2. Tempi

CHAPTER 2

TEMPI

W hen I show up to work the next day, I'm exhausted. I had to wake up early so I could go get La Llorona from the taqueria. Juan hadn't even opened the store yet when I'd stopped by, and I'm kind of glad he wasn't. I hope I didn't leave a huge mess behind me. I hope he's not too worried.

I hardly got any sleep last night, my mind replaying the events of the evening before in my mind alternating with memories of Bella. And what's worse, I haven't had my coffee this morning. No creamer. So now I'm not caffeinated and barely running on fumes.

Leo blinks when he sees me as I come walking inside work. "You look like hell."

"I feel like hell," I answer. "Please tell me there's coffee?"

"Not good coffee. Ben made it," Leo grimaces.

I scowl. "Someone needs to teach him how to make it properly." I swear every time the kid makes it, it comes out like absolute trash. It's like he either puts too many grounds in it or not enough. One time, he thought mixing tea leaves and coffee grounds was a good idea. It's like he has no concept of what coffee even is.

"I've taught him a million times," Leo argues. "Still shit every time. And he's always the first one here, so he makes it before we get here. I don't think anyone is willing to tell him to stop making it. He's always so happy when he does."

"I'll tell him," I grumble. "I'm in the mood to ruin everyone else's day."

Leo studies me before leading me toward the rig. "We'll get you some coffee before we clock in. I'd argue it's mandatory knowing what today is."

I nod gratefully and climb up into the passenger seat.

"Good morning!" Ben exclaims cheerfully from the back where he's stocking the drawers. I wave at him, but I don't respond. "Tough morning, huh?"

Leo glances at me as he gets in and pulls his seatbelt on. He takes in the dark circles under my eyes, the strands of hair out of place. It's not like me to look so unput together, but today, it's probably almost expected.

"How you doin', Temp?" he asks softly.

"I'm fine," I grunt, crossing my arms.

"Today's—"

"I know what today is," I cut him off. "I hardly need a reminder."

"Of course," he nods. "But you usually take today off, is all."

Sighing, I meet his eyes. "I need the money. The damn landlord is increasing rent again."

Leo scowls. "Again? I thought he just did a few months ago."

"Yeah. Two hundred dollars last time. This time it's three. He claims he can raise it to whatever he wants, and he's right. I can't afford something nicer. But the bastard just had a pool put in at home, so I assume he's trying to make all us tenants pay for it."

Leo shakes his head. "That should be a goddamn crime in this city. People are struggling enough as it is."

"Tell me ‘bout it," I grunt. "Coffee please. Then work."

"Oh! I made coffee in the office!" Ben exclaims excitedly. "I think I did a good job this time."

Leo grimaces when I look over at him.

"Look, kid," I tell him. "I'll be honest. It's weird as hell you can't make a cup of coffee when the machine practically does it all for you. When I said I wanted coffee, I meant I wanted good coffee."

"Oh," Ben says, deflating.

My heart twists. He means well, and he's young. Maybe I'm being a dick. "I'm sure you're going to get it soon," I say, feeling the need to pacify him. "Don't be sad. There's only room for one sad bitch in the rig today, and it's me."

"Noted," he says, and as if everything is okay, he returns back to his bright and cheerful self. He doesn't ask why I'm sad. I'm sure Leo has already spoken to him about things. He just goes right back to humming under his breath.

Fifteen minutes later, I have a quality coffee in hand. Not even two minutes after that, we get our first call.

"Rig zero-zero-two-seven-nine. Be advised. Route being updated for an eleven-seventy-nine. Please confirm," the radio crackles.

"En route," I answer. "ETA five minutes."

"Confirmed."

I take another drink of my coffee and flip the switches for the lights and siren as Leo turns the rig toward the accident. Only once he's ready to go do I set my coffee down and roll my shoulders.

"Let's go," I say.

It doesn't take us five minutes. It only takes us three. Leo and I have worked together for so long that it's easy to navigate as one. The sight that opens up before us is one I've seen often. A large pickup truck on its side. A small car crushed so completely, I know we probably won't get anyone out of it alive.

As soon as Leo throws the rig in park, we all leap out. We beat the cops here, which isn't unusual. Someone is screaming. Someone else is crying. And when I take a step forward, the scene suddenly feels all too familiar.

Like the same scene from five years ago.

I stumble to a stop, my bag hanging on my shoulder, as someone screams in pain in the distance. But it's too quiet. There should be more screaming. There should be sound coming from the car, but there's nothing. Only silence and the ticking of a destroyed engine.

Get them out! Get them out of the car right now! Someone help them!

Tempi.

My hand tightens on my bag, my chest getting as tight as my fist.

"Tempi."

There hadn't been any sound coming from the car that day either. It had been horrifyingly silent except for the sounds of the man crying from another vehicle. No one had survived that day.

They're not gone! Someone do something! Someone get them out!

"Tempi!"

I jerk and my focus zeroes in on Leo's face in front of mine.

"You good?" he asks, concern in his gaze, but he won't bring it up now. We have a job to do.

"Yeah," I answer, shaking my body out. "Yeah, I'm good. Lead the way."

I rush to the truck and take in the man in the driver's seat. His legs are pinned beneath his dash, making it impossible for him to get out. He's panicking and trying to jerk himself out, likely hurting himself further. Familiar, but not the same scene. This isn't the same man.

"I need you to take deep breaths for me," I tell him as I get to work.

Behind me, I know Ben and Leo are checking the passengers of the car. I know they'll come help me when they realize there's no helping those in that one. I know that I'm going to regret having to work today. I know we'll be transporting corpses instead of patients.

It takes the fire fighters an hour to get the car open with the jaws of life. I've always thought it an ironic name. Most of the time I see them use it, it's to pry metal away from death. Sometimes, on rare occasions, it does feel like the jaws of life, but those days are far and few between. I was right though. We aren't transporting patients. The man from the truck had been taken in a second rig that showed up only a few seconds after ours. He had broken legs, but he'll probably survive. Those in the car can't say the same.

We weren't sure how many were in the car, but it turns out, there was only one. One woman. She wasn't breathing when we got here and she isn't breathing now as we load her broken body into the rig. The ride to the hospital is silent. Not even Ben interrupts it. When we pull in and the nurses rush out, I don't spare them any words as Leo explains everything. The atmosphere changes and I take a step away to gather myself. They have benches out here, probably meant for nurses to take their smoke breaks, but honestly, these benches have seen more mourning than they've seen cigarettes.

Taking a deep breath, I sit down on the bench and tilt my head back, thankful that the day is more chilly than hot. Fuck. And we've still another six hours to go in our shift.

Someone whistles and I take it as my sign that it's time to go. When I stand, the air ripples in front of me. Scowling, I go to step around it, thinking I'm probably hallucinating again, but apparently, it doesn't like that.

Before I can curse my unfortunate luck, I'm dragged inside another black hole. I tumble through a kaleidoscope of colors before I can so much as scream, falling again, losing my mind again. Whoever was whistling for me won't find me there. Shit, I hope Leo doesn't think I abandoned him.

Dios mío . I should have stayed home today.