Unpredictable Flames: A Brother's Best Friend Romance
1. CHAPTER ONE - FIRST SPARKS
I stared at the firefighter’s logo on the top of the building, and a sigh escaped my lips. I took pride in my job as a firefighter, and the fact that I had the opportunity to save lives every day was a blessing in itself. The looks of hope from people whenever I rushed into a burning building and the cries of thanks each time I rescued a loved one were what made my job worthwhile.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the bridge street hero,” Ross said, as I walked in.
“That title belongs to all of us that fought that fire, Ross.” I smiled. “Couldn’t have done it without you, Chief.”
Ross smirked, but I could see his appreciation in his eyes. He felt the very same way about being a firefighter, just as I did. It was no surprise that he became the Chief Fire Officer of our district at such a young age.
I owed my career to the man. He was the one who took a chance on me, and now I was well on my way to becoming the next Chief. It was sad to see him so close to retiring, but he had already named me as the next Chief, and the thought of carrying on his legacy pushed me even further.
He began walking to his office and gestured to me to follow him in. I closed the door behind me, and he sank into his chair and took out a pink box, placing it on his desk. I smiled, knowing what was inside, and took the seat opposite him.
He opened the box and took out a frosted donut, ogling it like it was a precious gem. He quickly took a bite of the donut before closing his eyes, clearly savoring the taste.
I chuckled, taking a donut for myself. “You realize donuts in the morning are unhealthy right?”
Ross scoffed. “Leave me be, Jake. Nadia nags me enough at home, and soon enough, I’ll have no choice when I retire.”
I smiled as he took another bite and took a bite of the donut in my hand. I had to give it to him, they were good.
“Speaking of retirement, have you written your acceptance speech yet?” He asked.
I groaned in frustration, leaning back in my chair. I wasn’t really the type to give speeches. I was known for being “Free-spirited”and something of a playboy to most women.
I wouldn’t deny it. I’d had my own fair share of the ladies, and the common misconception about firefighters getting all the women was no misconception at all.
If I was being totally honest, I didn’t blame them. I was a six-foot-five-inch giant of a man with the body of a bodybuilder. In the firefighting business, a critical requirement was to be physically fit, but I took that to another level.
I ran my hand through my black hair and sucked my teeth as I thought about addressing the team when Ross would finally resign and appoint me the new chief.
“When are you leaving again?” I asked.
“End of the month,” Ross said, puffing out a breath of air.
“You haven’t told anyone else yet?”
“I can’t do that to the boys just yet. I need our morale high.” Ross gritted his teeth, “We’re this close to finally winning the annual fire service award. I can’t afford to let such an award slip through our fingers all because of my retirement.”
“We’ve had the most fire rescues this year by a mile Ross. I think they deserve to know.”
Ross exhaled, his brows furrowing in deep thought. Then he looked up at me with a sly smirk on his face. “If I do it, then you have to give your speech. Deal?”
I shuddered at the thought. Ross was sly, but I didn’t think he could be this devious. “And if I say no?”
“Then I guess we’ll find out at the end of the month.” He grinned, taking another donut from the box and popping it into his mouth.
“You cheeky bastard,” I muttered under my breath, but he seemed to have heard me and let out a deep laugh.
Just as I was about to say something else, a loud, blaring noise resonated throughout the entire building.
Ross and I immediately stood up and bolted out of his office. Adrenaline surged through my veins, and my heart pounded in anticipation. That noise meant only one thing—fire.
We burst into the gear room, my eyes scanning the racks of protective equipment. I grabbed my bunker gear and hurriedly put it on. The heavy bunker pants hugged my legs, and the sturdy boots secured my footing as I prepared to face yet another inferno. Next came the thick coat, its reflective stripes shimmering in the dim light of the station, and then I hastily strapped on my helmet.
Racing towards the fire pole, I reached out and gripped the cold metal. My muscles tensed in anticipation. I launched myself into the descent, the exhilarating rush of air whipping past me as I plummeted downwards.
Within seconds, I landed on the ground floor, my boots hitting the concrete with a resounding thud. Adrenaline was still surging, so I sprinted towards the waiting fire truck. The other firefighters were already clamoring into the truck.
“Jake!” I heard Ross yell, and I looked back at him. “You drive,” he said, tossing me the keys to the truck.
