Page 62 of From the Ashes

Teddy is opening up and shaking out emergency foil blankets to hand out. That would normally be my job, but I’m grateful no one is stopping me from attacking the rubble with Dray in this moment. If Colt isn’t out front and he isn’t with these guys…

“Four,” the waiter says, gratefully gulping down some bottled water, also from Teddy. “An older couple and a younger man and woman. It wasn’t so bad a few minutes ago. But then there was some kind of explosion and everything fell down some more, and…”

He trails off, but we don’t need him to explain. We saw the kitchen turn into a fireball. The rest of the team should be tackling that blaze now. Hopefully, they’ll get it out soon if they haven’t already. Judging by the sirens filling the air, another station has come to offer us backup.

All’s not lost, yet.

“Foster,” the lieutenant says to Teddy. “Escort these people to the triage area. Once they’re taken care of, get back here.” I glance over my shoulder to see him grip Teddy’s arm. “If there’s anyone to spare, bring them back with you,” he mutters.

“Yes, Lieutenant,” Teddy says with conviction.

Then Flores rushes over to the other side of me, working with Dray to keep digging our way through, bit by bit.

“Fire department!” I yell, my voice hoarse. “Anyone in there? Call out!”

“Hello?” a woman’s muffled voice comes through the rubble.

“Hold on, ma’am!” the lieutenant instructs as we alter our direction toward where it sounded like she was. “This is the Redwood Bay Fire Department, we’re here to help. Are you injured?”

“No,” she replies with a cough. “But my friend is under some of the crap that fell just now and he’s not responding. His parents are with me. His mom’s arm is maybe broken. Should I keep digging toward you? I’m worried about the structural integrity, but I didn’t want to just sit here.”

“Let us do the digging now, ma’am,” the lieutenant says. My arms are aching but we’re tearing through what’s left of the roof, getting closer to the Sakura tree poking out through the cracks, reaching for the heavens. I can’t see any flames, so hopefully that means the rest of the squad have gotten the fire out.

One less problem to deal with is appreciated right now.

“Please hurry,” she says. “I’m worried about my friend.”

“The cavalry is here!” Lili yells from behind us, and my heart leaps as I turn to see her running toward us with almost all of the rest of the One-Thirteen. She, Teddy, Lochlan, Sawyer and Anton all dive in without needing to be told, helping with the excavation. Captain Valentine is bringing up the rear, keeping a little distance as he assesses the big picture.

He can tell us to fall back if he thinks it’s unsafe. Of course he needs to protect the team if shit goes sideways.

But if Colt is the man unconscious under the fresh load of rubble, the only way I’m leaving this scene is in a body bag.

I can’t lose him. Ican’t.I only just got him back. This can’t be the way our story ends, not after so long living separate lives. It’s not fair. I won’tstandfor it!

“What’s your name, ma’am?” the lieutenant asks.

“Portia,” she replies. The volume of her answer tells us we’re getting close, and almost a dozen pairs of hands converge onthe same spot, all working to shift enough rubble to finally get a visual confirmation.

“Portia, I’m Rico,” the lieutenant says. “Just hang on. We’re almost there. Can you see any daylight?”

“Yes…uh…”

To my right, several stones cascade down, then suddenly four fingers wiggle their way through the crack.

“Got you!” I yell, covering her hand with mine. She squeezes me as best she can.

“That’s fantastic, Portia,” Lieutenant Flores calls to her. “Can you make sure you and the people you’re with please move back? We’re going to come through now.”

“Gotcha, Rico.”

We give her a few moments to get out of the way, then the entire One-Thirteen attacks that spot with determination. My heart is in my throat, and I don’t trust myself to speak as the hole begins to grow, revealing the three people trapped underneath. As soon as there’s a shoulder-width gap, two of them push the older woman forward.

“Please, help my wife!” the man cries, and I instinctively reach for her.

And then I know. I might not have seen Angela Ross in over fifteen years, but I still recognize her immediately. And I only saw Fredrick Ross a few weeks ago.

Colt must have been with them.

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