Rise of the Phoenix novel · Chapter 24 of 24
Chapter 24: Spring Line
"MacDiarmid," the crew boss said, and his voice cracked in the middle of my name. "They told us you were dead."
"Not yet," I said.
I leaned on Hedda's kitchen wall with the receiver pressed to my ear and my knees gone weak.
He didn't speak for a few seconds.
I heard a lighter click.
"I held your spot," he said. "Two seasons. Everyone said I was a sentimental old fool."
"Is it still open?"
"I need a squad boss for the Bitterroot unit. Prescribed burn first, in April. Then the season."
He breathed out.
"I'd want you at the front of the line, if you can stand to be there."
I looked across the room.
Garth stood in the doorway in a clean flannel shirt, with a mug in his hand, listening.
He raised one eyebrow.
"Can I bring someone?" I asked.
"Is he any good with a saw?"
"He's good with ice," I said. "And he's willing to learn."
"Bring him."
I hung up.
The rest of this chapter is part of the paid portion of the series. Chapters 1–12 of Rise of the Phoenix are free to read — start from the beginning, then unlock the rest with coins in the app.
Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend