Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
I start walking toward the ER and dial King’s number on the way.
He answers on the first ring. He barely gets my name out and I start. “The fire… I can’t get ahold of Gabe… there are trapped firefighters.”
I can barely form a sentence, and King asks me, “Where are you at?”
I grip my phone tighter. “I’m at the hospital.”
King is normally the guy that is in complete control, but I can hear the fear in his voice. “Okay, listen to me, Chrissy, and I don’t want you to panic.”
Oh God, it’s him. I was right. Gabe is trapped. “It’s him, isn’t it? Gabe is trapped.”
“I’m here on the mountain already. I talked to Walker, and he has air support on the way.”
I gasp. “Oh my God.”
King tries to soothe me. “Honey, listen, we’re not going to lose another brother.”
I lean against the wall and stare at the ceiling. “He’s not my brother, King. He’s my everything.”
King blows out a breath. “I know, Chrissy. I’m going to get him out. I promise. I need you to stay there, and I’ll bring him to you, okay?”
“King, I’m coming there. I want to be close.”
“Don’t!” he demands. “Please, don’t. This is dangerous, and I can’t be worrying about you too. Plus, Gabe will kill me if he knew I brought you up here. Please do as I ask, and I promise you that I will bring him to you.”
“Okay.”
He says he has to go and then I hang up the phone. I’m being paged over the loudspeaker, and I know there are people in the hospital that need my help right now, and there are more people coming in. Somehow, I have to pull myself together and do my job even though it’s the last thing I want to be doing.
I wish Gabe and I had ignored the phone calls this morning and were still wrapped up in each other’s arms in my bed. I would give anything to go back to that moment. Again, for at least the hundredth time today, I think back to when he left and I didn’t tell him I loved him. God, why didn’t I tell him I loved him?
20
GABE
The flames are everywhere. The smoke is thick, and I can barely see anything except for the three men beside me. I take my helmet off and wipe my brow. I’m the captain, and I should be able to figure out a way to get us out of here.
I’m not sure how we got into this mess. Rick and Keaton got separated from the group, and Spence and I went to find them. In that time, the wind picked up even more, and there was no telling which direction to go because flames were shooting up all around us.
These men are depending on me to get them home tonight, but I’m lost on how to do that. We’re completely surrounded, and unless there is a miracle, we’re not going to make it. But I’m not the type to give up, so I’m going to have to figure out something.
My voice is so raspy, I don’t even know if the men can hear me. “We have to hold. Help is coming.”
I raise my eyes to the sky. The only thing that is going to help us now is God or a miracle.
Keaton coughs. “What the hell are we holding for? We’re done.”
We’ve tried to build a perimeter around us. We’ve done all we could to keep the fire at bay, but I don’t know what our next move is. However, I do know we can’t give up. I promised Chrissy I was coming home to her, and I’m going to do everything in my power to keep that promise.
I pick up my radio and try it again. I hit the button, and there’s only static. We can’t call out, and I’m not sure if the rest of the crews know our exact location. At this point, I’m not sure of anything.
Rick shouts, “It’s over. We’re trapped. No one is coming.”
I point at him, trying to keep my shit together. “Rick, you have kids. Don’t you dare give up right now because I’m not going to tell them their dad is dead. Just give me a minute. I’ll think of something.”
The flames and smoke continue around us. We’re barely able to breathe, and we’re running out of time. Spence, who has been quiet through this whole thing, is just staring at me as if I’m about to have some miraculous idea that will get us out of here.
I can see the hope and desperation on his face, and I’m sure it’s the same emotion on mine.
I open my mouth, but before I can say anything, I hear it. It’s a thumping sound, coming somewhere from the valley.
“Do you hear that?” I ask.