Michael cursed immediately. “Move!”
Blaze turned instinctively toward the sound just as the hallway behind him collapsed inward. Another groan tore through the structure, louder this time, and everything happened fast after that.
Heat exploded overhead while burning debris crashed downward through smoke thick enough to suffocate. Blaze shoved Michael and the elderly woman forward seconds before part of the ceiling collapsed directly behind them with a deafening roar.
The impact rattled the entire structure hard enough to throw Blaze sideways.
“Carter!” Ryan’s voice thundered through the radio.
Blaze coughed violently against the smoke while forcing himself forward through collapsing debris and unbearable heat. Pain shot through his shoulder after something heavy slammed into him from above, but adrenaline drowned most of it beneathpure survival instinct.
And somehow, somewhere between the suffocating heat, and adrenaline flooding his bloodstream, Johanna still found her way into his head. He remembered her curled against his chest asleep in bed.
Jesus, love makes people reckless.
Because Blaze realized with terrifying clarity that the thought of losing Johanna scared him more than running into burning buildings ever had.
Another crack split through the structure overhead far too close this time, and the heat became unbearable. The hallway around him glowed orange beneath rolling fire. Water hissed against burning timber somewhere overhead. Blaze tried moving forward, but debris crashed down again somewhere nearby, sparks exploding through the hissing steam while the house groaned around him like it was finally giving up the fight.
Then one thought hit Blaze with terrifying clarity just as the ceiling gave way above him and slammed him hard to the ground.
I can’t leave her like this.
* * *
Outside, neighbors screamed as flames burst violently through the roof, sending sparks and burning debris spiraling into the storm-dark sky. Rain hammered the scene while firefighters rushed across the lawn shouting orders over the roar of collapsing timber and exploding glass.
Ryan ripped off his helmet near the front yard, his eyes locked on the burning structure as timbers groaned and snapped overhead.
Seconds later, Michael emerged through the front doorway with another firefighter helping him carry the elderly woman. He collapsed hard onto the wet grass while medics rushedforward immediately.
Ryan rushed over. “Where’s Blaze?”
Michael doubled over coughing while rain streamed down his soot-covered face. For one terrible second, confusion clouded his expression.
Then Ryan saw it.
Fear.Realfear.
Michael looked back toward the collapsing house, panic flashing visibly across his face. “The ceiling—”
Ryan's stomach dropped.
Blaze never came out.
Chapter18
Rain tapped steadily against the bedroom windows while pale blue numbers glowed at 2:47 a.m. across the clock sitting on Johanna’s nightstand. The apartment had fallen completely silent hours ago but sleep still refused to come.
She lay flat on her back beneath the blankets staring at the ceiling while thoughts of Blaze circled endlessly through her mind, thoughts about Seattle, and the disappointment in Blaze’s eyes at the restaurant when she pulled away from him.
God.
The worst part was knowing he loved her and she loved him too.
Johanna rolled onto her side with a frustrated exhale before grabbing her phone from the nightstand. The glow from the screen illuminated the dark bedroom while rain continued whispering steadily against the windows. No new texts waited for her. Not since earlier.
BLAZE:Sleep, baby. We’ll figure this out.
