Page 5 of Built of Flames

If Isabella was telling the truth, he hadn’t done any of those things for her.

The utter devastation on her face made Mitch believe she was telling the truth. Why had Chief been so quick to blame her? The man was a total rule-follower and never jumped to conclusions.

The chief glared at the squad and then barked, “Back to work.” His office door slammed and had almost everyone scrambling to get busy.

Mitch noticed a few smirks on the faces around the room. The chief wasn’t alone in wishing the squad was all male. Jerks.

Mitch looked at Christo. They’d been friends for years, even shared a duplex. Christo was three years older than Mitch and a full five years older than his sister.

Christo was working hard to keep a neutral look on his face, and Mitch couldn’t blame him. Bad enough to have been witness to the confrontation. Worse to be a family member, likely pulled by both sides initially.

Now he had to be confused as hell.

Mitch kept his voice low. “We’re done in twenty. Want to check in with Izzy first or chat with Roberto?”

Christo sighed. “Hospital first. We’ll get the story and then talk to her. I don’t think she’ll want to see us right now.”

Probably true.

Neither spoke much on the ride to the hospital.

Once there, they waved at Jerry, an off-duty firefighter. Chief Martinez had instituted a policy decades ago that encouraged off-duty crewman to take turns being at the hospital when another was injured. That way, not only would the man have a friendly face when he was allowed visitors, but the family would have an extra person to run errands and offer support.

Had he not done that for his own daughter? Had no one checked on Isabella?

Anger and guilt ate at Mitch’s insides. He knew that Juan and Izzy didn’t have the best relationship. Juan didn’t like the idea of a woman on his crew, but Isabella had always wanted it and she’d proven herself more than capable in the time she’d worked with them.

Hell, if it hadn’t been for the strict policy against internal dating, he’d have asked her out long ago. She was smart, quick-witted, and gorgeous.

He’d hoped she’d pursue a different career, but she’d wanted the fire and he understood that pull. So, he’d kept his attraction hidden and under control.

Today, when she’d broken eye contact with the chief, she’d scanned the room with eyes full of hurt and betrayal. They needed to apologize. They’d figure out a way to make it right once they got home.

They had to wait for the doctors to finish their rounds, then for the nurses to do their thing, and then for Roberto to wake up. Finally he stirred.

Mitch and Christo stood beside the bed and waited for the man’s eyes to focus on them.

His smile broadened, but he looked past them. “Where’s my hero? I was too out of it last time to find out how badly Bella was injured.”

Shit. They didn’t even know the answer to that. More guilt gnawed at Mitch. She’d worn a cast on her left arm and a sling. Her face had been pale and wan.

He could kick his own ass for not following her out. She must have felt abandoned. He’d figure out how to make it up to her afterward. They all would. “What happened in there, Roberto?”

The man’s eyes darkened. “I entered an office at the end of the hallway and found a hole cut in the ceiling. Called to my Bella, but the radio didn’t work. Then my heart shriveled up to the size of a pea and I couldn’t move, could barely take a breath.”

The monitor beeped more quickly, and Roberto closed his eyes and swallowed. Mitch grabbed the man’s hand and wondered if he should call the nurse.

“I’m good. Just need a second. Bella levered herself under my shoulder and got me moving. I can see it like a movie reel. I couldn’t make myself do much of anything. My body wouldn’t follow my instructions, but it followed hers. She kept talking, kept calling for help on the radio, kept me moving.”

Mitch exchanged a look with Christo. “No one responded to her calls? Or yours?”

Roberto shook his head. “Nope. We were at the door when something blew behind us. Probably from the hole. Sounded like a small bomb, not a natural part of the fire. Bella shoved me into the hallway so I was propped up against the wall and used that tiny body to shield me.”

Mitch’s heart sank as Roberto’s eyes filled with tears. They’d treated Izzy horribly, and every word this man said made it worse.

“I couldn’t turn my head to see it all, but I think the desk and the door took her down. She scrambled back up and that scrawny girl got me moving again. She dragged my big ol’ ass along the hallway, calling for help and keeping her cool. Even while maneuvering those stairs. Then I blacked out and woke up here with docs telling me I’m lucky to be alive and that they’ve stuck some stents in my heart.”

His eyes shone with pride and emotion, but Roberto’s voice was shaky. Mitch lifted a cup of water and handed him the straw.

---