Page 98 of Her Rugged Guardian

“After I leave, I want you to head to Millie’s Diner with Moose. Okay?”

“Why? What’s going on?” Cass asked, her eyes widening.

“Just do what I ask. You’ll be safe there.”

“You’re scaring me.”

“Good. That’s what will keep you safe. Promise me you’ll go.”

She nodded. “I promise. Just please call me when you’re safe. I don’t want you to die on me.”

I pulled her against me, kissing her forehead. “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll be back.”

“Fight the demons, Jake.”

“Yeah, I will.”

I only prayed to God I could.

CHAPTER 26

Jake

Taking a break.

I’d been ordered to do so along with four other firefighters by Captain Biddle, something I loathed. The others were sitting on the soaked ground, all of us exhausted from fighting the blaze.

As I wiped smoke and sweat from my face as well as taking a deep breath, I stared at the night sky. It was still lit up in orange even though all three fire departments from three different counties had made a solid push to get the fire under control.

I powered back part of a bottle of water, hating the fact I was still. Shane was giving orders to two of the crew, doing his best to maintain control. There were more than two dozen bystanders, mostly homeowners already displaced from their homes. I was sick inside from hearing the small cries of the children terrified at the horrible sight. Reporters had also swarmed the area, determined to get the scoop on what was happening.

Anger remained just below the surface, my mind fucking with me as murderous thoughts regarding Malcolm remained fresh in my mind.

I tossed the water bottle, grabbing my helmet and racing back toward the flames. Three houses were a total loss, two more receiving significant damage. But so far, no lives had been lost.

As I made my way to Shane, I could tell the toll the fire had taken on him as well. He glanced in my direction, taking several gasping breaths. “This was arson.”

“You gotta leave that to the fire inspector,” he told me.

“Yeah, well, my guess is the man is in Malcolm’s pocket just like everyone else.”

“It’s a she, by the way. She came from San Francisco. I highly doubt she gives a rat’s ass about the Robinson family.”

“I don’t any longer, Shane.”

“Let’s just keep going. Glad to have you here, buddy. You haven’t lost your touch.”

I didn’t buy that but at least I’d been a warm body to the new recruits that were far too green to know what to do by instinct. The shortage of skilled firefighters didn’t help the situation in the least.

“Head over to help unit ninety-six. Let’s get the last fires out,” Shane directed.

“You got it. Is everyone accounted for?” I asked.

“From what I’ve been told, yes.”

Nodding, relief pounded my system. Buildings and furniture could be replaced, new memories made from the ash, but lives couldn’t. I raced toward the sister fire department, waiting to yank on my helmet until I got closer.

The unit’s captain was in the process of barking orders. “Jones. Shephard. Go around to the backside. Darby and Wallace, attack the side,” the man directed before noticing my arrival. “Spencer. Stay with Porter in the front. We need to attack this one from all sides. One last push. Don’t let the roof catch fire or we’ll lose it.”

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