Spark. Brigid Kemmerer
on>
Gabriel.
He could feel flames coming through the floor, looking for him. The sound of wood giving way was deafening. Sparks and ash rained down.
He wasn’t going to make it. He was going to fail. Again.
Then a hand closed over his wrist and pulled, hard.
Gabriel followed—what else could he do?
He burst into fresh air that felt arctic on his cheeks. That hand kept pulling, dragging him.
He stumbled and almost fell, but he caught himself before he dropped the girl.
He felt grass under his feet and slowed.
Someone was jerking the girl out of his arms. “Is she breathing?”
Hunter.
Had Hunter gone into . . . into that to drag him the rest of the way out of the darkness?
Also by Brigid Kemmerer
STORM
ELEMENTAL (an e-book)
SPARK * The Elemantal Series
BRIGID KEMMERER
KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.
All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected.
Table of Contents
Also by Title Page Dedication ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 9 CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTER 12 CHAPTER 13 CHAPTER 14 CHAPTER 15 CHAPTER 16 CHAPTER 17 CHAPTER 18 CHAPTER 19 CHAPTER 20 CHAPTER 21 CHAPTER 22 CHAPTER 23 CHAPTER 24 CHAPTER 25 CHAPTER 26 CHAPTER 27 CHAPTER 28 CHAPTER 29 CHAPTER 30 CHAPTER 31 CHAPTER 32 CHAPTER 33 CHAPTER 34 CHAPTER 35 CHAPTER 36 CHAPTER 37 CHAPTER 38 CHAPTER 39 CHAPTER 40 CHAPTER 41 CHAPTER 42 CHAPTER 43 CHAPTER 44 BEYOND THE STORY Spirit, Copyright Page
For Jonathan, Nicholas, and Baby Sam:
I thank my lucky stars every day for each of you.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As always, I have to start with my mother. She’s an amazing woman, and if not for her incredible support, you wouldn’t be holding this book in your hands. I’m grateful for her presence in my life every single day.
My husband, Michael, makes writing possible. He’s my best friend, my support system, the love of my life. And for some reason, he insists on waiting to read a finished book. So here you go, honey. I hope you like it. Thank you for everything.
Alicia Condon and the entire team at Kensington are all incredible. I can’t thank you all enough. I’m so glad I’ve gotten the chance to work with you all.
I have many close friends on this writing journey, but I would be remiss in not thanking Bobbie Goettler, Alison Kemper Beard, and Sarah Fine. You all keep me grounded, you keep me sane, and you keep me writing. You’re all amazing women, amazing mothers, and amazing writers, and I’m so lucky to know you.
This book took a tremendous amount of research. It absolutely would not have gotten written without support and assistance from Ed Kiser, Assistant Fire Chief for Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Department. He already works tirelessly at a thankless job, and he was able to spare a considerable amount of time for me (including immediate response to e-mails at one o’clock in the morning). Ed, I cannot thank you enough.
Additionally, I owe special thanks to Officer James Kalinosky, of the Baltimore County Police Department, and Officer Todd Schwenke, of the Anne Arundel County Police Department, for their information on police investigations, arson, arrest procedures, and anything else I could think to ask. I took all this research and delightfully twisted it to fit my needs. Any inaccuracies are on my part, not theirs.
Special thanks to Thomas Berry for providing every math question included in this book, as