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“Need backup now,” Teague said into a radio. “We found Calhoun.”
He’d suited up, ready to go in to find my husband. But I was too consumed with worry to be grateful.
“Can you slide down the sheet any?” Lincoln asked. “If you get closer to the ground, maybe we can catch you.”
“I can try, but this thing is stretched to the max already.” Cal moved one hand an inch lower. The railing creaked.
We all froze.
“Burke, bring the truck,” Teague shouted into the radio.
There was a pop and another section of roof collapsed. Cal ducked from some of the falling debris.
“Garrett!”
“I’m gonna be all right, baby sister.”
“How can you be so calm?”
His muscles flexed as he kept holding on. “Too much to live for.”
A roar came from the side of the house. Then headlights shined in our faces.
A fire truck rolled to a stop in the backyard.
Teague ran to the side and extended the ladder. He climbed to the end and my heart thumped at a million miles an hour.
My brother offered my husband a hand.
I didn’t breathe as Garrett climbed on top. He slipped but caught himself, and I swore I was going into cardiac arrest.
As soon as his feet were on the ground, I tackled him. He caught me with those strong arms.
“I thought—” I couldn’t finish the sentence. I’d died a thousand deaths since we’d found out he was here.
“I’m fine.” He stroked my hair as I clung to him.
He smelled like smoke and ash and home.
“Don’t you dare try to leave me, Garrett Calhoun. We have plans.”
“We already established I’m not going anywhere.” He kissed my forehead. “And after I have a shower, I wanna hear all about these plans.” He pulled back, his expression somber. “Your father . . . I tried . . . but the roof collapsed. He’s gone.”
I waited for the relief or grief or something. But there was nothing.
I glanced back at the ruins of the house. All the answers I'd ever wanted went down in flames with it. I'd never know.
The loss of what could’ve been hit me.
My mother could’ve lived. We could’ve had a million good times together. Our kids could’ve surfed down the stairs and made fun of the creepy portraits and been spoiled by their grandparents.
That house had so much potential.
And other than the bond I’d formed with my brothers there, it had all gone to waste.
“I hated that house,” Teague said as he took off his helmet and stared at the flames.
“As did I,” Lincoln said, putting his hands in his pockets.