With a swift motion, I flung open the door, the familiar scent of diesel and sweat mingling with anticipation. Sliding into the driver”s seat, I ignited the engine, the roar drowning out the chaos around me.
I eagerly stepped on the gas, and the truck surged forward, sirens wailing in harmony with the pounding of my heart.
“Where’s the fire?” I yell out to Ross.
“11 Maplewood Avenue!” Ross yells back.
“Maplewood Avenue?” I think to myself, “That’s Lily’s apartment.”
I grip the steering wheel even tighter and press harder on the gas as the truck speeds through the streets of Willow Creek.
Lily was my best friend; Cole’s younger sister. Cole and I had been best friends for about thirty years now, and that was actually saying something, seeing that I was thirty-four years old. I wasn’t sure how old Lily was, but she had always been off-limits for me. I respected Cole and would never do anything to hurt his little sister.
My encounters with Lily were few and far between, especially after she left for college. Our paths only crossed at family gatherings that Cole insisted I attend and on the day of her graduation. The only reason I knew her address was because both Cole and I lent a hand in her apartment move.
The thought of something terrible happening to Lily sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn’t bear to imagine the look on Cole’s face if I had to deliver such devastating news. His departure to serve in the armed forces had left Lily with only her parents and me. The weight of this responsibility was heavy on my shoulders.
My eyes caught sight of the flames that engulfed Lily’s apartment, and my heart began to beat even faster. I stomped on the brakes, and the truck skidded to a stop right in front of the burning apartment.
“Alright, men, you know the drill,” Ross yelled, hopping out of the truck. “Gabe, Hosea, man the fire hose. Joshua, grab the nozzle. Jake…”
Ross turned to look at me, but as soon as I had parked the truck, I took off and ran toward the fire. I noticed a small crowd of people huddled outside the building and approached them.
“Is everyone alright?” I asked, my eyes scanning the crowd for Lily’s familiar face.
“We’re fine, sir. There was a party, and I think someone put a fork in the microwave,” a young man said,
“Fork in the microwave? What the fuck were they thinking?”I thought to myself.
He then pointed to the building. “I think there was still someone trapped in the kitchen.”
“The kitchen?” I asked, looking at the fire that ravaged the apartment. Lily.
My mind began to race as the possibility of Lily dying in the fire became more and more realistic. I wasn’t sure when my legs had begun to propel me forward, but before I knew it, I kicked down the door of the apartment and rushed inside.
“Jake! Jaaaakkee!”
I heard Ross yell my name from outside. What I was doing was beyond dangerous, rushing inside without a plan, but I was a firefighter, it was what we did, and I would be damned if I let Lily die in this fire when I could do something.
The building was engulfed in flames, billowing smoke choking the air as I dashed through the chaos. With each step forward, I felt a rush of adrenaline pump through my veins, the crackling inferno threatening to consume everything in its path. Debris rained down around me, but fear made me push on.
”Lily!” I shouted, my voice barely audible over the roar of the fire. With each desperate cry, my heart clenched tighter, fear gripping me like a vice. But I couldn”t afford to falter. Not when her life hung in the balance.
Pushing forward, I navigated through the maze of flames, the heat searing my skin with each passing moment. And yet I pressed on, praying that Lily would be in the kitchen, safe and sound.
Finally, I reached the kitchen, my heart pounding in my chest. But the sight that greeted me nearly shattered me. There she lay, her form crumpled on the floor, surrounded by smoke and flames.
”Lily!” I cried, rushing to her side. Panic surged through me as I knelt beside her, frantically searching for any sign of life. Relief flooded my senses when I felt the faint beat of her pulse, but time was running out.
I scooped her into my arms, the weight of her unconscious body further strengthening my resolve to get out of there. With every fiber of my being, I willed myself to stay focused, to find a way out of this living nightmare.
Turning towards the back door, hope flickered within me like a dying ember. But before I could take a single step, a colossal chunk of the building crashed down, blocking our path with a deafening roar.
My heart sank as I realized our escape route was cut off, leaving us trapped in the heart of the inferno. With no other choice, I turned and retraced my steps, each movement agonizing as I fought through the blazing debris.
The flames licked at my heels, taunting me with their relentless fury. But I refused to surrender, not when Lily”s life hung in the balance. My breath became labored, and my vision blurred. With every ounce of strength I possessed, I pushed forward, driven by a single, all-consuming purpose: to get us out of this hellish nightmare alive.