19: Clement.

My arms burn from holding the hose, but I only hoist it higher, aiming it toward the burn. We’ve almost got it under control, keeping the fire isolated to a single building. Across the street, I see Nicholas lowering the ladder from a different truck while shouting at civilians to stay back. He catches my eye and we trade a nod.

We didn’t speak on the way back to the fire, but there was relative peace between us. Not to mention, I think we were both still reeling from Dasha asking to be taken to her aunt’s house. It’s only our second night having her all to ourselves and we risked the newfound happiness only she can give us. Fair to say it scared us pretty damn good. What I said to Dasha was true—there will be times the possessiveness rears its head and gives an animal roar—but there’s no question that the possibility of living a life without her will always roar louder.

God, I just want to get home to her. It’ll be dawn by the time we walk through the door and she’ll probably be slee