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Because I think that way lies a lot of pain. And I’m no masochist.
CHAPTER4
Booker
It’s been two days since I got my head handed to me on a platter for trying to arrest the librarian.
Since then, it’s been pretty quiet. At least until five on Friday. I hear a radio crackle to life out in the dispatch.
“Hey, Sheriff! There’s a fire at the library!”
I shoot out the door already grabbing my hat and keys. “Where is it? How bad is it? Is anybody in there?”
Her face crumples. “I’m sorry, sir. Miss Hanover is still inside. Nobody’s sure where she’s at.”
I hit the door at a dead run and hop in my car, hitting the siren, my heart skidding out of control in my chest.
“Let her be alright, come on!” I mutter under my breath, terror licking at me.
Everyone moves out of the way of my car and it doesn’t take long to see the flames from the fire shooting up through the roof of the old building in front of me.
“Fuck,” I groan, parking and them ripping the door open. The fire department is already there and I grunt as one of the new guys, Matt, catches my eye. Doesn’t stop me though.
Nothing stops me. I know it’s stupid as hell but I pace up to the truck and ask, “You got any extra turnouts?”
The chief stares at me. “You’re not mine! Go take care of keeping these people back, sheriff!”
“I’ve got people on that. But I want to make sure that everyone’s alright.”
His eyes sparkle and I groan.
“Does everyone know that there’s something going on with her and me?”
He just cocks his head. “We’ll get her out. You just get ready and keep your eyes out. We already noticed that there might be some accelerant. If there is…”
“This is arson.” Fury rises up in me. Some asshole might have put my girl in danger.
I jerk myself up short. Not mine. Sure, I like her. But she’s not mine. I heard Cannon ask her out.
My belly twists. I don’t even want to think about her going out with him this weekend.
Jitters race up and down my spine as I watch them get set up and start pumping water on the fire.
“Are you guys going in or not? I growl.
“Give us a second to get some of that knocked down so we can go in! Jesus!”
I stalk up to the crowds and I can’t take it anymore. I keep an eye on the guys and grab a spare oxygen mask from the truck with the EMT equipment. Then I casually stroll around the building, looking for another way in. I finally spot a window that’s barely open. The room looks dark and I don’t see flames in there.
I push it up and jump lightly inside, my eyes already scanning the dark room as I move to the door.
“Hartley? Where are you, honey?”
There’s no answer and the smoke is getting thicker the closer I get to the librarian station. I cough and then I hear someone whimper.
“Hartley? Hey, where are you? Come on, answer me!”
“Over here,” I hear her soft whisper and I run to the office, coming quickly around the door. I can see that there’s fire burning in the back and there’s some dark mass inside.
