James was already moving toward the ambulances. The first face he saw when he neared was Ally’s. She was arguing – and kind of wrestling – with one of the first responders.
“Stop touching me,” she screeched. “I said I was fine. Stop harassing me.”
James was relieved to see her. “Ally!”
Ally’s face lit up when she saw him. “Tell them I’m fine.”
James pushed through the crowd, not stopping until he was at his sister’s side. “Is she okay?”
The paramedic, a frazzled-looking man in his twenties, shook his head. “I have no idea. If she would hold still long enough for me to take her blood pressure, I might be able to give you an answer.”
“Ally, sit there and look pretty,” James barked.
Ally stilled. “I hate it when you’re bossy.”
“Yeah? Well, you’re only the second one I’ve found,” James replied. “I’d like to know you’re fine so I can keep looking.”
Sophie slid around James, moving closer to Ally. “I knew you got out,” Sophie said. “You were behind me. Did you see Emma and Mandy?”
“Emma was behind me,” Ally said. “I think Mandy was waiting until she was sure Emma was halfway down. You know how rickety that fire escape was.”
“It was harrowing,” Sophie admitted. “It kept swaying. I thought it was going to pull completely off the building. That’s what it felt like.”
James’ heart jumped in his chest. “Grady, you and Sophie stay here with Ally.”
“I want to see everyone else,” Sophie protested.
“Don’t give me shit,” James warned. “I’ll bring them to you if I can. Just … don’t move.”
“Fine,” Ally said, sighing. “You’re so bossy.”
James moved to the next ambulance, Finn close on his heels. The woman inside – putting up an equally impressive fight – was not Mandy. It was Emma.
Finn ran to her. “Emma!”
Emma relaxed slightly when she saw him. “Finn, I’m so glad to see you.”
Finn was taken aback. “You are?”
“Well, yeah. Don’t act so surprised.”
“I’m not surprised. I’m just … are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Emma said. “If this guy would stop poking me with his stethoscope, I would be even better.”
“He’s just doing his job,” Finn soothed, running a hand over the back of Emma’s head. “Let him do his job.”
As nice as the moment was, James was losing patience. “Emma, did Mandy get out with you?”
“She was right behind me,” Emma said. “At least I thought she was.”
James’ blood ran cold. “What do you mean you thought she was?”
“She was halfway out the window when I looked up,” Emma said. “I went down another flight. When I looked up again, she was gone.”
James’ heart rolled over painfully. “She was gone?”
“I don’t know where she went,” Emma said, her eyes flashing worry. “She was just gone.”
“And you didn’t see her come down?”
“No.”
James was moving again. He didn’t care if the firemen tried to stop him. He’d take every single one of them out if he had to. He was getting into that building. He could hear Finn calling him, but he ignored the plea. His blonde needed him. And, more importantly, he needed his blonde.
James was striding toward the building when he felt a set of hands on his arm.
“Sir, you can’t go in there.”
The face of the cop trying to restrain him was a blur.
“My girlfriend is in there,” James said, choking out the words. “I have to find her.”
“Sir, the building has been cleared.”
James stilled, turning to the cop. “Where is she?”
“She’s probably around the area, sir. Just calm yourself.”
“My girlfriend, where is she?” James bellowed.
“She’s probably out here somewhere, sir,” the cop replied. “You just need to be calm. We’ll find her.”
What if she wasn’t out here? What if she was in there?
“No,” James said. “I have to find her.”
“Sir, you can’t go in that building,” the police officer said. “It’s gone.”
“Then where is my girlfriend?” James exploded. “Where is Mandy?”
There was another set of hands on him. James jerked his arm away, scorching the new police officer with a look that was hotter than the fire raging a hundred feet away.
“Don’t touch me.”