Page 1 of Unexpected Love
Chapter 1
Cal
“Engine Three is on scene.” The radio at my lapel squawks as James County Fire Rescue’s Engine Three rolls to a stop in front of a set of older row houses on the outskirts of town.
Decades ago, this small community housed workers for a nearby textile manufacturing company. Now it’s just known as the mill village.
Through a broken window, flames lick up the side of the weathered building, growing larger by the second. Billowing black smoke mars the otherwise perfect sunrise on what promises to be a beautiful spring day.
“Woo, looks like a good one,” Bigsley or Barnaby—or whatever the fuck his name is—exclaims from the driver’s seat. “Let’s see if your city-boy ass can keep up, old man.”
It rankles that a guy barely old enough to drink legally is in charge of this million-dollar apparatus. Driving me around, treating me like a rookie. I’ve got almost a decade in the fire service but only six months with James County Fire. And this guy is an asshat who’s given me shit the entire shift about being the FNG—fucking new guy. I’m over it already.With two hours to go until our eight a.m. shift change, maybe this call will be enough to keep me from decking him.
I stretch my arm as wide as possible in the tight confines of the cab, trying to loosen the muscles in my shoulder, feeling the familiar twinge at the spot the bullet entered. Not enough to be real pain, but enough to let me know it’s there.
On instinct, I scan the surrounding buildings as I pile out of the engine and connect the hose to the hydrant. A big guy whose name I can’t remember is at the panel, initiating water flow.
“These old shotgun houses were built before building inspections,” he calls. The houses are all wood, all weathered and aged. All lined up within spitting distance of each other. Nestled so closely together that if one goes, the next one will too. “They’re a fucking tinderbox waiting to happen.”
Shattering glass punctuates his statement and sends my heart rate into overdrive. “Get a move on,” I yell at my young partner. “We’re about to lose it.” God knows I don’t trust this guy to have my back once we go in.
Yanking on my breathing apparatus, ignoring most of the rest of the radio traffic, I scan the scene once more, half expecting that telltale crack of a gun, followed by burning agony in my shoulder.
I shake off the memory of that horrible day last fall and secure my mask, going through the motions to adjust the flow on my air tank.
Deep breath in. Cross the yard, knock down the flames, get out alive.
Easy-peasy.
A tug at my sleeve has me glancing down tofind a boy staring at me with huge eyes. He looks like maybe he could be a young teenager, but what the heck do I know about kids, other than this one is in the wrong place. He’s a little wide-eyed, but not freaking out, barefoot, and wearing a pair of threadbare pajamas.
I slip my air mask up so he can see my features more clearly. “Hey, buddy.” Snaking an arm around his shoulder, I hustle him to the rear of the engine and away from the burning structure.
“Mister, can you save my mama?” He’s a little… off. I’m not sure if he’s in shock or if there’s something more to it. His face is blank except for the wide eyes pleading up at me. Small hands clench my turnout jacket. “She’s still in the house.”
Oh god.
I follow his outstretched arm to the room he’s pointing at.
I hand the kid off to a nearby cop and sprint to the window, clicking the radio mic at my shoulder as I run. “Possible victim entrapped.”
Flames lick up the interior wall and across the ceiling as I reach the closest window. It’ll be a miracle if this woman is still alive, as hot as this beast is.
Maybe that little shit I’m partnered with will actually get his head out of his ass and help me make a difference. I know without a doubt that a backup engine is on the way. I heard them call en route as we left our station. And another squad will show up in the roving rescue truck.
But right now, we’re the best shot this woman has at surviving.
The kid’s words ring in my head.Save my mom.
Bixby or Barabbus—fucking young’un—meets me in the yard, dragging the hose behind him, while the engineermans the water panel. I grab the nozzle and race back to the structure, dousing my entry point with a blast of water.
Save my mom. Save my mom.
But I don’t.
And we lose the battle against the flames.
And it wrecks me.
