I nodded tightly. I knew Eric was just doing his job, making sure he sent the right guys where they needed to go, but there was no way in hell I was about to remain on the ground while my family’s business was in flames.
“What floor did the fire start on?” I questioned as soon as I jumped out of the truck of one of the guy’s of another squad.
“They’re saying it started on the top floor. Birthday party or something.”
A pang of nervousness hit my gut.
“We need to get up there!” I yelled to Eric.
“Reports of one, possibly two people trapped on the first floor.”
I ran to the back of the truck along with Corey and Don. We packed our gear onto our backs, along with our helmets, and started for the main entrance where employees were still running out of. Eric and Don directed employees to the nearest exits and Corey and I went to lock the elevators. The building was thirty stories high and while it was a general safety rule to never take elevators in the event of a fire in the building, people often did. The best way to prevent them from doing so was to lock the elevators. One advantage I had was that I knew this building very well and knew the precise code to punch in the keypad to lock the elevators. We didn’t have to waste time waiting for the building’s security manager.
“Stairs!” I yelled to Corey and turned to run past the elevators to make the long trek up the thirty flights. By most standards it was an arduous task, but this was the reason we trained so hard, everyday. Our gear added almost hundred pounds to our bodyweight. But carrying all that up thirty flights was nothing at this point. I just concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, until we hit the next floor level. When we did, we hit the doors, yelling out and making sure all employees had evacuated.
“Let’s go! You gotta exit the building!” Corey yelled as we reached the tenth floor, finding a young woman tucked under her desk, in shock. “Can you walk?” he asked. She nodded her head. He guided her to the stairs and instructed a passing employee to help her down. We proceeded to check out that floor and then moved up to the next. At about the twelfth floor smoke had begun filling the air, obviously having made its way through the air vents.
“Eric, if there’s someone trapped on the top floor, only escape option might be the roof,” I told Eric as we bound up the stairs already at the twenty-fifth floor.
“We’ll head up!” Eric yelled.
We finally made it to the thirtieth floor but Eric and Corey continued up to the next flight for the roof. I removed my glove to feel the handle of the door. The metal was hot, the flames obviously still ablaze on the other side. I pushed my hand back into my glove and adjusted my face mask so it was secured over my face. Bracing myself, I pulled the door open. As if I’d just opened a hot oven and stood in front of it, a gush of searingly hot air washed over me. I looked to my right and saw a wall of fire. Flames had taken over just about half of the lobby.
“Fire department!” I yelled. “Anybody in here? Call out!” I braced myself to move farther into the inferno. I kicked over chairs and pushed desks, making sure no one was there.
“Help!” I heard from behind me and I turned to see a man in a wheelchair in the corner.
“Son of a bitch!” I grunted. “Are you hurt?” I asked, checking over him.
He’d removed his shirt to cover his face and use as a filter to breath through.
“N-no. I can’t get out.”
I nodded and looked around. I knew my best bet wasn’t going to be to attempt to carry this guy down the stairs.
“Carter to Rescue Four come in!” I yelled into my intercom.
“Rescue Four,” Eric’s booming voice responded.
“I’ve got a wheelchair bound male trapped. No way we make it down the stairs.”
“Copy that. Can you make it to a window?”
I looked around―the windows were obscured by the flames. I debated and came up with an idea. I wheeled the guy through the lobby and farther down the hall where the offices were. I twisted the knob to Aaron’s main office but it was locked. My heart rate quickened.
“We’re gonna get you outta here, buddy,” I assured the man. “Do you know if anyone else is in here?”
“I-I don’t think so.’”
I nodded and raised the hatchet I’d been carrying with me this whole time. Making sure the guy was far enough from my swing, I swung the hatchet into the door, breaking an inch or two into the wood. It took about five more swings before I had a hole big enough to reach my hand through and get to the lock. Opening the door, I wheeled the guy in and closed the door behind us, trying to put a small buffer between us and the flames.
“Aaron!” I called, searching the office.
“The boss is out of the office today at a meeting.”
My shoulders slumped in relief just a little bit. I didn’t have time to rejoice that my brother wasn’t in danger since I still had a trapped man that needed rescuing. I made a beeline for the windows, feeling them out. One opened, allowing for some ventilation, but both of our bodies would never fit through the space.
“Alright, buddy. What’s your name?” I asked, removing my mask.
“M-Mark.”
“Okay, Mark. We’re going to have to go through the window.”
“What? No, no! I can’t. I can’t walk. How will I be―”
“Mark,” I yelled, palming the sides of his chair, “I know you’re afraid but I’ve done this countless times. If I said we’re going to make it out of here, we’re getting the fuck outta here!” I didn’t have time for niceness. “Keep that shirt over your nose and mouth!” I ordered, picking up my hatchet again and heading back to the window.
“Carter to Rescue Four. Come in.”
“Rescue Four to Carter.”
“I’m on the southeast end of the thirtieth floor. I’m going to break a window. I need you to send that harness down as fast as you fucking can!”
“Copy that. Heading for the southeast part of the roof.”
