The full gear is scaring him. It must be the mask.
Bull removed his mask, knowing it was a bad idea but the kid was not making things easy.
“Come on, kid. We have to move. Your parents are outside, they’re waiting for you.”
The kid let go and at the same time Tyler’s voice echoed over the radio and the doorway burst into flames.
“Bull, we got to go.”
“The kid’s in the closet. I got the kid. Oh shit!”
Bull yelled as the hallway filled up with flames in an instant, trapping, Bull and the victim in the room.
The fire was at the doorway where Bull was. At this rate, Bull knew that Tyler would be trapped in his room, too. Tyler and Bull both radioed in their location and the need for the ladder truck.
“The kid’s badly burned. We need the basket!” Bull yelled into the radio as Ice made his way up to the bedroom window in the bucket. Bull was hanging out the window with the kid in tow and his turnout coat over the kid.
* * * *
Tyler grabbed onto the ladder. Ice grabbed his hand, assisting him into the bucket. Tyler ducked under the basket, which was secured into place.
They moved the ladder bucket toward the next window. The smoke and water sprayed their face masks and the air around them. Instantly the room Tyler was in burst into flames. It was a classic flashover effect. He could feel the force of the flames against his turnout coat, ducking down deeper into the bucket, the flames shot over their heads as the ladder moved toward the other window.
The firefighters below were now shooting water toward the window right beside the ladder. Tyler was at the other bedroom window and he could see the flames practically engulfing Bull and the kid. Bull emerged yelling, “We’re burned. Let’s move.” He passed the child to Tyler and Ace, they secured him into the basket, buckling him in as the child cried. Then Tyler reached for Bull, assisting him out of the window and into the bucket just as the entire room ignited. It was a tight squeeze in the basket, but everyone was safe.
They slowly lowered the bucket to the ground where EMS workers immediately tended to Bull and the child. Above them, the fire was unrelenting as black smoke penetrated the air around them and their fellow firefighters continued to fight to extinguish the flames.
“We’d better call Serefina and let her know that Bull is headed to the hospital,” Tyler said and then started coughing.
Lance stared at his younger brother. “You did good, bro, but I think you should get checked out, too.”
Tyler jumped into the back of the ambulance with Bull. “We all did. Let’s get to the hospital. I hope that kid is going to be okay,” he stated.
“The kid’s alive and so are his parents. That’s what matters most. You need to get checked out as well. We’ll meet you there,” Ice ordered as the doors to the ambulance closed.
* * * *
“You need to keep your mouth shut. You shouldn’t be anywhere near a police station, Melanie. What if Dash or James finds out?” Agent Merk asked her. Melanie was scared. She was so worried about her cousin Tasha and about how Dash had taken such an interest. Something was going on here. She didn’t trust any of these people.
“I’m worried about my cousin.”
“Yeah, I noticed that Dash has taken a liking to her. Why is that?”
“I don’t know. She’s beautiful, classy, and he likes showing off.”
The agent seemed to think about what Melanie said. She swallowed hard.
“You better tell her to cooperate. If she goes to the police then this investigation is over. Dash will kill her the moment she’s alone.”
“I know that.”
“Then convince her to keep her mouth shut. Call her, right now. Tell her that there are police involved and she’d better not press any charges against Dash. Do it.”
* * * *
“Two weeks? Two freaking weeks ago this happened, and this guy has been harassing you, and you just tell me about it now? How could you think him sending you flowers, and calling you apologizing for his behavior is acceptable? I don’t like this. We should call Jake. Your cousin is a jackass. She always has been, Tasha. This is why you separated from hanging out with her after high school. It’s why you’re in a professional career and she’s looking for the easy way of life.”
Serefina was beside herself with anger and concern as she paced the living room in Tasha’s apartment.
“Please calm down, Serefina. This is why I didn’t want to tell you, to tell anyone. I don’t need all this with Mom sick in the hospital, and all the bills to pay. ”
“I think this guy is up to something. Hell, go to the Sheriff. Jake will find out about this guy and if he’s some creep, Jake will not stand for this, any of it. My men will protect you, so will my brothers.”
