Burn Me Anthology

by Shantel Tessier

  Taking our axes, we each force them between the elevator doors. Shane pulls one way and I pull the other, the door budges, but just a little. Smoke begins to swarm in through the small opening we’ve made.

  “Help!” I hear a woman cry, and so does Shane.

  I look over at Shane, and he’s heaving with all his might to get the door open. We both know it’s her, and we have limited time to get her out. The small confined space is already filling with smoke, not to mention it’s growing hotter in here, which means the flames are near. We have to get her out of there.

  We work tirelessly, yanking and tugging on either door, to get a space big enough for her to slide through. Finally, we have an opening. It seems like it took us hours, when in reality, it was maybe less than a minute. Shane drops to his stomach and reaches his hand down the shaft.

  “I-I can’t reach,” the voice tells us.

  Fuck. Shane rips off his mask and even though I should yell at him, I don’t. “Anna!” he yells for her.

  “Shane.” His name is a sob.

  “I need you to listen to me.” He coughs, the smoke already getting to him. “Can you see my hand?”

  “Yes, but I can’t reach.”

  “Try, sweetheart,” he pleads with her. I can hear the fear in his voice.

  “I-I can’t,” she says, coughing.

  I drop to my knees beside Shane. “I have to go in there, Brant, I have to get her out of there.” His voice quivers with fear.

  I give him a thumbs-up, knowing exactly what he means. Crawling behind him, I grab his feet and hold on tight. As he inches closer, squeezing his large frame in between the small hole we’ve managed to create, I move with him, keeping a firm grip on him. As a last resort, one of us will jump in there with her. Chances are if we do that, between our weight and the force of the jump, the shaft will fall, causing them both to be trapped. This is our best option.

  Inch by inch, Shane leans over a little further, while my hands shake from the adrenaline and the fear of losing them both, or all of us if we don’t get her out of here. I can see flames, so we have a minute maybe two tops to make this happen.

  “Anna!” I hear Shane yell. “Can you see my hand? Can you reach it? I need you to try really hard, sweetheart.”

  “I—” She coughs. “I see it.”

  “That’s good,” he rasps. “Grab my hand and when you do, whatever you do, don’t let go. Don’t worry about hurting me. You hold on with everything you’ve got. You hear me, Anna?”

  “I’m scared,” she cries.

  “I-I know, baby. On three, I want you to grab onto my hands with both of yours.” He coughs again. “Ready?”

  “Y-yes.”

  He counts off and then yells, “Pull!”

  I tug with all I’ve got, bringing them both up. Once Shane is back enough that his upper body is flat on the floor, I let go of his legs and rush to kneel beside him at the door. Reaching down, I pull on his arms, giving him my strength. Together, we get her hands on the ledge. Keeping an arm on his, I reach the other out and grip Anna’s arm.

  “I’ve got her,” I tell Shane.

  He lets go, shakes out his arms and gets up on his knees. Leaning over, he grabs her other arm and we haul her up and out of the shaft. Shane immediately wraps her in his arms, and I’m just about to tell him we can do that when we get the fuck out of there, but I should have known better. He scoops her up in his arms, Anna holding his mask to her face. “Go!” he shouts, and I lead the way.

  The fire is in the lobby, so we have to walk to the far end of the building, barely escaping the blaze. Anna’s a trooper. I don’t hear a peep out of her while we fight our way out of the building. We reach the door and I break the glass that’s already cracking from the heat. Once it’s clear, I run through, followed by Shane, who’s still clutching Anna to him.

  We made it. I pray that the rest of our team, guests, and staff made it out. Before I can even take a relieved breath, we step across the street, and another explosion happens and the remaining front windows blow. The building is too far gone, and there’s no way we could go back in. We barely made it out.

  Chapter 14

  Kinsley

  Dad keeps a firm grip on me while I cry and keep my eyes glued to the building. Specifically to the door that Shane and Brantley disappeared through what seems like hours ago. I can’t take my eyes off it, not until I see them safe and sound. I refuse to think of any other outcome. They have to come out safe and sound.

  “You have to calm down,” my father says, rubbing my back.

  “How Dad? How exactly am I supposed to calm down? My best friend, my boyfriend, and his brother, their friends, your men are in the building. My staff—”

  “Have all been accounted for, same as the construction crew,” he reminds me.

  I don’t bother to respond. I just keep my eyes on the front door, hoping and praying they make it out safely. Finally, I see a figure at the door. When glass shatters and a firefighter walks through, I know it’s Brantley immediately. I try to run to him, but my father tightens his grip on me. Behind him is Shane, with Anna in his arms.

  “Brant!” I yell. His eyes snap up and find mine. I watch as he turns, I assume to check on Anna and Shane. He takes off his mask and puts it over Shane’s head. I watch as he takes Anna from his arms, even though it looks as though Shane isn’t too happy about it.

  “Come on,” Dad says, and we walk toward the waiting ambulance. All I can do is walk with him. He’s my strength at this point. I’ve never been so terrified. Even though they’re all out safe, I still can’t seem to wrap my head around it. I could have lost her, my best friend, and Brantley, the love of my life, and his little brother. I can’t stop the tears as they run hot and unchecked down my cheeks.

