Read Life Support (The Breathe Series Book 2) for Free Online Page B

through the line.
    “One more room!” I cough out as the pass alarm on my bunker jacket starts to go off at the same time that my bell alarm starts to ping. “Fuck!” I yell.
    My air gauges tell me I only have 2000 PSI left of breathable air. When I look over at Tanner, he’s looking at his gauges. His air supply is getting low too. We don’t have much air left and need to vacate the building. Soon.
    “Do. You. Copy. Wilson?!” my radio screams.
    Ignoring my commanding officer, I turn to recheck another room in the apartment.
    Tanner grabs me by my bunker jacket, halting me from moving farther. He swings his head toward the exit in a nonverbal command. I pause and eventually nod my head.
    “Copy that. We’re evacuating now,” I confirm. I shake my hand toward the exit, and Tanner turns to follow the instruction.
    As we clear the apartment door, my gut stops me in my tracks, telling me to look one more time in the kids’ room. Uncertainty chokes my throat with panic.
    “Wilson!” I yell to get his attention. “I’m checking the kids’ room one more time.” I point toward the apartment door, indicating that I’m going back for another look.
    “Don’t do it, man! Our air is low and the building’s — ”
    Before Tanner can get the rest of the sentence out, a portion of the stairwell above us collapses, raining burning wood, lath, and plaster on us.
    Jumping back, I fall with a thud inside the third-story apartment and land awkwardly on my air tank. I can feel my back crack from the weight of my body pressing on the tank which is lodged along my spine. All the air leaves my lungs and the pain is excruciating. I rapidly blink my eyes as I quickly assess my condition and try to catch my breath. I’m fine, but this is really going to hurt in the morning. I roll to my side and slowly get back onto my feet. I look around for Tanner, who jumped in the opposite direction from me when the stairwell caved in.
    “Tanner! Tanner, where are you?!” I yell.
    I step outside the apartment door and see a large piece of wood trapping Tanner between the floor and the wall. With my halligan tool in hand, I pry the burning wood off Tanner, freeing him. I grab hold of his hand and pull him to his feet, dusting of a few burning embers from his bunker jacket.
    “You okay, man?” I ask.
    “Yeah. I’m good. Thanks.”
    How close that was is not lost on me. I know we need to get out of here, but I cannot ignore the knot in my stomach, telling me that I need to search the kids’ room again. I nod at Tanner and turn to head back inside the apartment.
    “MAXWELL!” he calls after me. “OWEN! Motherfucker!” Tanner mutters under his breath as he follows me, sticking to our code of no man left behind.
    “I need to make sure they’re not in here!” I yell.
    I step back into the apartment and see orange flames dancing across the ceiling above me. In a matter of seconds, the flames have penetrated through from the floor above, endangering us further. As I observe the flames and listen to the hideous roar of the fire, the pinging of my air alarm is getting faster. It’s a sound a firefighter never wants to hear. Checking my gauge, I see that I have maybe ten minutes of air left. Now, not only am I putting my life in danger by sticking around, but I’m putting Tanner’s life at risk too.
    “Fuck!” I yell, frustrated that I don’t have more time and more air.
    I run towards the children’s bedroom and find the beds. I quickly feel the mattresses again and then double-check the closet. Nothing. When I swing around, my eyes zero in on a large, wood toy-box in the corner. The lid is closed, and my gut sinks. I scoot across the room and fall on my knees before the box. After reaching out a shaking hand, I lift the lid. Inside, with some teddy bears and dolls, are two small girls huddled together. The older one, maybe six years of age, is clinging to her sister, who looks to be two.
    “Tanner! Tanner! I found them! Dear