Again I lifted my hatchet and took my best swing at the office window. It cracked but didn’t shatter. For that I needed three more swings, but eventually glass was everywhere at my feet instead of being the barrier to the outside it once was. And despite it being close to the low eighties outside, the gust of air felt at least twenty degrees cooler than the air in the lobby had felt.
“Okay, Mark, my guys are sending down the harness. We’re going to have to leave the wheelchair behind. I’ve got you,” I stated sharply when he began to protest. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw something swing past the now bare window. Running over, I caught the harness the next time it passed.
“Few more inches, Rescue Four!” I stated into my intercom. Seconds later the rope of the harness slackened and I was able to pull it in enough so that I could step into one of the two attached harnesses and strap it tightly around my legs and waist.
“Alright, Mark, let me guide you.” I put the second harness over his feet and up his legs before attempting to lift him from the wheelchair. Mark and I both grunted when I lifted him from the chair.
“I got you!” I had to partially drag Mark toward the window. When we made it, I said, “Alright, Mark, we’re going out of the window. I need you to just let yourself be moved, okay?”
He nodded, obviously terrified.
It took a bit of work to get us both out of the window. I lifted a hand from Mark and then tugged at the rope to let my guys know it was safe to start lowering us.
“Oh God! Oh God!” Mark began repeating over and over.
“We’re okay,” I consoled. I looked up to see Eric and Corey looking down over the edge of the roof.
“Ladder’s beneath you on the fifteenth,” came through my walkie-talkie.
I nodded and gave a thumb’s up to the guys above me.
“Mark, we’re going to be lowered to the fifteenth floor to the ladder of my truck. It’s already in position to receive us and will lower us to the ground,” I informed him. By then hi
s entire upper body was trembling. “Don’t look down,” I advised when I saw his head beginning to lower. Worst thing anyone in this position could do. I glanced up to stare above us. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I took a mental picture of how beautiful it was and how grateful I was to do the job I did.
I’m sure for Mark it felt like forever until our bodies hit the metal of the ladder. Don and one of the rookies were in position to receive us. I unhooked my harness and Don helped me carry Mark down to the truck’s roof.
“How you doin’, Mark?” I asked.
“Uh, um, ask m-me once I’m on s-solid ground.”
I grinned a little and nodded. “Seems fair.”
With Don’s help we brought Mark down the side of the truck where there was already a gurney waiting for him.
“Th-thank you!” He grasped tightly onto my hand, squeezing it with his still trembling hands.
“You’re more than welcome. Let these paramedics get you fixed up.” I was sure he’d suffered some smoke inhalation and a few burns, mainly minor, but they still needed to be checked out.
I watched as he was rolled off, paramedics placing an oxygen mask over his face. He was probably in shock at that point. My attention was pulled to yelling behind me. I turned from Mark being loaded in the ambulance to see my brother storming down the sidewalk, yelling at everyone in sight.
“What the hell happened?” he barked at the nearest officer.
I slowly made my way over to him, unbothered by his mood. Funny enough, despite the officer being the one with the gun, badge, and handcuffs, he looked frightened as hell of Aaron.
“Aaron!” I called, to take the attention off the poor officer.
“Carter! What the fuck is going on? I’ve been at meetings all day and get a call my damn building’s on fire!” His face was in an even more treacherous scowl than usual.
“Not the whole building. It’s been contained to the top floor, but the damage will be extensive.”
“Anyone hurt?”
I nodded in the direction of the ambulance just as it was pulling off. “I had to pull a guy named Mark through the window. Minor burns and some smoke inhalation, but his chair is still up there, probably destroyed.”
“Son of a bitch!” he yelled. “This was Mark’s first week as my junior assistant.” He shouted for the second time, “How the fuck did this happen? We have all types of safety measures for this.”
“We don’t know, but someone made mention of a birthday celebration gone wrong.”
My brother snarled. And that look alone told me heads were going to roll. I might even be intimidated a little by that look if I were one of his employees. Aaron zeroed in on something across the street and started in that direction. I glanced over and saw a group of his employees huddled amongst the crowd. In typical Aaron fashion he was none too gentle, even as he asked for the second time if anyone had been injured or hurt.
“He looks pissed,” Corey whistled, coming up beside me and staring across the street.
I shrugged. “He’s always pissed. It’s his thing,” I stated. I saw Corey turn to me but I didn’t meet his gaze. Aaron’s deal wasn’t my business. My job was done and I was just satisfied that no one had been seriously injured. Besides, I knew I’d learn all about what transpired to cause the fire through the investigation and my family’s own private review of the incident.
“Let’s load the truck. I’m fucking starving.” I slapped Corey’s chest with the back of my hand. “Eric, let’s stop at Luigi’s on the way back. Don’t you say shit!” I pointed at Don whose mouth was already partially opened, ready to talk shit about my choice in places to eat.
I watched as Don mumbled something while he tossed equipment in the back of the truck, but he didn’t directly respond.
We stopped and picked up some pizzas on the way back. I impatiently waited for the next four hours of my shift to pass. All I wanted to do was shower the day off and spend the evening in bed with the love of my life. We had a date that night and her mother had already agreed to keep Diego overnight. And although I’d miss the hell out of the little guy, I was greatly appreciative of the opportunity to have some alone time with Michelle.
