrenaline playing their part. As quickly as I arrived, we’re rushing away. Several miles out, and you can already smell the fire. Soon enough, smoke blankets the night sky.

It’s a ghastly sight once we make that final turn and the motel comes into view. It’s a two-story building, but it homes at least three dozen rooms and every inch of it is engulfed. The flames shoot several feet above the top of the building.

The heat is unimaginable. Sweat slicks every inch of my body. I jump from the truck and help pull out the hose.

As I hold on tight and wait for the water to begin pulsing out. I fear we’re not enough. I hope they called in back up, but there’s no time to ask. Soon enough, as teams work each end of the motel, my fears unfortunately come to fruition. Our effort’s barely make a dent.

As I glance around I see soot covered faces with equally apprehensive expressions. We’re encouraged to move closer which does help, but only slightly so we’re forced to move deeper. The heat is unbearable, stifling. No matter how much you’ve experienced, it’s never something you can get used to.

Crackling grows louder as we move inside and I know this isn’t a good idea, this place isn’t going to hold up much longer. I begin to shout at the men around me to back out, but it’s too late. A loud crash, and then a beam falls right on top of one of my guys. I can’t tell who it is but that doesn’t matter because they all matter. We all work together to pull him free and my mask goes askew for a moment but it’s enough to inhale a shit ton of smoke.

I don’t want to tap out, and I hold my ground for minutes but even after I right my equipment it’s still almost impossible to catch my breath. It feels like hours before I finally stumble back. It’s as I fall on my ass about to pass out that I thank any God that’s listening because I hear sirens in the distance.

I just make out Beau coming toward me when I promptly pass out.

I’m certain not much time has passed when I return to consciousness. Someone, Beau I’m assuming, pulled me a few hundred feet away from the fire and pulled off my mask. I can breathe, but just barely.

“Hang in there, Cap. Paramedics are on the way.”

I vaguely nod as I take in my surroundings, seeing I’m not the only one on the ground. A handful of others are lying close, trying in vain to heave in breaths. Then, I see the man that was under that beam. As soon as his face is revealed, and I see Tiny, I automatically try to get to my feet, but Beau holds me back.

I glare at him. “Let me go!”

He adamantly shakes his head. “You’re no good to him in your condition.”

When I finally rip my arm free, I’m again saved by the sirens, and soon enough, three ambulances swerve into the parking lot. Relief inundates me as I watch several EMT’s swarm Tiny and Arnie.

When a pair comes for me, I wave them off. “I’m fine.”

“Ignore her stubborn ass. She just passed out and can barely breathe.”

I give Beau the evil eye, but he ignores me as two EMTs help me to my feet and lead me to an ambulance. As soon as oxygen comes pouring into my lungs, blessed relief fills me.

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