Page 42 of My Three Hometown Firefighters (Aspen Springs #2)

CHAPTER FORTY

Grayson

APRIL

I scrub my hand over my face, willing the paperwork to complete itself.

I’ve been trapped in my office working for the past few hours. Maybe I just need to go walk around the firehouse for a few minutes.

Just as I move to stand, the alarm blares through the building. I quickly make my way down to where my gear is stored and ready near the truck.

The radio strapped to my chest crackles to life with the dispatcher giving me more information about what we’re looking at.

“Structural fire…”

I slide into my gear with practiced ease, having completed this task countless times throughout my career.

“Residential.”

I ensure I’m ready. My eyes sweep over the rest of my men, who are piling into the truck or getting the last pieces of their gear on.

The next words stop me in my tracks. “367 West Applewood Drive.”

Sienna’s apartment.

My whole body freezes, hand suspended in mid-air halfway to the handle on the truck.

Warren bumps my shoulder. “Did I hear that address right?”

I swallow and nod.

He drags in a deep breath. “Well, get the fuck in the truck,” he says, urgency in every word.

Right. I have a job to do, and being paralyzed by fear is not it.

I take my usual spot in the front passenger seat as the rest of the guys pile in. The sirens blare as the truck pulls from the garage.

I turn my head, dictating orders to all the men, so they’re prepared when we get to the scene.

My eyes lock on Tucker, who has obviously figured out where we’re going, too. Pure fear is written all over his face.

Since sprinting up the stairs and tearing into her apartment is out of the question, I do the only thing I can. I give Tucker and Warren the task of clearing the second floor.

I see the smoke before the building comes into view. Fear like I’ve never felt before spirals through me, turning into its own living, breathing being.

She has to be okay. Both of them do.

As soon as the tires screech to a stop, the men race from the truck. They all go about completing the tasks I laid out for them.

I help to prepare the gear from the truck that’s needed, then stand with my radio in hand as they all disperse.

Warren gives me a look over his shoulder before he disappears up the stairs with Tucker hot on his heels.

A sickening feeling of helplessness swims through my veins. I know I’m doing my job, but I feel trapped—trapped between doing what I’m supposed to do and doing what my heart’s screaming at me to do.

The source of the fire is identified in a corner apartment on the bottom floor. People run out onto the grassy area in front of the building.

Most of them are coughing from the thickening smoke. I help them to the EMTs who pulled in behind us in the ambulance.

Why haven’t I heard from Warren or Tucker? Did something happen to one of them?

Suddenly, my fear isn’t just for my girl and the little girl she’s carrying, but for my two friends who have become more like family.

Just as my finger presses the button to radio for them, Tucker emerges with Sienna’s orange cat tucked under his arm.

Thank fuck.

He and Warren help a few people over to the ambulance to get checked out before they walk over to me.

“Second floor clear,” Warren says.

She’s not here.

“Are you sure?” I ask. I know they are both fantastic at their jobs, and I would normally never question them, but this isn’t just any call.

They both nod. “We checked several times. I’m sure,” Tucker says.

I nod, letting out a shaky breath.

The next hour goes by in a haze. If it weren’t for muscle memory and routine, I don’t know if I would have been able to do my job effectively.

It’s the middle of the day on a Thursday, so Sienna is more than likely at work. But I won’t be able to calm this persistent anxiety that keeps pestering the back of my brain until I’m able to set my own two eyes on her.

Only when I am holding her in my arms will I be able to fully accept she’s okay.

Every glance at Tucker and Warren shows the same unease still etched across their features.

Luckily, it’s almost time for shift change, so as soon as we get back to the firehouse, we start getting ready to leave.

I don’t even know what I’ve grabbed to bring home with me and what I’ve left behind. At this point, I don’t even care.

There are far more important things on my mind.

Two things. My girls.

The second we are able, Tucker, Warren, and I exit into the back lot. Without a word, we all climb into my truck.