the steps from my bed to the window that I’d memorized when I’d first moved in.
Training taking hold.
Act fast.
Don’t panic.
Follow the plan.
I fumbled around and slid the window open as the smoke swirled and thickened. It filled my throat. I hurried to slip over the windowsill, getting my girl to clear air.
Her arms were around me, trusting me the way I told her that she could. I ran with her across the yard, and I set her in the grass at the far side where she would be safe.
Sobs jutted from her chest, and I edged back, brushing back the hair matted to her face. “You’re okay. You’re okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got you. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Her eyes were wild, and I pressed a kiss to her forehead, hearing the sirens coming in the distance. “I’ll be right back.”
I had to get to Gigi. My mind calculated the time, sure she wouldn’t make it out if I waited for the crew to get here.
“Oh, God, Derrick.” Tessa’s voice was torn. Her love for me and our love for this dog that had brought us together.
I gave her a look that promised it would be okay, and I raced back across the yard. I dove through the window and onto the floor. I crawled through the dense smoke, grabbing a piece of whatever clothing we’d left on the ground and covering my nose to make it back to where Gigi had curled up in front of my door for the night.
A rush of relief slammed me when I found her in the same spot, and she was in my arms in less than thirty seconds, and I was crawling back for the window, eyes squeezed closed but the path clear in my mind.
I heaved us over the windowsill, thanking God as I did, Gigi squirming in my hold. Lights flashed through the night, coming closer, and I started to race in the direction of where I’d left Tessa.
My heart rate kicked.
She was gone.
What the fuck?
The panic I’d kept at bay swelled through my being.
“Tessa!” I shouted. My gaze raced across the yard.
Frantic. Frenzied.
I caught sight of a shadow in the distance. A tussling of movement.
Realization slammed me in a heartbeat.
I set Gigi down and sprinted that way.
Knowing someone was going to die.
Rage burning.
Violence lashing.
I pushed myself as hard as I could, chest squeezed tight.
“Tessa!” I shouted.
She screamed. “No. Help. Please.”
My teeth gritted as my feet pounded on the concrete, and I made the turn at the corner they’d just disappeared around.
He was dragging her by the arm, and she was shrieking and fighting and kicking her feet.
Good girl.
Fight that bastard, my brave, beautiful girl.
And that purpose just became clearer.
Tessa. Tessa.
Thanks to her fighting him, it took me two seconds to close the distance.
Refusing to let the monster win.
He was tall and a little thin, and the scrawny piece-of-shit could be sure he was going down.
I dove right over the top of her, nailing the motherfucker in the side. Making him lose hold.
We tumbled to the ground. Nothing but an instant flurry of fists and hatred.
Only mine was greater.
I got him onto his back and started whaling on him.
Fist after fist.
Blow after blow.
Bone crunched under my knuckles.
It became so clear.
All the love I had for this girl filling me with the need to end any threat.
Sirens blared, and shouts rode through the air, and a minute later a stampede of footsteps surrounded us. Hands pulling me off.
I let them. Let them descend and put him in cuffs.
I didn’t even stay to watch. I turned and went right to my girl who was on her knees. I dropped down onto mine, sagging down and hauling her into my lap.
“Oh, God. Derrick. Derrick.”
I wrapped my arms around her, and she tightened hers around my neck.
The girl sobbed.
Terrified but freed.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”
“I’m so sorry,” she cried into my neck. “I’m so sorry.”
I held her tighter, murmured in her ear. “We all have a purpose in this life, Tessa. You are mine. Do you understand that? I will do anything for you. Live or die. Fight and will never settle for defeat.”
I pulled back and framed her precious face in my hands.
I’d always known I was meant to serve. Called to go into the academy. I was thankful for every person I’d ever helped in some small way. But, I knew, I was always supposed to be right here, in this moment.