Page 12 of Rekindle My Heart

She shrugged. It could be for the money, but with two bodies and Ryan meeting an informant, she had her doubts. “Well, I think I’m going to grab my laptop and relax for a minute.”

“Here.” He slid the eggs onto a place and handed it to her before dishing up his own.

“Thanks.” She forked a scoop into her mouth and groaned. Finn really could have been a chef.

She set her plate and laptop bag on the table. Time to do some digging. Before she could snatch her computer from her bag, the alarm sounded.

Finn groaned. “Why can’t I ever eat a hot meal?”

Erica shoved a huge helping into her cheeks like a chipmunk preparing for winter, then rushed to her turnout gear as she chewed. Years of practice had her dressed and headed to the engines before the food slid down her throat.

By the time they pulled up in front of the two-story home, flames burst out the upstairs windows, licking up to the overhangs of the roof.

A teenager and baby huddled on the curb, their frantic sobs laced with fear met Erica as she shouldered her air tank.

“She went back in. Please help them.”

“Who?” Erica asked while assessing the situation.

“My mom.” Her voice hitched. “She went back for my sister.”

“Stay here.” Erica relayed the info to her team as they focused the spray on the blaze.

Air mask in place, she adjusted the straps and listened for the beeps when she opened the tank. Erica worked to control her breathing.

The sun was bright in the sky, but once Erica and Finn entered the house, smoke blocked all external light. The only light came from their headlamps and the flames crawling up the walls.

Going in low, they cleared the first floor before going upstairs. Dropping to the ground, she crept down the hall. The intensity of the heat knocked her back a step. She pushed through. Her body grew slick with sweat, both from the heat of the blaze and the weight of the gear. It didn’t matter how many times she entered a fire or how much she practiced, fear still slithered along the edges of her mind. Training and the drive to save lives propelled her forward.

Finn’s voice came over the radio, “Found mom and daughter. Coming down now.”

Erica finished clearing the other rooms. Fatigue set in. Squinting, she shook off the groggy feeling. She struggled more than normal. Checking her gauges, she blinked. Her air tank was low. Dangerously low. How did she miss the two-minute warning?

Taking shallow breaths, she wormed her way to the stairs. The structure crackled as she descended. Breath laboring, she fought to take in oxygen with each step.

She had to get out. Now.

On a deep inhale, she stood and sprinted for the door. Flames and smoke met her. Shit! She ducked her head and burst through them, stumbling as she reached the yard on the other side. She ripped her mask from her face and gulped in fresh air. Her captain and Finn helped her to the truck.

“What the hell happened?” The captain’s voice boomed.

“I ran out of air.” She checked her gauge again.

“Didn’t your PASS alarm go off?” Her captain leaned in to check the gauge himself.

“No.” She slipped off the tank, handing it to him for inspection.

“Here, you have a frayed spot where your hose connects to your mask.” His dark brow flattened.

That wouldn’t cause her PASS alarm to fail. Air backed up in her lungs.

“Go get checked out by the medic.”

“I’m fine.”

“Go. And Randall, get a new mask.” He pointed.

The paramedics must have finished their other call, because Garrett was checking over the little girl sitting on her mother’s lap.