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I could get fired for this. Legitimately. And I didn’t care.
Burke grabbed my arm but wasn’t strong enough to do more than slow me. “It’s not safe for you to go in. You’re too close personally.”
“What would you do?” I challenged.
He let go and fell in step beside me.
“Make sure the dogs are out. They should be in the back. I’m going upstairs.” I yanked on the front door handle. Locked.
I smashed through the glass with my ax and ducked through the opening. Thick smoke dulled my vision. I scanned for any furry bodies on the floor as I made my way to the staircase.
At least I knew this place with my eyes closed.
“Go.” I pointed Burke toward the sound of barking dogs, torn between helping him and pressing on.
If any of them were in the apartment, the window of time was closing quickly.
At the top of the stairs, flames shot from the entrance. This was a situation we weren’t supposed to run toward.
I’d die to save Pepper. And if something happened to her, I might as well be dead.
I took the steps two at a time.
Sweat leaked into my eyes as the heat intensified. I fought through the sting with only one mission.
Find Pepper.
As I neared the top, I had to walk through fire. These floors were wood. Any minute they’d burn and collapse.
“Hollingsworth, check in.”
I barely heard Burke over the roar in my ears.
“Upstairs. Get the ladder ready.”
“Six dogs clear. How many?” A hint of relief wound its way through me.
Please be out for a walk.
“Should be eight and two people.”
My visibility was zero by the time I crossed what I thought was the threshold into the apartment. The living room, or at least in the direction of what I thought was the living room was a solid wall of fire. It danced toward the kitchen. If I didn’t hurry, there would be no exit but to jump.
I’d never been scared on a rescue call. Not when the floor collapsed with Cassano or the dozens of other near misses in my career.
For the first time ever, I was terrified.
“Pepper!” I yelled as loud as I could, but my voice was swallowed over the roar of the blaze.
If they were in the living room . . . no, I wouldn’t think about that.
I pressed farther into the apartment. The glow of my flashlight reflected off the cloud of smoke.
You’re running out of time, Teague.
“Pepper!” I prayed with all my strength to anyone who was listening that they were safe. “Pepper!”
I heard barking and it was close. But where? Which dog? Because if I found one—
