And I will not fail.
I owe it to Davey to make it.
To Miles.
I owe it tomyself.
This is who I am.
Never again will I doubt my place. I turn onto the stairs leading to the sixth floor and channel every ember firing off in my legs into propulsion.
My mind replaces the hoses with Davey. If I could get a do-over, this is how I would have carried him out.
How I would have been strong enough to save my friend. And I know if he was in my shoes, he would have done the same.
“We know the stakes when we sign up for this gig, London.”Heidi’s words travel through my mind.
We do the best we can with what we’re given and hope it’s enough.
I reach the sixth platform and barely grace the concrete with a half step before flying back down. I grunt through each step downward. By the second flight, spittle flies out of my open-mouthed gasps.
The second my boots hit the ground outside, the hoses slide from my shoulders.
I did it.
I did it, Davey.
“Well done, Officer Tennison.” Miles’s words snap me from my reverie. I double over, panting, steadying myself with my hands planted on my knees.
Wait . . .
Officer.
Not Probie Tennison.
A wobbly, disbelieving laugh tumbles through my lips, and my body shakes uncontrollably. I rise and straighten my spine, raising my arms over my head as I pace a tight circle.
Miles stands, watching, smiling. Pride and adoration tangle through his blue eyes.
I lift my gaze to the blue sky overhead as white fluffy clouds drift lazily past before letting my eyes fall closed. “God, fuck. That was so damn hard.”
“Absolutely. And you nailed it, with twelve seconds to spare. Congratulations, London.”
I meet his gaze. “Thanks.”
“Lon—”
The back door to the station flies open, and Sandy, Owens, and Cap file out, hands over their heads, clapping. Heidi is wolf whistling like an idiot, Sandy whooping like some weird-sounding car alarm.
I laugh, tears burning the back of my eyes.
I tamp them back and embrace the hugs swallowing me whole.
“Well done, hon,” Heidi says.
“We knew you’d kick that old watchtower’s ass, kiddo.” Sandy messes up my hair with his huge hand.
Cap stands back and folds his arms over his chest, simply nodding. “Well done, recruit. Or do I sayofficer, Captain Hammond?”
