Crash: Crash & Burn Duet Book 1 (Shaken)

by Grahame Claire

  A buzz rushed through my veins. Fifteen years, thousands of calls, and it was the same every single time.

  “Hollingsworth, Cassano, you’ll secure the inside. Everyone else, let’s make sure this bitch doesn’t spread,” Burke said from the front seat.

  I straightened at the call of my name. We bounced down the street, the engine roar nothing compared to the noise in my head.

  Oxygen.

  Gloves.

  Mask.

  Radio.

  Mentally, I checked off what I needed before I raced inside.

  Three blocks out, the orange glow of the fire lit the night sky. The siren wailed as we pulled to a stop in front of the townhouse.

  I jumped out of the truck first. “Stand back, please,” I said to the crowd who had gathered. “Anyone know how many inside?”

  “Two,” someone shouted. “I tried to go in, but there’s so much smoke.”

  “Ready to do this?” Cassano asked as he grabbed his axe.

  “Yeah.”

  Pop. Pop. Pop.

  Glass shattered and rained on our heads.

  “Everybody get back now!”

  Cassano and I ran toward the front door.

  “You know we’re gonna find marshmallows,” he said before he heaved the axe through the door.

  I bristled as I shouldered past him through the open door. “You’re a sick bastard.”

  He laughed and followed me into the smoke.

  I turned on my light, straining to see through the thick black around us.

  “Anybody here?” I shouted.

  No response.

  We continued on the first level.

  “I’ll go upstairs,” Cassano said as the fire crackled.

  “No. We stay together.”

  “If we don’t split up, we will find marshmallows.”

  “We stay together.”

  I’d been with the department ten years longer than Cassano and what I said went. Besides, it was the smart thing to do in smoke this thick.

  Mercifully, he didn’t argue as we cleared the living room and a study.

  We pressed deeper into the house. Sweat dripped from my forehead into my eye. I blinked a few times to clear the sting.

  Heat.

  Flames.

  The intensity grew with every step we took. I’d seen enough fires to know they were all unpredictable, but my guess was we were close to the source.

  “Hollingsworth, what’s your status?”

  “Two rooms clear downstairs,” I responded in the radio.

  “We’d have more done if I’d gone up—”

  Snap. Crack.

  The ceiling above us collapsed. I ducked and shielded my head with my arms but landed on my back. My light was knocked out of my hands.

  God, this is heavy.

  Weight on my chest and stomach made it hard to breathe. I couldn’t see through the dust and smoke.

  I shoved, and there was little give in whatever was on top of me.

  Not today. Not. Today.

  With all my strength, I pushed and somehow got the object off of me. I sat up, ignoring the soreness down my middle.

  “Cassano!”

  I waited a second and got to my feet.

  No response.

  “Cassano!”

  Nothing.

  I took a step forward and immediately ran into something. The only light was from the flames. I strained to see as I felt around. It wasn’t a person blocking my path.

  Something pliant.

  With dips and valleys.

  Mattress.

  Shit. If I threw it forward, it could hit him. Backward, I’d block our path out.

  “Cassano!”

  Still silent.

  The fire from the back of the house inched closer, spurred by the part that reached upstairs and collapsed the floor.

  I tossed the mattress toward it. The box spring followed.

  Underneath, in the center, there was a heaping form with a familiar yellow reflective tape.

  “Cassano.”

  He didn’t move as I pulled at the slats pinning him. Screwed in? Son of a bitch. He had the axe.

  I yanked on one. Those suckers were in tight.

  Cough. Cough.

  “Cassano? You with me?”

  “Hollingsworth?” His voice held none of the swagger it had a few minutes ago. He sounded dazed.

  “You would have a bed land on you,” I said, trying to distract him. “If you wanted my attention, you didn’t have to go this far.”

  Orange and blue streaks of fire licked closer. He lolled his head toward the flames.

  “Asshole,” he wheezed out. “When we’re out of here, I’m going to—”

  The ceiling behind us gave way. I didn’t have time to pull out the slats to free him.

