Sinful Pleasures Read Online Free Page A

five-story apartment building on the south side of town. Morgan could see flames shooting out of a window on the fourth floor. He jammed his helmet on as he trotted toward the building, glancing behind him at the crowd gathering across the street. He could tell by the worried faces that most of the people watching the fire lived in the low-rent apartments. They were seeing everything they owned go up in flames.
    Ignore them, he told himself. You’ve got a job to do.
    Trying unsuccessfully to shut down his emotions, Morgan knew he’d be more effective holding his sympathy until they had the fire under control. He almost made it to the door when a frightened child burst out of the building, followed by a hysterical woman carrying a set of twin infants.
    Steeling himself not to react to her tear-streaked face, Morgan still thought the little girl’s round blue eyes had the most tragic expression he’d ever seen. She ran straight to him, tugging at the hem of his bunker coat.
    “Mr. Fireman?”
    Morgan squatted down to the child, pulling his helmet off so he wouldn’t frighten her. He’d learned long ago not to dismiss children when they had something urgent to say. Kids had an uncanny way of dealing with disaster better than adults.
    “What, honey?”
    “My brofer’s in dere. He went back for Timmy. Mommy couldn’t find him. We had to leave.” The child looked up at the woman who nodded frantically, sobbing nearly as hard as the two screaming infants she held in her thin arms.
    “Who’s Timmy?” Morgan asked, trying to keep his voice soft. A familiar ache started in his chest, threatening to choke him.
    Not another kid, please, God, not another kid.
    “Timmy’s our kitty.”
    “Okay, honey, I’ll look for your brother and your kitty.” Morgan’s heart beat so hard he felt breathless. “Tell me your brother’s name and what floor he’s on.”
      “Jason.” She solemnly held up four fingers, looking up at her tearful mother again for confirmation.
    Morgan didn’t know if she meant the fourth floor or if her brother was four years old. Sometimes it was hard to tell with younger kids giving the information. He looked at the woman clutching the howling twins against each shoulder.
    She’s in shock, he thought, noticing the unfocused stare.
    “Fourth floor?”
    She gazed at him blankly.
    “Lady!” he said sharply. She blinked her eyes in confusion as if coming out of a deep sleep without recognizing her surroundings. “Fourth floor? Is your son on the fourth floor?”
    She nodded slowly. Morgan didn’t wait for more details. He gently pushed her out of his way, running for the door. He wouldn’t be too late this time.
    Inside the building, he could hear screams and knew the making of a nightmare was in progress. Civilians were pushing past him as he ran up the stairs two at a time, heading straight for the fourth floor.
    He keyed his com link. “
Dallas
?”
    “Where are you?”
    “Gotta stray kid somewhere on four.”
    “On my way.”
    Opening the stairway door, Morgan could see nothing but smoke and flame.
    Fuck this, he thought. I can’t take it any longer. I can’t take another family being torn apart.
    He stepped into the hallway, ignoring his fear as he searched.
    “Jason! Jason can you hear me?” he shouted.
    Morgan heard nothing but the roar of flames in response.
    With a sinking feeling, he knew he might be too late. Again.
    Another kid that won’t grow up, he thought, another family that will never be the same. Another failure.
    “Jason!”
    The tears on his cheeks felt hot, and he didn’t care that he was crying.
    The hallway wasn’t fully engulfed. Flames leapt upward through open doors, hungrily tracking across the ceiling. It wouldn’t be long until the whole floor ignited, but Morgan still had time to pull off a rescue if he could just find the boy.
    C’mon, give me a clue . Tell me where you are.
    Suddenly, out of the smoke, a huge tabby cat rushed him, hissing and