Chapter 1

A Broke Firefighter

AVELINE

The digital clock on the dashboard clicked to 2:17 a.m.

Thick, black smoke choked the street. Sirens screamed, cutting through the night as our Fire Station 17’s truck slammed to a halt.

A three-story apartment building was being eaten alive by flames. People were on the pavement in their pajamas, crying and shouting.

“My baby! My little girl is still on the third floor!” a woman screamed, grabbing a cop’s jacket.

My boots hit the asphalt. I adjusted my heavy yellow turnout gear, pulled my oxygen mask over my face, and grabbed my axe.