  I cupped my hand under the frame and used all my strength to lift. It barely budged. One of the posters was wedged against the wall.

  Heat.

  Sweat.

  Flames.

  The intensity of the fire raged closer.

  “Go. If you don’t get out of here, we’ll both die.”

  “I’m not letting you be a marshmallow,” I gritted out.

  I repositioned my hands, centered myself, and used everything I had to lift. It toppled over. The fire engulfed the wood, sending embers toward the sky.

  “Can you sit up?”

  Cassano attempted to move. “Ahh.” His cry of pain was consumed by the fire.

  If I moved him, I could hurt him worse. There was no time for assessment. If I didn’t move him, he’d die.

  I scooped him up bridal style. “Jesus, lay off the cheesecake.”

  “Son of a bitch.”

  Running on pure adrenaline, I stepped over debris and avoided embers as I retraced our path. When I could see the flashing red lights of the fire truck, I picked up my pace. My foot hit something when I was almost to the door. The curled-up form didn’t move.

  “Hollingsworth, what happened in there?” Captain Koker barked as I emerged from the townhouse.

  I ignored him and took Cassano to the ambulance that had arrived on scene. The EMTs scrambled to set up a stretcher. I deposited him on it and marched back toward the house.

  “Hollingsworth. I asked you a question.”

  With determination, I jogged up the short steps, despite the pain in my stomach.

  “Hollingsworth! You can’t go back in there.”

  Everything turned to white noise as I retraced my path to whatever had blocked it near the door. I barely glanced at the flames that had almost reached the front of the home, focused solely on finding out what I’d almost tripped on.

  It could’ve been a pillow, but I couldn’t sleep if I’d left someone behind who could be saved.

  In seconds, I found the form in the same spot. Thank God, I came back.

  There was no movement, but when I cradled the form against me, I felt a slow up and down of breaths.

  “Hollingsworth—”

  Captain was still yelling at me when I came out for a second time. Out of the smoke, I finally saw what was in my arms.

  A greyhound.

  Chapter Four

  Teague

  “You broke protocol going back into that house on your own.”

  I winced as I stripped off my shirt.

  “Are you listening to me?” Captain asked when I opened the shower door.

  “If you want an apology, it’s not coming.”

  I dropped my pants and stepped into the stall.

  “I want you to follow orders. Cassano nearly died tonight.”

  I ducked my head under the cold spray in a desperate attempt to drown him out. He hadn’t seen him pinned under that bed. If anyone knew just how close Cassano had come to death tonight, it was me.

  “I want a full report. Though you probably went rogue in there. When Cassano is out of the hospital, I’m going to find out.”

  “If I hadn’t followed protocol we’d both be dead,” I growled
.

  “When I find out otherwise, you’re done.”

  I closed my eyes and refrained from punching the tiled wall or opening the door and punching him in the face. His assertions I did the wrong thing by Cassano weren't warranted. Never mind I’d saved a dog too.

  “Anything else, Captain?”

  “Yeah. You’re suspended without pay for a week.”

  I slammed the door open. “What?”

  My shout drew the attention of the other guys in the bathroom.

  “You heard me. After you’ve showered, go home.”

  “You can’t—”

  “Already have.”

  I hit the wall. Pain radiated from my knuckles up my arm. Captain knew how devoted I was to the station; I did what was necessary to protect our own and the people of this city. Sometimes that meant breaking protocol because sometimes protocol didn’t make a damn bit of sense.

  If he’d expected me to leave that dog to die, maybe the job I’d sacrificed everything for was the wrong one for me.

  I yanked my towel off the door and roughly dried off. When I stepped out of the shower with it tucked around my waist, four of my brothers-in-arms were waiting.

  “It’s total bullshit,” Walsh said.

  I grunted my agreement.

  “You saved Cassano’s ass and that’s the thanks you get?” Rivera chimed in. “That ain’t right.”

