Courage (Heroes of Big Sky 1)

I expect the sirens to quiet as the trucks get farther away, but they don’t.

They’re not far away.

“Let’s go check it out,” Aspen suggests. “I’ll lock up and get some fresh air with you. It’s almost closing time anyway.”

She closes up, and we follow the sirens just two blocks up in the neighborhood, just a couple of blocks from my place.

They’ve barricaded the road about half a block from the house and trucks and an ambulance surround it. Sam jumps out of one of the fire engines, dressed in his gear, and Kevin gets so excited, I think he might try to run through the barricade toward Sam.

“Hold on there, mister. We stay put.”

“Maybe he needs my help.”

Aspen smiles, and I squat next to him. “Do you see that fire? The flames are going really high in the air. I know you think you can help, but you’re still a little boy. You could be hurt. So, you’re going to stay right here with Aspen and me. Do you hear me?”

“Yeah. I’ll stay.”

We watch as the men hurry about, grabbing hoses and hooking them up to fire hydrants.

“Get this car out of here,” Sam yells, pointing to a red car that’s parked illegally in front of a hydrant.

I watch in shock as about six men circle the car and lift it. Lift it, and move it back about six feet.

“Holy crap,” Aspen mutters.

“No kidding.”

Everything happens fast. The house is burning at a rate that takes my breath away.

“It’s going up fast.”

“Old house,” Aspen murmurs. “They’ll have to work to save the houses on either side.”

“It’s hot. I can feel it from here.”

Suddenly, with a hose over his shoulder and a helmet on his head, Sam marches right for the front door of the house, which is currently an inferno.

“Do not go in there.” I say it as if he’s standing right next to me and can hear me. “Please, don’t go in.”

My heart clenches. I can’t breathe. I definitely can’t take my eyes off him as he continues forward.

But he doesn’t go inside. He’s only standing close to get the water to shoot into the flames.

And then, to my utter shock and horror, something inside the house explodes, sending Sam and several others flying backwards.

“Oh, God.”

Kelsey screams. Kevin latches onto my leg.

Now, the houses surrounding the original building are on fire, as well. It’s a fucking mess, and Sam is still lying on the ground. Not moving.

“I need to get to him.”

“No.” Aspen grips my arm. “You can’t help him if you get hurt, too. Stay here, Tash.”

“No.” No one is rushing to his side to see if he’s okay. Why isn’t anyone helping him? “I have to go.”

She grabs onto the kids, and I slip around the barricade and run as fast as my feet will carry me toward where Sam’s lying on the ground.

But before I can reach him, I’m flung up off my feet and swung around.

“Let me go!” I scream in terror. “Let go of me!”

Chapter 10

~Sam~

Jesus, what started this motherfucker? My guys and I are like a hive of bees, organized chaos as we hurry about, getting hoses connected, ladders pulled, and all of the other equipment we’ll need for this massive fire.

The worst part is, the houses in this neighborhood aren’t far apart, and given how fast this fire is spreading, the neighbors could be in danger, as well.

“Make sure those houses are evacuated! Do we know if anyone was inside?” I yell to one of my teammates.

“No one inside. They’re at work,” he replies. “I have guys knocking on doors as we speak.”

“Good.”

I’d like to punch the asshole who parked his car in front of the damn hydrant. It’s a good thing I have strong men.

I grab a hose, sling it over my shoulder, and go for the front of the house to shoot water into the heart of the fire and hopefully dampen it.

Less than twenty seconds later, there’s a sudden explosion, and I’m knocked back, flat on the ground.

Damn it!

I can’t breathe. I can feel the heat coming from the house, but I can’t move. Knocked the damn air out of me.

And the back of my head hit the concrete hard enough for me to see stars.

“Let go of me!”

Tash? Is that Natasha’s voice, or is the head injury just that bad?

I turn my head, cringing at the pain that sings through my brain. Sure enough, there she is, being held back by one of my guys. She’s kicking and screaming, reaching out for me.

I roll to my side and manage to sit up but have to swallow the sudden wave of nausea.

“Let her go,” I call out, and Tash immediately sprints to me, launching herself into my arms.

“Oh, my God, are you okay? Are you hurt?”

She pats me down and kisses my face, and I have to take her by the shoulders and set her back.