Page 51 of Burn

He glares at me, offering me the big brother advice heassumesI need. “Just. . . for Christ’s sake, control yourself,” he whispers, eyes wandering around the apparatus bays. “It’s a dangerous job. When you get emotional, you make it worse.”

“I’ve already heardeverythingyou’re saying,” I mumble gruffly, wanting to stop talking about my issues. “You’re like a broken record.”

When you’re a firefighter, you have to be on your game. You’re the one guy doing something extreme and living on the edge. You’re saving lives in a way that only you can. When everyone else runs out, you run in.

I know that.

I try to live my life on the values of a firefighter. And if necessary, I will fight to save people even if it takes my life, too. It’s the oath I took.

What I don’t agree with are assholes like that football player acting like his possessions in his home were more important than a child.

As I watch Evan, I’m surprised he can keep it together as well, because he was there too. He saw that accident with the kid, but he shakes it off easier, or like I said, he’s better at controlling his emotions than I am.

NO SOONER HAD we gotten back, unloaded the SCBA tanks and loaded new ones and another call came through.

“Engine 25, ladder 10 . . . motor vehicle accident, Alaskan Way . . . 200 block. Battalion 2, aide response, rollover.”

We arrive at the pier minutes later, where a man has launched his car through a barrier and landed upside down, dangerously close to the edge.

“Holy shit,” Finn mumbles, shaking his head like he can’t believe what he’s seeing.

Me, I’m not impressed by much of anything anymore.

“What I want to know”—Owen climbs over the guard rail and starts down the hill—“is how the hell this guy pulled this off. I mean, the dude on Christmas, that was believable. Guy-wires can do all kinds of crazy shit. But this guy . . . he had to be going at least one ten to launch his car this far.”

“Crazy bastard is probably high,” I grumble, following him down the hill.

Owen glances back at me as we carefully make our way down to the car, rain hitting our faces and soaking our gear. “So you really didn’t get her number? I know where she lives. We could swing by there on the way back to the station.”

And we’re back to my sex life again.

I shrug. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I do know what he’s talking about and really want to know where she lives, but I’m not about to tell Owen that. Especially not after Gemma. I was dating a fuckin’ stripper and didn’t know it. Do you know how much shit I caught over that?

More than I ever cared to. For weeks after I found out I had thongs stuffed in my locker, a blow-up doll in there once with a pole taped to her legs and even a strip-a-gram sent to my apartment, courtesy of the guys over on Ladder 1, Gavin’s station.

Now I’m not telling these fuckers anything. Don’t get me wrong, it was all in good humor, and I laughed it off but still, I don’t want them knowing about Mila just yet. Mostly because if they say anything bad about her, I’d probably knock their teeth in.

“Oh, Jesus.” Owen laughs, knowing exactly why I’m being weird. “So you’re all secretive now that you’re getting some?”

I don’t classify two times in one night getting some. Though I wish that was the case, it’s not. Sadly.

“Stop talking to me.” We approach the vehicle, assessing what we need to do. There’s a man trapped inside and he’s lying against the steering, causing the horn to be stuck on. “That’s just about as annoying as hell. Someone disconnect the battery.”

Jay comes up next, reaching around inside the car. “What’s that chick’s name anyway? She work at a strip club too?”

See what I mean? What a bunch of relentless fuckers.

I don’t bother answering him. I want him to shut the fuck up about Mila. “We need to get the car stable.” I hit Finn in the chest lightly. “Kid, go grab the airbags.”

Finn doesn’t move, looking at me and then Owen.

I raise an eyebrow. “You have no idea what I’m talking about, do you?”

“Nope.” His face is blank, like his knowledge of firefighting, apparently.

Evan approaches, shakes his head and drops down to his knees, inspecting the car. “I wonder what the fuck they’re teaching down at the academy these days, ’cause it sure as shit ain’t firefighting anymore.”

He has a point.

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