  “Yo.” Burke slapped my shoulder. “You good for the week?”

  I swallowed hard. He had three kids and another on the way. It took every penny he made to get by, yet he was willing to help me out financially if I needed it.

  “I’m good,” I said gruffly.

  “Nobody’s going to miss your sorry ass.” Burke grinned. “It’ll be nice to have a week off from your cooking.”

  “I’m a damn good cook, and you know it.” I pointed at him, some of the tension inside loosening.

  These guys had my back. They were the ones who mattered. Captain might have rank, but that didn’t mean he automatically had our respect.

  “Dr. Lyons.”

  “How’s the greyhound from the fire?” I was parked near the station, drumming my fingers of one hand on the steering wheel while holding my phone in the other.

  “She had severe smoke inhalation. I’m keeping her overnight, but she should be good tomorrow,” the veterinarian said matter-of-factly before her tone softened. “She’s a tough girl, and she’ll be in good hands.”

  I furrowed my brow. “Did someone claim her?” Once we’d extinguished the fire, we’d found two people inside who’d passed away. Not that it helped, but upon initial examination, it appeared they were already deceased when we’d arrived.

  According to neighbors, the couple and their dog were the only residents of the townhome.

  “No. I contacted Grey Paws. They normally rescue greyhounds who were abandoned by their owners once they can no longer race, but they’ll do anything for a dog in need.”

  Grey Paws? Grey Paws? Why did that sound familiar?

  At least the poor girl would have somewhere to go, though the thought of her in a shelter didn’t sit well with me. She’d not only almost died, but she’d lost the people she loved. That had to be traumatic.

  “If anything changes let me know. I’ll come by and pay the bill tomorrow.”

  “Will do. And this one’s on the house.”

  “Thanks.”

  I hung up and tossed my phone in the cupholder. No sooner than it landed, “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves” began. The guys at the station thought it was funny to change my ringtone to different Cher songs all the time.

  “What’s up, big brother?” I answered as soon as I saw the caller ID.

  “Were you in that fire up on West Twenty-ninth? I heard there was a firefighter hospitalized.”

  “I’ve got a hot nurse by my bed right now giving me personal attention, but you interrupted.”

  “That’s not funny.”

  Maybe it wasn’t, especially given that Cassano was the one in the hospital, but joking was the only way I knew how to cope.

  “She says she’ll do whatever it takes to make me feel better.”

  “Teague.”

  My older brother had always been the serious sort, then again, he’d had to be. And I didn’t know what I’d do without him. Lincoln had supported me all my life. While he didn’t particularly like that I’d chosen a career where I had to risk my life, he had my back.

  “The ceiling collapsed. A bed pinned Cassano down, but I got him out.”

  “Are you okay?” Laced in my brother’s stiff words was worry.

  “Yeah.” I debated for a minute whether or not to tell him the rest. He’d want to swoop in to fix things, and I appreciated that, but I didn’t need him to do my fighting. “Captain suspended me for a week without pay.”

  “Why?” The anger on my behalf pelted me in the ear, and I was grateful for the support.

  “I went back in alone and got a dog out.”

  “So you saved Cassano’s life and a dog, yet you’re punished? I’ll have him suspended without pay and see how he likes it.”

  “Don’t.”

  I had no doubt as soon as we were off the phone, my brother would have me reinstated. Hell, I might even be chief by the time he was done.

  “The suspension will go on your record.”

  Along with a few others you don’t know about.

  “Since my week just opened up, want to hang sometime?” I changed the subject and prayed he’d let it go.

  “Dad wants you to come to dinner on Friday,” he said quietly.

  “He can want in one hand, shit in the other, and see which fills up first,” I snapped. It wasn’t fair to my brother who was always in the middle, but he knew what an ass our father was. He had to work with him on a daily basis.

  “Beau’s coming.”

  “Is she back?”

