Page 65 of Last Chance Christmas

Patterson stayed him with a strong grip on his arm. “Anthony, let him do this. He’s trained. You’re not. You go in there unprepared, and we’ll have two people to rescue.”

Ridge jogged off toward the front entrance of the house. He joined Eddie Rice, who waited by the front door.

Anthony’s hands froze on the metal air tank. She was right, but…“I can’t just stand here doing nothing.”

“That’s exactly what you’re going to do. I’ll call Bryce over if I have to.” Amelia stared him down. “But there is something you can do. You can pray.”

Anthony shoved the tank back in place on the truck and marched a few feet away. Yeah, he should trust these firefighters, who considered Della their family. He shouldn’t be so angry at Amelia. But Della was in there and not responding.

Still, the prayer thing was true.

But he was having a really hard time believing it. What did that say about his faith?

A loud, piercing alarm sounded from inside the building.

Anthony grabbed a firefighter walking by, struggling to drag another hose. “What’s that noise?”

“Sounds like a PASS alarm,” he said.

Anthony picked up the wet hose and helped tug it toward the house. “A what?”

“A personal alert safety system. All the fighters have them. Means the person hasn’t moved in thirty seconds.”

Della.

Anthony dropped the hose. Amelia and Bryce were right there.

Bryce grabbed him by the shoulders before he could sprint to the burning building. “Don’t even think about it, Thomas. I know you’re tasked with protecting her, but Rescue is looking for her. That alarm will lead us right to her. Wait.”

Part of him knew this. But logic was not sounding so logical right now. He should be there.

“Bryce, come on.” He didn’t even care if he sounded desperate. Begging.

“I can’t let you in, Thomas. Hold back. And pray.”

Amelia and Bryce weren’t going to relent. He could see it in their stances. But Amelia did go in to help. All Anthony could do was wait.

And fine. He’d try to pray.

But the only words that he could conjure up were woefully insufficient.

Lord, help her. Keep her safe. Please.

Bryce must’ve recognized his compliance. He stood next to him as they faced the front entrance together. The piercing alarm stood out among all the other sounds. Sirens on the trucks still ran. Voices yelled across the lawn.

The fire still roared, now shooting out the chimney on the roof, sending sparks and smoke up into the sky. The falling snow did nothing to extinguish it. The streams of water from the hoses only created sizzling steam as the fire laughed at them and grew stronger.

Zoe’s voice sounded over Amelia’s radio. “We need another hose in here. Collins is trying, but it’s not enough.”

The captain spoke into his unit. “We’ll get the other crew in there. Foster, any word yet?”

“The alarm is coming from upstairs. Second story. Heading there now.” Ridge’s voice came through clearly.

But it wasn’t nearly fast enough.

Bryce called Kianna and Trace over. “We need EMS on standby. Possible unconscious or injured firefighter.”

“We’re ready.”