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    Moving Forward
    Moving Forward
    Moving Forward
    Ebook88 pages1 hour

    Moving Forward

    By Cassandra Vayne

    ()

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    About this ebook

    For Santiago, being a fireman like his father before him was his dream. A dream cut short by an accident on the job. After losing his leg, he struggles to find purpose until he meets former paramedic, Chris, who ended up a paraplegic after an accident at work. Can Chris' upbeat attitude and care bring Santiago out of the shadows of his own mind?

     

    This is an erotic m/m romance and contains adult material.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKnotted Quill
    Release dateOct 8, 2024
    ISBN9798227813268
    Moving Forward
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    Author

    Cassandra Vayne

    A woman full of naughty dreams who can't help but put them to paper. Sign up for release news and more at this link: http://eepurl.com/db7uTD

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      Book preview

      Moving Forward - Cassandra Vayne

      Chapter One

      The heat and smoke turned Santiago’s body into a sweat-soaked mess under his bunker gear but he stayed focused; keeping a good grip on the hose. The fire had been stubborn but they were making headway.

      How goes the suppression, Lieutenant Santiago. His captain’s voice cracked through this headset.

      All typical so far, sir. Santiago motioned to his team and they moved forward. Steam puffed around them as the water doused the flames in the abandoned old storefront. And it stayed typical until the last of the fire was out and the team started to wrap up.

      Cleared out, sir. Leaving with the rest of the team. Santiago held his position, doing a final head count of the others before heading out. His boot caught on a loose beam and almost sent him sprawling on the floor but he managed to catch himself before his knee hit the ground.

      You alright? Raymond offered a gloved hand and Santiago gratefully took it.

      Yeah, let’s get out of here. Above their heads the ceiling groaned and cracked, dust and scorched chips of drywall rained down on them. Collapse! Move! Santiago shoved Raymond out of the doorway as the scorched ceiling fell down on to them. Raymond rolled down the front steps but Santiago’s leg got caught under the wreckage.

      Shit! Raymond screamed for the rest of the squad, managing to be heard over Santiago’s screams of agony. He was swarmed by masked faces but none of them made sense due to the waves of pain. Santiago could sense the rest of the team working around him, felt the vibrations of shifting rubble and the shrill screech sound of his gear on the ground as he was dragged away from the smoldering wreckage to the blinking lights of an ambulance. It all faded away as he went into shock.

      Opening dry eyes, Santiago struggled to make sense of his surroundings. The fluorescent lights were dim and someone snored softly next to him. His head felt heavy as he strained to turn towards the sound and he felt the gentle tug of the mask over his face. Mom? He rasped.

      The smartly dressed woman with gray-streaked dark hair slumped over in a hospital chair hiccuped and blinked to clear the cobwebs. Oh, my baby! She jumped from the chair and cradled his hand in hers. Thank God you’re awake.

      Santiago groaned as she kissed his hand. I feel funny.

      It’s the painkillers, dear. You were badly hurt.

      Something in the way her eyes moved made Santiago look down. There was something wrong at the end of the bed; a sobering flatness on his right side. His heart monitor spiked and he tried to sit up.

      Baby, don’t move.

      My leg. He gasped, straining to reach his knee. The knee with nothing beyond it.

      Sit back! You’ll hurt yourself! His mom tried to calm him but he pushed at the mask from his face.

      At the furious beeping of the monitors, a nurse ran into the room. Sir? You need to calm down. He tried to get Santiago to lean back but to no avail.

      What happened to me? Santiago jerked away from the hands restraining him. Where is my leg!?

      The nurse hit the call button and two more came to assist him. You’re going to hurt yourself. If you don’t stop, we will sedate you! One of the nurses looked to Satiago’s mother who tearfully nodded.

      No, my leg! What happened to- Santiago was cut off by a sudden rush of sedatives through his system.

      -Months Later-

      Your therapist called again and said you missed your appointment.

      Santiago shrugged without turning away from the television.

      Marion snatched the remote and turned it off. You’ll never move forward if you won't walk, kiddo. 

      Move where, Ma. Santiago leaned back into the couch cushions and rubbed the knee above his stump.

      Off your couch, for one. Marion ruffled his brown, messy curls and pulled her hand away with a frown. Possibly towards a proper shower and a haircut. A shave? She sat down next to him and sighed. This isn’t good, mijo. You can’t wallow like this.

      The job was my life. Santiago looked away from her to stare at his missing leg.

      Marion nodded. I know. Just like your dad. But you should be glad to be alive.

      Dad died a hero. He sniffed and scratched at his knee again. I get sidelined by an accident.

      If you think that makes you less of a hero, that’s nonsense. Marion picked up the scratching hand and patted it. And this is why I think you should go to group therapy like the doctors suggested.

      Oh, please.

      Listen to me. Marion cradled his stubbly chin in her palms and forced him to look at her. You need to talk to people who understand and can help you in a way I can’t. As much as I love you and your sister when Tim died, I was a mess. If I didn’t get help, I don’t know if I would be here now.

      Come on, Ma. Don’t say that. He held her hands in his and looked at her with pleading eyes.

      I’m not telling you to make you feel guilty or scare you. I want to gently suggest therapy can help.

      Santiago looked at their hands. I dunno, Mama.

      Promise me you’ll try? When her son didn’t answer, she tugged on his hands. Give it one shot or I‘ll call your sister to come and convince you.

      Shit, where’s my phone? I’ll call anyone to keep her out of this. Maybe the therapist will protect me from her. Santiago, let go of her hands and started flipping

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