DESIRE ME IF YOU CAN [EN] - Chapter 33 - 33

Recalling the fortune teller's words that got him into this mess, Grayson couldn't help but scoff.

"Haha..."

At that short laugh, Ezra and the others shot him nervous glances. Even the driver stole a glance at Grayson through the rearview mirror.

What the hell? Why is he like that? Is he planning to torch the fire truck, too? We gotta stop him if he tries! Even though we lost the last fight, if we all rush him, we can stop him. We have Dane today!

However, Dane had already turned his head toward the window, uninterested. Completely oblivious to their worries, Grayson frowned deeply, recalling the fortune teller's face.

Right, nothing special anyway. Fortune tellers are full of shit. He'd been fooled so many times he’d lost count, having failed as many times as he had visited them.

But fire... she wasn't completely wrong.

Grayson narrowed his eyes. I'm going to burn that fortune teller.

***

When they arrived at the scene, towering black smoke obscured the sky. Even before getting out of the truck, the acrid smell of smoke stung their noses. As soon as the truck stopped, they hurriedly disembarked to assess the situation.

"Ah, hell."

Someone cursed under their breath. The fire was way bigger than reported. The house where it started was already completely burnt down; flames had spread, burning three more houses on either side. Broken glass shards and charred debris littered the ground. People had already given up trying to put it out themselves and were standing back.

Wilkins shouted to the people gathered nearby, watching the flames worriedly.

"Any owners here? Anyone?!"

Since it was work hours for most, the chances of the houses being empty were high. Confirming no one stepped forward, Wilkins busily scanned the fire scene. Meanwhile, his firefighters moved in perfect order. Grayson watched them take out and assemble firefighting equipment in a set sequence before running off, as if it were someone else's business. In fact, it was someone else's business. He had absolutely no intention of intervening or running around like a fool.

"Miller! Hey! Get over here!"

Having grasped the situation and issued orders here and there, Wilkins suddenly called Grayson. Standing leisurely alone amidst the bustling people, Grayson didn't budge at the call. He stood his ground.

"What?"

Anger surged in Wilkins; he suppressed it, thinking of reality. Putting out the fire was the top priority right now.

"We need a firebreak to stop the fire from spreading further. You're covering this area, from here to here."

Grayson frowned instead of answering. Create a firebreak? Never heard of it. At Grayson's reaction of just standing silently and staring, Wilkins let out a deep sigh instead of getting angry. Stepping forward, he grabbed his arm, dragging him to the spot.

"Look, from here to here, remove anything that could catch fire. Electronics, hazardous materials—clear it all out. Got it?"

Explaining in the simplest terms possible, as if treating a preschooler, Wilkins met Grayson's eyes. Grayson, silent until then, looked to the side, then at the ground. Scratching the back of his head, he let out an annoyed sigh. Fortunately, he started moving without saying much. Wilkins felt relieved. In a situation where every pair of hands was needed, even that was something. He immediately turned around, checking the situation.

The noise of collapsing houses, pouring water, murmuring voices, and the jarring vibrations of various machines filled the air from all directions. Passing DeAndre, who was cutting a garage door with a chainsaw, Wilkins turned to the next burning house, moving quickly while shouting continuously.

"Too low! Get that stream up! Higher! Come on!"

"Second floor's gone? Damn, took the roof with it."

"Who went inside? ...Good, no casualties yet? Hmm, okay. Keep searching."

Sometimes pointing out areas for improvement, sometimes encouraging, he commanded the scene. After circling around, he returned to Grayson.

"Oh."

Surprisingly, he’d nailed it. One might think it was just moving and clearing things, but like anything else, it was common to mess up on the first try. Wilkins had prepared himself to some extent. Seeing the neatly organized firebreak, however, he saw this man in a slightly new light.

"Good work. Not bad."

Just as he tapped his arm lightly, preparing to turn away, he saw a staff member trying to enter a house. Wilkins frowned instantly.

"Dane! Dane Stryker!"

At the call, Dane, about to head inside with a hose, paused to look back. Wilkins approached hurriedly.

"You going in solo? No backup?"

"Looks like it."

He answered indifferently as usual. With the large fire, everyone was struggling to keep up with their own tasks.

"Backup's coming. Just wait for them. Going in alone is dangerous..."

Just then.

"Aaaah! Aah!"

Suddenly, a man wailed, trying to run into the house. Dane hurriedly grabbed him; the man continued to struggle, heedless.

"No! Charlie! Charlie!"

Seeing him burst into tears while calling the same name repeatedly, Wilkins asked hurriedly.

"What’s happening? Is this your house?"

At the calm yet fast tone, the man nodded repeatedly while shedding tears. Wilkins continued to ask.

"I'm Darius Wilkins. What's your name? ...Okay, Mr. George Wright. Are you single? No other family?"

"Charlie, Charlie is inside, Charlie."

"Calm down, we will help you... Who is Charlie? Is he inside the house right now?"

The man sobbed, nodding his head up and down repeatedly.

"Charlie's always waiting for me... Charlie's inside right now! Let go, let go of me! I have to save Charlie! Charlie!"

"I understand, I get it! Please calm down!"

Wilkins restrained him with a firmer voice than before. Watching the man who just cried in helplessness for a moment, Wilkins asked again.

"How old is Charlie? Your wife? Partner?"

"Twelve... very pretty blonde..."

"Your daughter."

When Wilkins added on behalf of the man who couldn't speak properly due to sobbing, the man shook his head while crying.

"It's a dog, Charlie is a dog..."

Dane and Wilkins exchanged quick glances. They quickly gathered that Charlie was a Golden Retriever.

"Anything else? Anyone else inside?"

At Wilkins' continued question, the man shook his head.

"Charlie's all I have. Please save Charlie, I only have Charlie... Please..."

The man collapsed, wailing. Patting his shoulder to comfort him, Wilkins immediately looked around. Still, no useful staff member was in sight. Except for Grayson Miller, who looked completely useless.

When their eyes met, Grayson gave a slight smile. It was a meaningless smile, just a social reflex. Wilkins grimaced, turning his head away immediately. He looked around again for someone to go in with; no suitable person was visible.

"This is bad. You can't go in alone."

The fire was too big now. Considering the risk of inhaling smoke or potential accidents, sending him in without backup was too dangerous.