  We stand just a few feet away, Dad not letting us get any closer. Brantley walks Anna into the back of the ambulance and lays her on the gurney. He says something to the paramedics, before patting Anna’s arm and climbing out. Shane immediately climbs in and takes a seat beside her. There’s some commotion, and they try to get him to go get in the other ambulance, but he refuses to leave.

  Brantley walks straight toward me, and finally, Dad lets me go. Brantley holds his arms open and I run into them. He wraps me up immediately. The smell of smoke clinging to his blackened skin takes my breath away, but I don’t dare pull away. I need to feel him. “Missed you,” he rasps. His throat is thick from the smoke.

  Lifting my head, I look up at him. “I love you,” I tell him.

  He grins. His soot-covered face makes his white teeth even brighter. “I love you, too.”

  “You did good, son. Both of you,” Dad praises him and Shane. Brantley nods. “It’s a total loss,” Dad says. “We’re just at the point where we’re keeping it contained. There are two other stations here. “Go ahead and follow them to the hospital, both of you.”

  I know I should stay. I am the manager after all, but there’s nothing I can do. Dad assures me that he’ll dismiss the staff, those who have been cleared and released by the medics. He again reminds me that everyone is all accounted for. The police have already contacted the hotel owners, so there is nothing left to do.

  “Thanks, Cap.” Brant walks us over to the ambulance. “We’ll be right behind you,” he tells Shane.

  “Thanks, man.” He’s holding Anna’s hand.

  “How is she?” I ask him.

  He looks down at her and gently moves some hair out of her eyes. “She’s going to be just fine,” he says, never taking his eyes off her.

  “Thank you, both of you,” I say, squeezing Brant a little tighter.

  “Let’s go to the station so I can shed my gear and we’ll head to the hospital.” I nod my agreement and let him lead me to my car. I’d follow him anywhere.

  Once we’re in my car, he reaches over and grabs my hand, not letting go the entire five-minute drive to the station. Neither one of us speaks as he turns into the lot and kills the ignition. Bringing my hand to h
is lips, he places a soft kiss on my knuckles before releasing me and climbing out. Not willing to be away from him, I quickly reach for the handle, but he beats me to it. He’s already there, opening my door. Taking my hand, he leads me into the station and over to the wall of cubbies that houses each of their gear. We stop in front of B. Price, and he strips out of his gear, shoving it inside.

  Turning, he wraps his arms around me and buries his face in my neck. I do the same, holding onto him. My feet lift from the floor as he holds me to him, suspended in the air. “I was so fucking scared, Kinsley.”

  He eventually places my feet back on the ground, then leads us to a bench and sits, pulling me into his lap. His grip is firm around my waist. “I’ve never felt that kind of fear before,” he says, kissing my temple.

  “I get it now,” I tell him. “I hate that my dad missed things when I was growing up. I was the selfish little girl who just wanted her daddy. Today—” I swallow back the emotion clogging my throat. “You’re a hero, Brantley. You and Shane, and my dad, this entire department. You save lives. You take time away from those that you love, to save the loved ones of others. I knew this, but I never understood I guess, until my best friend and the love of my life were the ones in danger.”

  “We’re not heroes. We’re just doing our job.”

  “You are. You’re all unsung heroes. I feel like such a fool. I’ve been so focused on what my father missed, that I never let myself grasp the enormity of what it is that you do. You ran into a burning building, into the eye of danger to save a life. I owe you and my father both an apology.”

  Brantley cups my face in his hands. “You’re safe, they’re safe, that’s all that matters.”

  “No, it’s not. I’ve been selfish and making it all about me. It’s so much more than that. I don’t even want to think—” He interrupts me.

  “Kinsley?”

  “I mean—” He cuts me off again.

  “Kinsley?”

  “What?

  “You love me?” he asks, his voice low.

  “More than anything.”

  “That’s all I need, baby. You and your love.”

  “You have it. Always.” I kiss him softly. “Now, we should head to the hospital and check on Shane and Anna. I have a feeling you might need to force your little brother to get checked out. I can sit with Anna while he does.”

  “What’s going on with them?” he asks.

  “I don’t know. I know she’s interested. We were going to have lunch today. That’s why she was there. The ground floor water was turned off, so she went to the second floor to use the restroom before we left. I had planned to grill her for details.”

  “He was scared to death, white as a ghost when he found out it was her.”

  “They’ll figure it out. This might be the push they both needed.” He pulls me back against his chest. “I have all I need right here.”

  “Me too. And you just might be right.” With one more quick kiss, I climb off his lap and we head to the hospital.

  Chapter 15

  Brantley

  It’s been a week today since the fire. I insisted that Kinsley stays with me, not willing to be away from her. She didn’t fight me on it. What she did insist on was that Anna came with her. That was fine with me. I have the space. Shane seems to be visiting more this past week as well. He’s been staying at our grandparent’s place while they’re out of town.

  “So they’re going to rebuild?” Shane asks Kinsley.

  “Yeah, but it’s going to take some time. Apparently, there’s a lawsuit against the construction company. It’s seemingly their fault. They neglected to turn off the gas.

