Page 64 of Ashes of Us
"I'm sorry, but we don't trade lives."
The paramedic looked like he might argue, but Harlow was right. By every measure, every protocol, sending someone in was suicide.
"Daniel's been in there too long," the paramedic said, voice breaking. "He’s… God, someone has to?—"
The world tilted.
Could it be…?
“Daniel?” I repeated, eyes on the EMT. “What’s his last name?”
“Collins, I think. Daniel Collins.”
The name hit like a hose line to the chest.
I’d seen that name before on a mutual-aid report from a rollover last month. County Medic 5.EMT Daniel Collins.
A week later, he’d stopped by the station to drop off the paperwork. I’d recognized him then—same guy I’d seen at the bakery with Piper. She’d been laughing, sunlight in her hair, his hand resting on top of hers.
Daniel Collins.
Piper’s boyfriend.
And he was still inside.
I looked at the house. At the flames eating through the structure. At the roof sagging, ready to collapse at any moment.
If Daniel died in there…
If I let him die…
She'd never recover. Not from that. Not after everything I'd already put her through.
"Captain Sullivan." Harlow’s voice cut through my thoughts. "I know what you're thinking. Don't."
I turned to look at him. "Two people are in there now."
"And sending more in won't save them. It'll just give us more bodies to recover."
He was right. By every protocol, every standard, every piece of training I'd ever had… he was right.
But Piper's face flashed through my mind. Not the way she'd looked at the pool two weeks ago, guarded and careful. The way she'd looked at me six years ago, when she still loved me. When she still believed I was someone worth loving. Before I'd destroyed that.
I couldn't give her that back.
I couldn't undo the cheating, the lying, the four months of betrayal that had blown up her life. But this…
I could do this.
I started toward the engine, toward my turnout gear.
"Captain.” Harlow stepped forward.
"I'm technically off duty, Chief. Not under your command." I knew it was bullshit, but I didn’t care. I pulled my coat from the truck. "And I'm going in alone."
"Liam—"
"Alone, Chief. This is on me."
