Page 140 of The Convict Gets His Girl

Chase crawled forward, feeling the heat searing his skin. A wooden beam lay across what looked like a teenager's leg. Danny's face was pale, sweat mixing with soot, eyes barely open.

"I'm gonna get you out," Chase muttered, grabbing the beam and putting his shirt over Danny's face. "Breathe slowly into this."

His muscles screamed as he lifted, fighting back a cough, years of ranch work and prison fitness paying off. The beam shifted just enough for Danny to pull his leg free.

"Can you move?" Chase asked, yanking the kid's arm over his shoulder, the words triggering a massive cough.

Danny mumbled something incoherent, half-conscious. Chase dragged him toward the barn's entrance, the structure groaning around them like a dying beast. Embers rained down, burning small holes in Chase's pants.

Outside, he could hear Gunner shouting, the distant wail of fire trucks growing closer. Heat pressed against his back, and the door came in sight.

Chase stumbled through the doorway just as the first support beam collapsed behind him, sending a shower of sparks into the night sky.

Gunner grabbed Danny, pulling him away from Chase, who collapsed onto the grass, coughing violently. The fire department arrived moments later, sirens blaring and lights cutting through the smoky darkness.

Destini was out of the car in an instant, running toward him. "Dad!" she screamed, her voice cracking with fear. Chase raised a hand, signaling he was okay, but the movement was weak.

"Oh my God, Dad, I was so worried. Don't leave me like that. Never do that again."

Chase coughed and sat up, Destini throwing herself into his arms in a hug that strangled him. His eyes poured tears as he coughed, and Destini released him.

"Oh God, are you alright? Let me get the paramedics. I?—"

He grabbed her hand and shook his head, holding his throat. "I'm fine." His voice was scratchy and sent him coughing again.

"You're not. Look at you. Mom's gonna kill me?—"

"Me too," Chase grinned before coughing again.

She hugged him again, and he stroked her back. "I just found you, Dad. I don't want to risk losing you, alright? I kinda love you and stuff."

Tears poured down his cheeks and his eyes closed. "Love you too, kiddo."

This unconditional love that he'd felt for her since the first time he laid eyes on his daughter was unexpected—but it healed his soul in a way nothing else ever could. That he'd earned her love in return made him feel like the luckiest guy in the world.

Paramedics swarmed the scene, checking the teenagers sprawled in the backs of the vehicles. One approached Chase, shining a light in his eyes and checking his breathing. "You inhaled a lot of smoke," the paramedic said. "We need to get you to the hospital."

Chase tried to protest, but another coughing fit overtook him. Gunner stood nearby, giving a statement to another officer, his eyes periodically checking on Chase and the teens. All the while, the barn continued to burn.

* * *

When Chase dropped Violet off at her house, he was exhausted, his throat burning. He'd been afraid they would try to sneak home, so he'd made each of them call their parents first—and get permission for him to drive them without a license. Ana and Lola had agreed, and Lola had been waiting at their home with open arms when he dropped Violet off.

"Now to drop you off," he croaked to Skye.

"Actually, Mr. Williams, this car is right next door. Is this Mr. Salazar's car?"

He glanced in the rearview mirror and turned onto the quiet streets in town. "Yeah, he's a good friend of mine. I gotta return the car, since I rode Gladys to his house to borrow it."

"Oh, well, drop me off first then," Destini said with a yawn. "I'll shower and might even be passed out by the time you get home."

Skye and Destini chatted quietly about who was more tired now that the adrenaline had worn off. When he dropped Destini off, Skye grew quiet until he pulled up in Raul's driveway. She startled awake, but the porch light on next door shone bright.

He walked with her around the hedge and watched her walk up the steps. When Ana threw open the door and gathered her into a hug, his eyes teared up once more. If he'd known Ana lived next door, he might've woken her up to drive instead of stealing Raul's car.

A voice clearing behind him had him looking back into the driveway. Raul leaned against his car, arms and legs crossed.

"Graduated to grand theft auto, did ya?"

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