Page 58 of Built of Flames

A roar of rage was their only warning before Kent Spears emerged from the smoke and launched himself at Christo.

Christo yelled, “Go!” at Mitch before grappling with the man.

Mitch didn’t hesitate. He walked into the smoke, wishing he had his headgear with him.

Noise crackled and roared, and as soon as he rounded the entry wall, he saw the fire itself. Furniture had been piled in the middle of the room and it was ablaze. He could smell the gasoline Kent had used as an accelerant.

Mitch squatted as low as he could and still move quickly and scrambled through the main room. He assumed Kent would have Bella here.

Why was the man still on scene? The fire had been burning for more than a few minutes. Was he planning to die as well, or had Bella impeded his exit somehow?

That wouldn’t surprise him in the least.

He didn’t waste breath yelling; he didn’t want to inhale any more smoke than he needed. They’d made a lot of noise crashing through the door, and she would have cried out if she could.

Kent must have her gagged.

He wouldn’t allow his brain to believe anything else.

She would be okay. He’d find her, and she’d be okay.

Mitch repeated the mantra in his mind as he moved in a grid search. Panic had him wanting to run everywhere at once, but his training was ingrained.

The fire licked at the ceiling and spread on the floor. It would weaken the structure, but he had minutes before that happened.

He wasn’t leaving without her.

Mitch made his way to the front of the space and spotted a shape in the corner. “Bella?”

He hurried over and found her slumped as if she’d been tossed into the wall.

Without wasting a moment, Mitch scooped her up and turned back to the door. The blaze was growing, and they didn’t have much time.

Knowing the layout of the room helped, and Mitch hurried through the smoke in a direct line to the door. He didn’t pass Christo or Kent on the way. Where were they?

He’d get Bella outside and head back in. Help would be here soon.

Bella coughed and Mitch didn’t know if he’d ever heard a sound as sweet. Only another dozen steps and they be outside.

Over the sound of the fire, he could hear the wood groaning, wanting to collapse in on itself.

When the fire was at his back, Mitch got a view of the door.

And a man blocking it.

Was it Kent?

Mitch was coughing himself and the other man would have fresher air in his lungs. Where was Christo?

“Hurry, Mitch.”

Christo. Not Kent. Mitch had to force his brain to clear.

“Need me to take her?”

He shook off Christo’s offer and followed his friend down the stairs, both of them coughing.

Bella not coughing enough.