~ Chapter Seventeen ~
Michelle
“Oh my God!” I pressed my hand to my chest, inhaling deeply as I watched the images on the flatscreen television that hung in the corner of our office lobby. Usually, Nancy had us playing office music from the television to promote a warm, friendly work atmosphere, but when Natoi ran in my office and told me to turn on the news, we switched channels. Now, I was staring as the love of my life dangled, a horrifying thirty stories in the air. And he wasn’t alone. Apparently, there’d been a fire at Townsend Industries and his squad had been called in to rescue a trapped employee. A mix of emotions swirled in my belly as the news reporter continued to give her blow-by-blow report of the scene.
“That’s your Carter, right?” Natoi questioned. I began looking around, noticing a few of the other employees were coming out to watch what was happening.
“Sh!” I shushed Natio, not wanting my personal business spreading around the office. Not only was I just not into gossiping at work, but I didn’t want my relationship being made public to anyone, for personal reasons. Instead of answering Natoi’s questioning look, I turned back to the screen, sighing in relief as Carter was lowered onto the ladder of a firetruck. I watched silently, heart still beating out of control, as another firefighter helped Carter carry a man down the ladder onto the roof of the truck. Not until I saw him make it safely with two feet on the ground did I release a full breath.
“You better go call your ma–” I didn’t let Natoi finish her sentence before I was pulling her by the arm into my office.
“Girl! What is wrong with you?” I hissed, shutting my door behind us.
“What?” she questioned with an eyebrow raised.
“Stop telling all my business in this office. I don’t need everyone knowing who I date.”
Her full lips twisted into a pout. “Oh, well that’s all you had to say.”
“Yeah.” I gave her a look, partially regretting opening up to her about Carter. But hell, she had noticed something was different about me. I had felt lighter over the last few months, more energized. Just happier in general, and it was all due to him. The light and sense of security he brought not just to my world, but also to my son’s. But still, thinking about that twisted my gut. Carter and Diego had grown so close, so quickly. He called every night right before Diego went to bed just to tell him to have a goodnight, or to read to him over the phone. It didn’t matter if he was at the station either. He’d read to my little boy right in front of his squad members. I could just imagine the look he gave them, daring them to comment on what he was doing. That thought made a smile appear on my face.
“Oh my goodness! Girl, if he’s got you looking like that from just thinking about him, I don’t know how you keep yourself from telling the world about him!” Natoi laughed.
Easy, a vindictive baby daddy, I thought, silently responding to her comment. I wanted nothing more than to tell my world about Carter, but … well, certain circumstances prevented that.
“It is what it is,” I stated out loud and shrugged. I circled my desk to get my cell phone. “Can you grab the Jacobs invite list? We need to go over it one final time for this Friday’s event.”
Natoi smoothed down the edges of her button down top and moved toward the door. “Sure thing. And next week is the Williams & Brodsky affair. I’m sure you’re glad that’s almost over.”
I rolled my eyes. She had no idea how happy I’d be once that event was over with.
“That Gabriel Garcia sure calls a lot. Making special requests here and there. I think he has a crush on you,” she sing-songed.
My stomach plummeted. Gabriel had taken to calling the office more after I stopped answering my cell phone for his calls. Natoi was unaware of my history with Gabriel and I intended to keep it that way.
/> Instead of answering her directly, I waved a hand in the air, saying, “Getting that event completed will feel like a load off.” Especially since I was also in the beginning stages of planning the Williamsport Fire Department Annual Picnic. I’d spoken to Nancy about the idea after Don approached me about it at Charlie’s that night. Nancy made a few calls to the department and now the huge job was up to Save the Date Event Planners to get it done right.
“I bet it will,” Natoi stated as she exited my office door.
I gave her a small nod of my head, my eyes turned down at the screen of my phone in my hand. Unfortunately, before I could press Carter’s name to dial his cell number, my phone rang. I crinkled my forehead when I saw who the call was from.
“Mom? Everything okay?” My eyes flew to my computer screen checking for the time. It was just after three o’clock. A time when my mother should’ve been picking Diego up from school. My heartbeat began skyrocketing again, fearing she was going to tell me she’d gotten caught up at work or had an accident and couldn’t get to Diego on time. I began running through my mental rolodex for parents of Diego’s friends who wouldn’t mind watching him until I could get off work.
“Diego’s gone!”
I nearly dropped the phone. My knees went slack and I had to hold onto the edge of my desk just to remain on my feet. My mouth had gone bone dry and I struggled to get out. “Wh-what do you m-mean gone?”
“I’m sorry. I mean, his teacher said his father picked him up early from school?”
“What?” As soon as I got that shriek out, my phone clicked, alerting me of another call. I didn’t want to but I pulled the phone from my ear and my belly did another flip flop when I saw who was calling.
“Mama, I have to get this,” I told her. Not even waiting for her response, I clicked over. “Gabriel, do you have Diego?” I questioned in a panic.
“Good afternoon, Michelle. How’re you doing?” His greeting sent a chill down my spine. His casual tone told me he was teasing me.
“Gabriel, is Diego with you? Just let me speak to him, please?” I begged.
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