  “What are you going to do in the meantime?” he asks.

  “Not sure, really. I’ll need to find something. I can’t just freeload off Anna.”

  “You guys should just move in here,” I say, taking a swig of my beer. Anna and Kinsley both whip their heads around to look at me, mouths hanging open in shock. “What? I have three bedrooms in this house. There’s plenty of room for both of you. Rent free,” I add.

  “Brantley Price, have you lost your mind?” Anna laughs.

  “Nope. I want my girl here with me. I know she won’t want to leave you with the rent. It’s a win-win.”

  Anna looks at Kinsley. They share some kind of silent communication, one that only those who have been friends for years can understand. “Kinsley?” Anna asks.

  Kinsley grins. “He works crazy shifts, and this place is big enough for all of us,” she says, shocking me. My chest expands with love for her. We’re finally on the same page and moving forward as us.

  Anna shrugs. “I’ve handled the place by myself before.”

  “It’s more than that,” I tell her. “You two have been through a lot. I would feel better if she were here, and you too.”

  “I’m a big girl, Price,” Anna says, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “It’s not a bad idea, Anna,” Shane tells her. “It’s not permanent,” he adds.

  None of us are saying what we all know. She’s not sleeping at night, from the nightmares. She panics in confined spaces. When she’d been trapped in the elevator, unsurprisingly she’d freaked out. She does okay if Kinsley is with her, but being alone is tough for her right now.

  “My shift is crazy hours, and I’d feel better knowing someone was here with Kins.”

  “He’s right you know. You’re not the only one not sleeping at night,” Kinsley says gently.

  “You don’t want to move in your girlfriend and her best friend,” Anna says.

  “I do actually. I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want to.”

  “You’ve been wanting to open up your own space for massage therapy. You could save this way,” Kinsley adds. “Come on, Anna. Take one for the team.” She bats her eyelashes, causing Anna to laugh.

  “Fine. But I help with groceries and it’s not permanent. I just—” Shane cuts her off.

  “We need you safe, Anna. The condo, you can’t control your neighbors and what they do. You can’t remind them to blow out their candles or not fall asleep smoking cigarettes in bed. I know those are fears you have. I have them to. The fire changed both of us. I know you’ll feel safer here.”

  She nods, tears in her eyes. “Thank you.” She looks at me and gives me a watery smile.

  “Me? You just helped me move this one in with me. I owe you big time.” I hold my beer bottle up to her. I catch Shane’s eye and he gives me a subtle nod. He’s worried about her. I know he’s trying to give her time to heal from the fire before he makes his intentions known, not that we all don’t already know. Anna might be the only one, but she’s been pretty distracted lately.

  “Brother, what are your plans tomorrow?” I ask Shane.

  “It’s my day off.”

  “Looks like we have some ladies to move,” I tell him.

  “I’m in,” he says, tipping his beer back.

  We finish dinner and just hang out. Shane and I distract the girls with some of the antics down at the station. Like Derek and his burnt spaghetti. They both laugh more than I’ve seen in the last week, and that’s all that I need. Kinsley convinces Anna to spend the night, and shows her to the two guests rooms, letting her choose which one will be hers. It doesn’t matter to me as long as Kinsley will be in ours. Ours, I like the sound of that.

  Once she gets Anna settled, she joins me in our room. I hold the covers up for her, and she climbs in and snuggles up beside me. “Thank you, Brant.”

  “For what, baby?”

  “You know what.” She pinches my side.

  “She’s your best friend and I was there, remember? I know what she’s going through. She needs our support, and we’ll make sure she gets it.”

  “How did I get so lucky?”

  “It was fate, baby. You can’t fight it when sparks collide.”

  Contact Kaylee Ryan:

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  Other works by Kaylee Ryan

  With You Series

  Anywhere With You

  More With You

  Everything With You

  Stand Alone Titles

  Tempting Tatum

  Unwrapping Tatum

  Levitate

  Just Say When

  Unexpected Reality

  I Just Want You

  Reminding Avery

  Hey, Whiskey

  Soul Serenade Series

  Emphatic

  Assured

  Southern Heart Series

  Southern Pleasure

  Southern Desire

  Southern Attraction

  Burning Bridges

  By Mayra Statham

  Chapter 1

  Maverick Bridges

  Stepping into Hank’s, their local bar, Maverick couldn’t help but notice how the place felt as familiar as his own living room. He was thirty-five, and this was his home away from home. He didn’t know what to do with that. Instead of dwelling on it and attempting to figure it out, he headed toward the empty spot at the bar with his cell phone pressed to his ear.

  “Don’t worry about it, man,” he spoke into the phone as he maneuvered his way to the empty stool at the end of the bar.

  “I’ll work on getting us a table,” he muttered just as his ass sat down. He would find them a table eventually; he just needed a beer first.

  “Thanks. Sorry about this, Bridges,” Gabe Blanco mumbled, and Maverick fought from rolling his eyes.

  “Come on, Gabe,” he started to say. Maverick knew exactly what his best friend was going to say. He was about to start on the whole ‘My little sister is a pain’ rant.