“I’m on it,” Jonah said, and sprinted toward the house, shouting for Jax to help.
“Ghost, get me an ax,” Anson said, not taking his eyes off the building. “We’ll make a new exit through the side wall if we have to.”
Ghost vanished without a word while X and River raced for the snow banks, scooping handfuls into whatever containers they could find. The women from Haven House joined in, forming a bucket brigade from the main house to the garage.
Knox paced along the wall like a caged animal, his training as a firefighter warring with his desperation to get to Hollis. His eyes were wild, searching for any sign of movement through the windows.
“Hollis!” he bellowed, voice cracking. “Hollis, answer me!”
A faint cry came from inside—not words, just a sound of distress that could have been human or the building itself groaning under the stress of the fire. But it was enough for Knox. He lunged toward the door again, and this time Bear caught him in a bear hug from behind.
“Wait for the water to do its work,” Bear growled, struggling to hold the firefighter back.
Steam hissed up with each bucket of water, thick and blinding, but the fire fell back just enough.
“Again!” Jonah called.
Another bucket. Then another. Slowly, they carved a path back inside. Anson took the lead, but Knox was at his shoulder, both of them pushing forward step by step, dousing flames as they went.
“Hollis!” Knox’s voice broke.
“There!” Anson pointed toward the storage area where flames blocked the entrance. They dumped more snow, creating a narrow path through the fire.
Inside the storage room, they found Hollis collapsed near some shelving, overcome by smoke. Knox scooped her up immediately, cradling her against his chest as they fought their way back through the flames.
Outside, Knox lay her on the ground and tilted her head back, checking her airway. She wasn’t breathing. He covered her mouth with his and gave her his air. “Come on, come on?—”
Nothing happened. She remained still, lips blue. Knox gave her another breath, then another, his movements growing increasingly frantic.
“Breathe, goddamnit,” he whispered, voice breaking. “Please, Hollis. Breathe.”
The assembled crowd fell silent, the only sounds the crackle of fire and the wail of approaching sirens. Anson felt Maggie’s fingers dig into his arm as they watched Knox fight for Hollis’s life.
“Please,” Knox begged, pressing his mouth to hers again. “Don’t you do this to me.”
Hollis’s chest remained motionless. Knox’s face contorted with anguish as he began compressions, counting under his breath, tears cutting tracks through the soot on his face.
“One, two, three—” His voice cracked. “Don’t you leave me, Hartley.”
Just as the first fire truck rounded the corner, Hollis convulsed beneath Knox’s hands. Her body arched, and she coughed violently, drawing in a ragged, desperate breath.
“That’s it,” Knox murmured, relief flooding his face as he turned her onto her side. “That’s it, breathe.”
She coughed again, her whole body shaking with the effort, then dragged in another breath. Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused and confused.
“Knox?” Her voice was barely audible, broken by smoke damage.
“I’m here.” He gathered her against his chest, his big body trembling as he pressed his face into her hair. “I’m right here.”
The paramedics swarmed around them, gently prying Knox away so they could work. He stood back, watching with naked fear as they fitted an oxygen mask over her face and loaded her onto a stretcher.
“That man’s in love,” Bear muttered, coming to stand beside Anson.
“No shit.” Anson flexed his fingers and winced. His hands were a mess—skin split open, blood mixing with soot, the old scars angry and raw. He hadn’t felt the pain until now, but suddenly it hit him in waves, stealing his breath.
“Jesus, Sut,” Bear rumbled. “Your hands.”
“It’s nothing,” he lied, even as the pain intensified.
