Page 130 of Steel

I couldn’t…

“Mommy!”

The shock was almost too much, my son’s voice ringing loud and clear over the yelling of the men, the screaming of the alarms, and the roar of the fire.

I could hear him.

As with my heart still thudding, I finally saw my little boy breaking through the fog and racing toward me. My miracle. My perfect child. Hysteria threatened to take control, tears falling, stinging my eyes.

“Damon!” As I gathered him into my arms, managing to lift him off the ground, out of the corner of my eye I looked for Steel. The man who’d risked his life to save my beautiful boy. The man who’d acted as if he was nothing special, incensed when anyone said otherwise. “Oh, baby. Are you okay? You’re not burned, are you? Oh, baby. Let me see your face.” I pulled him back, cupping his little face, squeezing.

The man who’d saved my world not once but twice was nowhere.

Someone special that I would forever call my hero.

My eyes darted from the flames back to my son, still trying to catch my breath from the sweep of adrenaline.

“Get back. Let’s go.” Firefighters were directing, coordinating. There were too many people to see anything.

Smoke was everywhere, sliding through the air like a thick, disgusting fog.

I pulled Damon close once again, feeling my thudding heart beating with his.

“Mom. I’m fine. Did you see Steel save me? He put this cool blanket over me. He said the fire wouldn’t get through it and he was right.” His little hands pushed me again, his face totally animated. He wasn’t bothered by what he’d been through. Not in the least.

“Yes, I saw.” I searched for Steel, squinting and blinking, the haze of smoke making it impossible to see anything. Firefighters had arrived, several running with hoses toward the flames.

The smokejumpers grabbed axes and shovels, fighting alongside them. Where was Steel?

“He jumped through the fire and everything to save me. He’s my hero.”

Hero. Steel was a hero and while he would never admit it, I’d be there to remind him.

I spun in a circle, searching. Hoping. “I know, honey. He risked his life for you. For my insane little man who ran away from home. Why would you do that? You scared me.”

Where was my personal hero, the man willing to risk his life for two people he barely knew?

“I didn’t mean to, Mom. I just…”

“You just what?” The brat had learned that from me. I could see Steel’s face when he’d chided me about never finishing the sentence.

Why had he run back to the fire?

“Steel. Where are you?” I half whispered, scanning the perimeter. I noticed Axe running toward the fire, a shovel in his hand. Yelling. What was he yelling at?

Oh, God. Oh, God.

“Ma’am. I’m with emergency services. I understand your son was in a fire. We should check to make certain he’s unharmed.”

“Wait. I need to find someone.” I held my son’s face close to me, still searching. “Yes, I…” I held Damon so tightly.

“Mom. You can let me down,” he insisted.

“Ma’am, your son could very well need oxygen.” The EMT was insistent. “So could you.”

“Yes,” I told the girl. “Okay. It’s okay, baby. Let’s get you checked out. I’m fine. I’m just… fine.”

“Mom. Where is he? Where did Steel go?”