Page 59 of Built of Flames
“Medics?” They needed oxygen. And to check her for injuries.
An ambulance pulled up in front of the house, and Mitch picked up the pace.
Faisal and Carla leapt out of the ambulance and assessed the situation in moments. They opened the ambulance door and by the time Mitch had Bella on the gurney inside, they were ready to strap the oxygen mask in place and hook her up to check her vitals.
“Is she okay? She’s not conscious. I found her slumped against the wall. I think he threw her there.”
Carla swore and Faisal growled, but they didn’t look up from their jobs.
When Mitch continued to cough, Faisal pointed to the other oxygen mask, and he hooked himself up. He couldn’t help Bella if he distracted the medics from her.
“How is she?” Christo appeared behind him. His face was already bruising, and he had a cut on his temple.
Bella coughed, and they turned their attention back to her. He realized her wrists and ankles were zip-tied. Fury ripped through him, but he accessed the correct drawer and pulled out scissors strong enough to cut the bindings on the first try.
Carla nodded. “Thanks. Okay, her vitals are pretty good, considering all the smoke she obviously inhaled. She’s got a burn on her left shoulder that needs to be treated.”
Carla rose and shoved him and Christo out of the ambulance. Faisal continued to check over Bella. “Either in or out. You both need to be checked, but I want to get her to the hospital now.”
Mitch hopped in but motioned them to hold the door. He took Bella’s hand gently. “I’m going to clean up the mess here, then I’ll be with you at the hospital, Bella. I love you, and I’ll be there soon.” He kissed her hand and jumped back out of the ambulance, which roared away.
He and Christo shared a look. “Where is he?”
Christo started moving. “Last I saw, my dad had him on the ground.”
In the backyard, they found Kent handcuffed face-down on the ground with the Chief standing beside him. The other fire engine had arrived, and a squad was working on the garage. Mitch didn’t care about it. He only wanted to make sure the man who’d hurt Bella paid.
Sven Jorgenson, the police chief, stood beside their chief.
Juan looked up, and his face paled when he saw the two of them. “Isabella?”
“On the way to the hospital. Still unconscious but untied, and they’re treating her for smoke inhalation and at least one burn.” Christo’s voice was hard.
Mitch squatted down beside Kent and waited until the man made eye contact.
Kent scowled. “She’s not going to make it. And you’re on the list, Robinson. You’re going down, too. With those two. You’re all going to burn.”
“Going to be hard to do from a jail cell, Speers. And you’re never getting out. We’ll all see to that.”
Kent squirmed and tried to spit at Mitch. “I was taking back what was mine. What you stole from me and my family. You all deserve to burn, and I’m going to see it happen.”
Sven’s dry voice broke into the rant. “Remember those Miranda rights I read? Remember the bit about remaining silent? Thanks for not doing that. I’ve got everything on record.”
Knowing that Kent wasn’t free to hurt Bella any more, Mitch shoved to his feet and headed to the driveway. He needed to see Bella.
Christo and Juan fell into step beside him.
Goodness, Gracious
Bella struggled through the fog to open her eyes. Where was Kent? How bad was the fire? Where was the door?
If that beeping meant he’d also set a bomb, she had to move, had to get out. Her body was lethargic and even thinking was a struggle.
She couldn’t let the smoke win. She had to get out and find Mitch. Make sure Kent didn’t hurt him. Or Christo or her father.
She tried to call out, but she could barely hear her own voice.
“I’m here, Bella. I’m here. You’re okay.”