Page 46 of Steel

There was a flurry of activity, people yelling out what to do. I concentrated on what needed to happen.

“What the hell?” Axe gasped as he joined me.

“We need to get her out. Electrical fire.” I was already leaning over, the window fogged from her heavy breath. She was close to hyperventilating. I did what I could not to look at the flames, but I couldn’t waste any time.

As soon as she saw me, she placed both her hands on the glass. I didn’t need clear reflective glass to tell how terrified she was. Even with the commotion, I concentrated on reading her lips while trying to find a way to calm her.

Help us.

“Don’t worry. We’re going to get you out.”

“Quiet!” Axe yelled to the crowd. “And get further back in case the vehicle blows.”

She heard him, snapping her head to the side.

The dog was already in her lap, clawing at the window. To the little boy’s credit, he was calm as could be, peering at me with the most crystal-clear eyes I’d ever seen. But I could tell he would do anything to protect his mother.

“You need to get back and cover your faces. Okay?” I had to raise my voice to ensure she heard me.

She nodded, blinking a few times. There were no tears in her eyes, just an anger-filled look of determination.

“We need to hurry, bro,” Axe hissed, trying to stay calm as well. The fire was licking flames close to the windshield and crawling under the front wheels.

“Save my mother!” Hearing Damon’s cry disrupted my pattern of thinking.

And breathing.

The kid had managed to crawl over the seat, wrapping his small arms around his mother and his dog.

“On three. One. Two. Three!” While we were careful in how we broke the glass, we could barely get close enough to the vehicle with the flames licking toward us.

Coming dangerously close to the gas tank.

Already sweating, when the glass didn’t break right away, all sound ceased to exist. In my mind, there was nothing but saving them.

I took a deep breath and swung again, cracking the glass. Axe had more success with the back window, shattering it.

One more swing and I smashed the glass.

“Oh, God. Oh…” Violet lifted her head.

“See, Mom. I told you a hero would come.” Damon clapped his hands, completely obvious to how dangerous the situation was.

“Let me take the puppy. Okay?” Axe asked, reaching in through the back.

“He’s a good guy, Damon. That’s my brother.” I kept my eyes locked on her.

“Okay. Go, puppy,” Damon said. The kid was tough like his mother. Thankfully, the puppy didn’t fight Axe’s hold.

“Take Damon,” she insisted, out of breath but more resilient than almost anyone would be.

I didn’t waste any time reaching for him, doing everything I could to avoid the glass.

“Here’s my shirt,” some bystander offered, placing it under me against the broken glass.

“Come on, Damon. Reach over your mom,” I instructed and it felt like everyone was holding their breath while the little boy did exactly as I asked, careful not to trample Violet.

As soon as he was out safe, a collective cheer went up behind me.