Page 16 of Fire Fight

The figure shifted slightly, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Rescue, not a recovery.

Not yet at least.

I intended to keep it that way.

Rushing to their side, I realized the person was a woman whose wrists and ankles were bound with zip ties, and a gag was tied around her mouth. Even with the roaring of the fire, I could hear her sobs and muffled pleading as she pulled on her restraints.

“Miss, miss,” I said as gently as I could while still conveying the sense of urgency our situation possessed. “I’m going to get you out of here, but I need you to calm down.”

She stilled instantly, though her chest still heaved with her rapid breathing. I reached behind her, untying the gag and stuffing it in my pocket for safekeeping. Lane would never forgive me for leaving a potential piece of evidence behind.

“Please,” she whimpered, turning her head toward me.

I startled, stumbling back a step.

“Aspen, oh my god,” I breathed.

What the fuck? I’d last seen her less than two days ago. What the fuck had happened since then? How had she wound up here?

“Crew?”

I shook my head, getting back into the game. There’d be time for questions later, when we weren’t in the middle of a burning building that could collapse at any second.

“It’s okay, honey,” I placated, the pet name rolling easily off my tongue. Reaching into my coat, I withdrew my small bolt cutter and used it to free her restraints, adding those to my pocket with the gag. She attempted to say something else, butinstead inhaled a lungful of smoke and hacked out a cough instead.

Fuck, the smoke was getting worse, and she’d suffocate if I didn’t get her out of here quickly.

Groping for my radio, I pressed the call button and shouted, “Got a vic! Office in the bravo-charlie corner! We’re coming out but I need cover!”

The radio crackled to life with a response immediately.

“Got you, Cap!” Davis replied. “Head back the way you went in!”

“Roger that!” I said then turned back to Aspen. “You ready to get out of here?” She nodded, and I grinned, trying to keep her calm. “I’m going to have you loop your arms around my neck and I’ll carry you out. Okay?”

Aspen merely nodded. Bending down, I gingerly wedged my hands under her body. An agonized scream left her, and I when I jerked away, I found my gloves covered in blood and…fuck, was thatskin? As gently as I could, I shifted her over so she rested on her right side and took stock of the damage.

Her clothing was ruined, and my gut churned at the sight of the burnt skin beneath, the fire having eaten right through to flesh. God, how had that happened? Had those burns been intentional?

Still not the time, I reminded myself.

“Aspen, I apologize in advance, but this is gonna fucking hurt,” I grimaced when I squatted next to her. Before she could protest, I hauled her up into my arms. She screamed again, the sound fading to the whimpering and hissing of someone trying to breathe through the pain.

“We’ll get you fixed up,” I vowed to her as I shuffled out of the office and across reception. “Don’t worry, Aspen. I’ve got you.”

Her only response was a nod, a quick jerk of her head against my shoulder.

When we reached the hallway, Tuck was waiting.

“Follow me!” he shouted.

I was grateful for the assist. I curled my body around her to shield Aspen from further injury, making it difficult to keep my head up. The way out should’ve been a straight shot, but the air around us was hazy with grey smoke, making it difficult to see more than a few feet in front of us. I focused on Tuck’s feet as he led the way.

An ominous creaking sounded from above us, and I dared a look up.

Fuck.