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Burke hustled up the ladder. I handed him Muffy. Rivera was down the ladder just behind him. Burke handed the dog off, then held out his arms for another.
I swallowed hard as I gave him Ash’s very still body. Hadn’t she been through enough already?
Please be okay.
I assessed how I could get on the ladder with Sadie in my arms. It would be tricky. She was too big to carry under one arm, and I needed a free hand to climb.
Crackle. Crackle.
Heat was at my back, Burke was only half way down with Ash.
Crackle. Crackle.
The only part of Pepper’s bedroom that wasn’t ablaze was this small corner by the window. That wouldn’t be the case for much longer.
I picked up Sadie, who was frighteningly silent.
Burke scrambled up the ladder.
I all but threw the dog at him as the heat intensified.
Crackle. Crash.
“Hollingsworth!”
I leapt as the floor beneath me gave way and hooked the end of the ladder with one hand.
It jolted.
Burke stumbled.
I watched in slow motion as he lost his footing.
Somehow he managed to hold on to Sadie and the ladder. He righted himself.
A string of curses came through the comms.
I dangled from the end of the ladder. If I didn’t have on this gear, it would’ve been easy to pull myself into the right position. I couldn’t shed any of it and still hang on.
Pepper. I have to get to Pepper.
I mentally counted down from three and threw my leg onto the side of the ladder. The oxygen tank was like a weight on my back pulling me in the wrong direction. Toward the ground.
Stay calm.
My heart raced. Worry about the people and animals I loved consumed me.I should’ve told her.Even if she couldn’t hear me,I love youshould’ve been the first thing I’d said to Pepper. To all of them.
The memories we’d built in the short time we’d known each other went up in flames behind me.
We’ll build new ones.
If you don’t get off this ladder you won’t.
“Yo. You need some help?”
Through our face shields, Burke’s cocky smirk gleamed.
“I don’t think I’m cut out to be a gymnast.”
