Embracing Juliette (Texas Heroes: Station 9 #1)

Chapter 39

39

Dylan

T he bathroom was hot and the smoke seeping in through the cracks was getting darker. The crackling of the fire grew louder as the house groaned and creaked.

Where the fuck were the trucks? They should’ve been here already. If I’d known it would take this long, I would’ve made our exit immediately, despite the risks. Now we’d have to make the same treacherous exit, but with the flames kissing our asses on the way out.

I pictured Juliette’s panicked face when she realized I was going in. She worried she wouldn’t be able to speak clearly enough to call for help in an emergency, but I knew she could. She’d repeat the words over and over without relenting until they understood. She’d do everything to get help to me. So what was taking so long?

I mentally shook my head, trying to clear the fog and fear creeping in. I pictured those last moments outside with Juliette. She was standing at the curb, holding my forearm, trying to keep me with her. Fuck. I pictured her two hands on me. She wasn’t holding her bag or her phone. Where was her phone?

No! Fuck, no. The weight of the car key in my pocket was suddenly a million pounds. Did I lock her out of the car with her phone inside it? Did I leave Juliette stranded outside a fire without a car or a phone?

Did I really ask Juliette, the girl who was terrified of taking on responsibility for fear of letting people down, to be responsible for not only my life, but Sarah’s and Benji’s as well, and leave her with no easy way to do it? With a sprained ankle and knife wounds inflicted by my ex-wife.

Oh God, I did. I’m so sorry, baby, please forgive me. It was no longer just the three of us in here whose lives were hanging in the balance. Juliette wouldn’t survive it either.

It was time to get out.

I stood to assess the tree outside more carefully. Fuck, the smoke was thick up here. It was far, but one branch was reachable, although thinner than I’d like. If I could balance on the branch, Sarah could pass Benji to me, then she could climb out, and we’d work our way to the trunk and shimmy down. Worst case scenario, if the branch couldn’t hold us, I’d jump down, have Sarah drop Benji down to me, then she’d jump to me. It was a fucking gamble I didn’t want to take, but at least we’d have a chance. Staying in here much longer, we’d be guaranteed to fry.

I sank back to the floor, gulping in the clearer air, my lungs trying desperately to purge the smoke. I needed to stop coughing to tell Sarah what we were going to do. I tried to calm my breathing, but my lungs protested. Next thing I knew, Sarah slipped her mask over my head. I took a few slow breaths and put it back on her, ignoring my burning lungs.

I quickly explained the plan. We didn’t have time to spare. Once I went out the window, she’d be on her own in here. I needed to be sure she wouldn’t balk. I could see the panic in her eyes even through the mask. “I got this. I’ll keep you and Benji safe. You need to trust me, okay? There’s no time for hesitation. Do exactly as I say.”

She nodded. I jumped into action and opened the window, then launched myself toward the branch. I caught the branch in my arms, my whole body jarred by the sudden stop to my free fall. I pulled myself and sat on the branch, ignoring the shooting pain in my right shoulder. I bounced to test the branch. Not bad. I could hear sirens now, but they were still too far away. With the window open, fire and smoke would rush into the bathroom in seconds.

I inched my way closer to the house. It was taking more effort than it should to hold my balance and move my body forward. I recognized the signs of smoke inhalation, but I couldn’t do anything about it now. Fuck. I stopped moving and held on with both hands, fighting to keep my balance while coughs racked my body.

Sarah was holding Benji in the window. I needed to get to them. I inched forward again, but the house wasn’t getting any closer. The sirens weren’t getting louder either. Fuck! Focus!

I moved forward again and felt the branch dip. The crack sounded loud, even over the fire and the sirens and the roaring inside my head.

I was falling, and then it all went silent.