  Playing the sister card was a smart move on Lincoln’s part. She’d been in London for five years and rarely came to New York anymore. The three of us were close. I couldn’t help but be a little hurt she hadn’t told me, especially since I’d just talked to her a couple days ago.

  “Only for the weekend.”

  I scowled at how short her trip would be.

  “At least I’ve got time off.”

  Chapter Five

  Pepper

  “Mr. October.”

  My hand slipped as I tried to put a leash on our new resident when Miss Adeline made the announcement. I’d heard the front door to the rescue chime. But surely that old woman hadn’t gone so far as to track him down?

  I stayed crouched by the dog, who didn’t move. She just looked up at me with sad eyes. I ached for her loss.

  “The one and only.” That deep wry tone had me closing my eyes. Except when I did, all I visualized was the man I’d seen yesterday. That seemed to be happening frequently.

  Probably because Miss Adeline kept leaving that calendar around open to his month.

  “Personally, Mr. December is more my type. They definitely saved the best for last.” I covered my mouth to keep from laughing. “But you’re not so bad to look at.”

  “If I tell Walsh you like him the best, his big ego will never deflate.”

  I recognized the voice. It was definitely the one that belonged to Mr. October. But yesterday, it had been harsh. Today, it was . . . playful?

  “You can keep hiding behind the desk, but you’re missing out on a hell of a view.”

  I cringed when Miss Adeline’s voice was directed at me. Heat crept through my whole body. Slowly, I stood and faced Mr. October.

  Those dark eyes flashed with recognition. “You.”

  “Did you need the rest of your tires rinsed off?” Crap. I hadn’t meant to say that.

  Miss Adeline raised a gray brow. She and I ribbed each other all the time, but I didn’t do it often with others, especially not people who came to the rescue.

  One corner of his mouth twitched, but he kept a strai
ght face.

  I held up two leashes. “Muffy’s ready for a walk.”

  At the sound of his name, he leapt up from Ash’s side. He hadn’t left her since she’d arrived earlier today.

  Woof.

  He rounded the desk and ran toward Mr. October at full speed.

  “Muffy. Don’t”—he put his two front paws on Mr. October’s stomach—“jump,” I finished weakly.

  Mr. October winced. I held my breath, waiting for the jerk from yesterday to emerge. Instead, he rubbed down Muffy’s sides.

  “You are something else, aren’t you?”

  Muffy wagged his tail and attempted to lick him.

  Ash perked up and peeked around the desk. She tilted her head, sniffed a couple of times, and pushed to her feet. Carefully, she moved toward Mr. October with her long gait. She licked his hand.

  “Well, hey,” he said in a soft tone. If this had been the man I met yesterday, I’d have been goo on the sidewalk.

  Miss Adeline looked at me as I watched the scene and her eyes glittered dangerously. I shot her a warning look, which was useless.

  Mr. October gently put Muffy’s paws back on the floor.

  “Looks like he got you dirty. You’re going to have to take that shirt off,” Miss Adeline said. Good Lord, she was serious. The woman had no tact.

  Streaks of water ran down his gray Henley.

  “He doesn’t just like to drink water.” Muffy looked at me like he knew I was talking about him. “He likes to play in it too.”

  “It’ll dry.”

  “If you take it off, it will.”

  I elbowed Miss Adeline, and she elbowed me back.

  “I’m looking for a dog Dr. Lyons said she brought by earlier. She was in a fire.”

  I lifted my chin in Ash’s direction. “That’s her.”

  His brow furrowed. He stared at the dog and then dropped to a squat. Muffy crawled all over him. He put one arm around him and cupped Ash’s face with the other hand.

  “You’re a pretty girl,” he said, and I had to lean on the desk for support. “I didn’t recognize you without all that soot on you.”

  But she’d recognized him. She leaned into his touch.

  He put his forehead to hers. “You’re so brave.”

  “She has a burn on her back hindquarters, but Dr. Lyons says it will heal,” I said. The wound was about six inches long, but the vet couldn’t tell what had caused the burn.