“Shepley?” she cried.

“He’s going to stand back a bit while we get you out of there, okay? Sit tight, ma’am.”

The same officer from before patted my shoulder. It was then that I noticed he had bandages on his head.

“You’re Reyes?” I asked.

“I’m sorry, sir. I tried to get us out of the way. It was too late.”

I nodded once.

Chief approached. “You should let me take you to the hospital, Reyes.”

“Not until she’s out,” he said, staring at the firefighters positing the tool.

With a single handle, the firefighter positioned two metal pincers near the door. The high-pitched whine of the hydraulics melded with the loud drone of the fire trucks.

America cried out, and I lunged toward the cruiser.

Reyes held on to me. “Stand back, Shepley,” he said. “They’ll get her out faster if you stay out of the way.”

My jaw clenched tight. “I’m right here!” I called.

The sun had set, and floodlights had been positioned all around the cruiser. Covered bodies were lying in a line along the sidewalk, barely one hundred yards away. It was almost impossible to stand there and wait for someone else to help America, but there was nothing I could do but let her know that I was still close. Waiting for them to free her was the only option.

I covered my mouth with my hand, feeling tears burning my eyes. “How long?” I asked.

“Just a few minutes,” Chief said. “Maybe less.”

I watched them cut and pry the door off the cruiser, and then they worked to free her leg. She cried out again. Reyes’s grip on my arm grew tighter.

“She is a firecracker,” he said. “She wouldn’t take no for an answer. Insisted on riding with me, hoping she would find you.”

Chief laughed once. “I know someone like that.”

The paramedic reached in with a neck collar, and once he stabilized her neck, he pulled her out, inch by inch. Once I saw her face and her beautiful big eyes looking around in shock and awe, the tears fell.

I stood a few feet away while they stabilized her on the stretcher, and then I was finally allowed to hold her hand again.

“She’s going to be okay,” the paramedic said. “She’s got a small cut on the crown of her head. Her left ankle is likely broken. That’s the worst of it.”

I looked down at America and kissed her cheek, feeling relief wash over me. “You found the ring.”

She smiled, a tear falling from the corner of her eye and down her temple. “I found the ring.”

I swallowed. “I know it’s a traumatic situation. I know that you hate that Abby asked Travis after the fire, but—”

“Yes,” America said without hesitation. “If you’re asking me to marry you, yes.” She sucked in a breath, tears streaming from her eyes.

“I’m asking you to marry me,” I choked out before kissing the ring on her finger.