Mastered by Mavericks (Doms of Destiny, Colorado 3)

She glanced around for anyone suspicious looking, anyone with a gun barrel pointed her direction. When none was found, she moved to the downed sawhorse and sat it back up. Wolfe would have to understand her training had kicked into high gear during this emergency. She wasn’t going to be stupid though. Truthfully, she was glad that Dylan and Alexei were there with her, watching her back.

She remained on the other side of the blockade, which granted her an extra six inches closer to the blaze. Turning around to face the fire, she had a much clearer view of what was happening at the clinic.

Her heart wasn’t here. It was inside the burning building.

Nicole hoped for everyone’s safety, but especially for Sawyer’s and Reed’s.

* * * *

With Reed’s mind on his task but also on Nicole, he entered the hallway, which looked like the throat of a fire-breathing dragon. Sawyer and Cody followed close behind. Together, they were able to clear a path to the rooms in the back. They didn’t have much time. There was no way the clinic would survive this. He looked into the first room. Paris, a young nurse at the clinic, was crouched on the floor. Her violet eyes were wide with fear.

“You okay?” Reed asked her while Cody and Sawyer doused the area around the door with retardant foam.

She nodded.

“Where are the rest?”

The nurse coughed and pointed down the hallway where the fire was even stronger.

“I’m going to carry you out, understand?” Reed asked.

Close to passing out, Paris nodded. He lifted her up over his shoulders in the traditional fireman’s carry.

“I’ll get her out to the EMTs,” he told Cody and Sawyer, praying they’d find more survivors. “I’ll be back to help you with the others as fast as I can.”

With a single nod, Sawyer went deeper into the monster’s belly with Cody.

Reed carried Paris to safety.

* * * *

Filled with anxiety, Nicole turned to Ethel, one of the few who had moved closer to the barriers with her, “Any word yet?”

Staring at her cellphone’s screen, Ethel shook her head.

Gretchen frowned. “You think that you being the county judge would give you firsthand info.”

“One would think, but not true in this kind of situation,” Ethel answered, nose down in her phone.

Nicole balled up her fists. Not being a person who sat back and let things just happen, her insides were pushing her to act.

Dylan stepped next to her. “I know that look, Flowers, but you’re staying here. You’re only half a block away now. You have a clear shot of everything going on at the fire. No closer. Or I can accompany you to the jail.” He faced her but his eyes were hidden behind his Aviators. “This isn’t your beat back in Chicago.”

She thought about correcting him—telling him she no longer had a beat but instead a desk—but didn’t. The no-nonsense man wasn’t going to be persuaded to change his mind, of that she was sure.

Then she saw one of the firemen come out of the building with a woman on his shoulders. Even from this distance, Nicole knew it was Reed. A little relief rolled through her.

“Look,” a woman to the side of her said, pointing at the clinic. The flames, which had been seen from the upper floor windows, were now coming from the lower ones as well.

Nicole gasped as Reed handed the woman over to the medical personal and headed back into the burning building to join Sawyer, who was still inside.

* * * *

Sawyer handed over the latest survivor they’d found—Katy, another nurse—to Eric to assess her injuries. Five had been rescued by him, Reed, and Cody already, but three more were yet to be found—Doc Ryder, Charlie, and the Russian. They had ten more rooms left to check, and those were all on the part of the top floor that was getting the worst of the blaze.

He rushed back in to join Reed and Cody to continue their rescue operation.

* * * *