“Oh God, I don’t need to blow things out of proportion and I especially don’t need this added aggravation. I just wanted to talk to you about it. I’m not saying that I’m already involved with the guy, just about how we met and what’s been going on. His attention, even though kind of intense, has helped me to deal with everything else going on in my life. Please don’t say anything to Jake, to anyone,” Tasha begged of her.
* * * *
Serefina knew that Tasha had a thing for Lance, Eddie, and Tyler. Hell, she knew that her brothers liked Tasha, too, but Tasha was their sister’s best friend, and she was ten years younger than them.
Serefina took a deep breath and released it. “Tell me everything. From the time you met this guy and all the things he’s done or said to make you think he may be an okay guy.”
Tasha twisted her fingers together. Serefina noticed that Tasha was wearing a lot of bracelets on her wrists. It was a funkier look than Serefina was used to seeing Tasha sport. As Tasha began to explain everything, Serefina became more angry and concerned. This guy Dash was a real piece of work. As Tasha explained about him restraining her outside some club, Serefina grew angrier. Then she mentioned the latest incident, which was why she confided in Serefina tonight. He called her, sent her flowers, and apologized for his behavior.
Serefina needed to be here for her friend, just as Tasha was there for her all this time. She reached out and covered her wrist with her hand when Tasha pulled back and held her wrist against her chest. Serefina scrunched her eyebrows together and stared at Tasha. “You’re hurt?”
Tasha placed her hand over her lips in an attempt to stop herself from either speaking or gasping. She nodded her head.
“It’s no big deal. It’s from that night at the club, the night he apologized for coming on so strongly. He’s a big guy, and very muscular. I don’t think he realized how much force he used holding my wrists.”
Tasha was a beautiful woman with long reddish brown hair, thick sexy eyelashes and eyebrows that enhanced her gorgeous green eyes. She was a real looker, but as much as she played up experienced and capable, Serefina knew the truth. Tasha was particular about who she dated, and even more particular about who she shared her bed with. Her last boyfriend before Serefina returned home from the Carolinas had cheated on Tasha. She hadn’t dated anyone since.
“That concerns me. He should treat you with respect, not force, no matter how muscular or strong this guy is,” Serefina stated.
“I know. I think he was being honest. He was so determined to make sure I forgave him and understood. I think he legitimately felt badly.”
“Something else happened. Something more recent. Tell me. It’s why you’re confiding in me tonight, and I want to know.”
“After that night at the bar, and him telling me that I was his girl, he showed up outside of my job yesterday. Before that he was calling me, leaving messages on my answer machine saying he was out of town on business and wanted to get together as soon as he returned. I ignored them, thinking that he would just go away and get the hint that I’m not interested. But Melanie was right. This man doesn’t take no for an answer.”
“Has he tried hurting you again, physically?” Serefina asked.
“When he showed up at my job last night, he threatened punishment if I didn’t start showing him some respect. I think he meant to spank me. Like sexual discipline or something. I realized that maybe he is a bit extreme, and again, I don’t need any more drama in my life.”
“Spank you? He isn’t even dating you. What?”
“I told him that I’m not interested, but he said I would be and that he would change my mind. He didn’t want me going off of my first impression of him.”
“Oh God, Tasha. I can’t believe this guy. I can’t even fathom that Melanie has been with her guy James for six months and this is how he treats her, too. Who are these men?”
“I don’t know. All is know is that Dash has this look of pure evil in his eyes, and my gut tells me that what he says, what he threatens is true and he’ll do it. I’m going to avoid him. It’s all I can do right now.” Serefina pulled Tasha into her arms and hugged her tight.
Tasha’s phone was ringing and she answered it. Serefina could only hear one side of the conversation and Tasha seemed upset.
“Excuse me a minute. It’s Melanie and she got into an argument with James,” Tasha told her. Serefina rolled her eyes and leaned back on the sofa with her wine glass in hand. She watched Tasha walk into the kitchen.