Page 12 of Redwood Blaze (Black Timber Peak Hotshots #1)

ELEVEN

MILLIE

I grab the bag I created from what was in my warbag. It’s not everything, but it’s protection if I get caught in the fire, I need to be prepared. I pull out my hard hat and my coat. Always better to be ready than not.

I take out on a light jog. The scent of charred wood is ever present on the mountains.

It’s only December and January that let us have the biggest reprieve.

Otherwise, we’re on the clock twenty-four seven.

Burnout is real. It takes a strong person to stay awake for seventy-two hours straight.

We don’t do it often, or at least try not to, but when it happens, it happens.

No one is going to lay down and just let the fire take them.

Callum jumps into my mind. Please let him be okay.

The fire’s not far and it’s moving east with the wind, so there’s little chance I’ll run into it —or rather it’ll run into me— but never no chance.

I pull out my phone and dial HQ.

It rings and rings and rings. The pit in my stomach for Callum deepens. They might all be out fighting or Gideon might have taken them out, too.

I dial Cole’s SAT phone.

“Cole,” is all he says.

“Hey, it’s Millie, I’m on my way toward you.”

“Why?”

“Cole, there’s a man, Blake, who is pretending to be a hotshot, probably a transfer from Diamond Ridge. He’s my ex and he’s a psycho. He’s done something to Callum.”

“Why would he hurt Callum?” he gets through the sentence and then chuckles. “Never mind. I know why. You two actually a thing, finally?”

“Long story, but I need you to get the guys away from Blake —who is really Gideon— and stay far from him. He’s dangerous.”

“Will do. But why are you coming this way?”

“To find Callum and save him.” I lift my bag higher on my shoulder.

Cole yells something to someone with a covered mouthpiece. “We’ll see if we can ping his locator and send you some coordinates.”

Cole would already know if a beacon when off.

So Gideon lied about turning on Callum’s beacon. Fuck him!

“Please.”

“What if you run into?—”

“I’ll handle him.”

I’m fucking fine, but he won’t be.

I hang up and in two minutes coordinates are in my phone.

I’m blazing with anger, but I’ll use it as fuel. I’ll use my skills to find Callum and then I’ll find Gideon and make him wish he’d never stepped foot in Black Timber Peak.

Now to call Blake or the police to check on him…