Page 2 of Break Me

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“Gaining access to the fire hydrant, which you illegally parked in front of.” I grabbed the two-way radio and resisted looking at him. Although I sensed he was foaming at the mouth.

“You can’t go around smashing people’s windows. I could have you arrested.”

He picked the wrong day to piss me off and challenge my authority. I turned toward him, shoring my shoulders and glaring into his eyes. “Listen to me, buster. I don’t who you are or who youthinkyou are, but to me, you’re nothing but an arrogant man child who doesn’t care about the possibility there could be victims inside that burning building, a location where I need to get water to so maybe, just maybe we can save lives.” I threw my arm toward the building again and he didn’t even have the decency of looking in the direction of where I was pointing.

Instead, his eyes were locked onto mine, piercing in a way that took my breath away. His ice blue eyes were the color of glaciers or a winter sky. Intense. Chilling. Irritating.

All time stopped. All sound slipped into silence. My vision dropped into a vacuum. Thankfully, the angry bitch version of me was right below the surface getting ready to claw her way out.

For a split second, he was speechless. Ah, poor baby.

Then he recoiled, his nostrils flaring. “You’re going to pay for the damage.”

That did it. The spell was broken. I grabbed my breathing tanks and moved away, but not before driving my shoulder against his arm to push him out of the way. “Talk to the captain.”

“I’ll be happy to. Who’s the damn captain?” he called.

“That would be me.” I didn’t bother turning around. I could tell he was gawking at me.

“Woo-hoo, Cap’n,” Camden said as he flanked my side.

I grumbled under my breath. Why were men such assholes? “We’ve got a fire to put out, boys. Let’s roll!”

“Mama!” It didn’t matter the type of day I’d had or how many fires had occurred, even those risking my life and those of the men and women on the squad. When I came home and Emily threw herself into my arms, all the grime and danger of the day faded away.

“My bunchkins! Look at you. I think you grew by what, two inches since I was gone?”

“Three at least, sis.” Kristine laughed as she stood against the doorway leading to the kitchen with her arms folded. Thank God my sister had the kind of job that allowed her to work from anywhere, including my cramped little house. Otherwise, there would be no way I could afford daycare or a babysitter.

As it was, I owed her big time. She was lucky that her career as an influencer was just starting to take off, which allowed her more flexibility. Days like today I felt jealous. I was exhaustedand even after taking a shower at the firehouse, the stench of a gasoline fire lingered in my nostrils.

“Mommy,” my baby girl huffed as she took a step back. She had her mother’s dramatic flair, rolling her eyes and tossing her long hair behind her shoulders. “You haven’t been gone that long. Duh. I haven’t grown.”

I wrinkled my brow on purpose. “Are you sure? Maybe I should take a look just to be certain.” As I crept forward, her little eyes lit up. When I tickled her tummy, she burst into a fit of laughter.

Kristine shook her head. “She missed you.”

“I missed her too.”

“I colored a picture,” my daughter said with such joy in her little voice, a moment of sadness swept through me. If only her daddy could see her now. “Can I show you?”

“Well, duh,” I said, mimicking her. “Of course. Don’t run!”

She did anyway, her little bright red tennis shoes pounding against the floor as she rushed toward her bedroom. At that point, I slumped against the wall. “She’s going to be the death of me.”

“She’s been okay all day. Stop worrying so much.”

Closing my eyes, I rubbed my temple. “You know I can’t stop worrying.”

“I know. You’re the biggest worrywart I’ve ever known. That bad, huh?” Kristine asked. “You look rode hard and put away wet.”

“Wow. Just the analogy I needed.” At least I could laugh. “Long and arduous. Plus, it was one of those days when one asshole, one single son of a bitch really got to me.”

“Wait. Isn’t that something new and different? I’m shocked.” My sister’s gasp was a little too exaggerated.

I smacked her on the arm. “Very funny. I’m serious this time. He was just so… Irritating.” I clawed my fingers, miming shaking the life out of him.