by K. C. Crowne
“Chances are, that squad cars will look normal to him,” Austin said. “I mean, cops are emergency responders too.”
“Might make him paranoid though,” Luke said grimly. “Paranoid enough to do something stupid.”
“Which is why it's vital that we get to Jacklyn, get her out of the truck, and away from him the moment we get to camp.”
“How about if I pull ahead of him?” I ask. “If we can get to camp first –”
“No,” Sarah said. “If you blow by him now, when they pull in and see squad cars there, that's going to set off his warning bells big time.”
“She's right,” Austin said. “Just play it cool. Our best bet is if we just act normal.”
I was gripping the wheel so tight, I was half afraid I'd rip it off the steering column. But they were right. We had no choice to play it cool. We had no idea what we were getting into, or how this was all going to play out. Having no information about this clown made it like throwing darts in the dark. We had no idea what was going to happen once we parked the trucks.
About fifteen minutes later, we crested the small hill and pulled into base camp. There were people all milling around, and off to the side were two squad cars. Thankfully, they didn't have their sirens going, though they were still obvious.
“Okay, play it cool,” Luke said.
I pulled into the lot and threw the car in park. The other three were out of the truck before I'd even managed to unbuckle my seatbelt. I watched as four big, burly Sheriff's deputies crossed the lot toward us, their hands on the butt of their weapons.
“Yeah, so much for playing it cool,” I muttered.
I jumped out of the truck, and saw Sara dragging Jacklyn out of, then away from the truck she'd been riding in. Luke and Austin helped drag her away to safety. Eric was standing outside his truck, watching Jacklyn being hauled off. The deputies, weapons drawn now, were shouting at him to get on the ground, but the front end of the truck stood between him and them.
Eric's face twisted in rage, and in one smooth motion, he turned and awkwardly bounded off toward the tree line. The crackle of gunfire filled the air, but I watched Eric slip through the trees, getting safely away from them despite his limp.
“Shit,” I growled.
The smart thing to do would have been to go to the tents to check on Sarah and Jacklyn. The smarter thing to do would have been to stay out of it and let the deputies deal with it.
But I wasn’t often known for being the one to do the smart thing.
Turning, I ran after Eric, plunging into the woods well ahead of the cops who were tailing us. They shouted at me to stop and to let them handle it, but there was no way in hell I was going to let that scumbag get away. I didn't want to see more people lose their homes or be killed because I'd sat on my hands and done nothing when it mattered the most.
A strong gust of wind blew through the trees, rattling branches, and kicking up a lot leaves, and a lot of debris. The wind was a constant low growl, making it difficult to hear. Where the base camp was located was on a ridge above the valley that was currently being devoured by the fire. We were upwind of the smoke and flames, with the winds rushing through clearing it out, and keeping the air free of the choking black clouds that were sweeping over everything in front of the valley.
Even still, in the middle of the night, the orange and red flickering glow seemed to fill the entire sky with its light. It was eerie as hell. Thankfully though, we weren't choking on the clouds of smoke that clogged the rest of the world around us.
I stopped running and strained my ears to listen. I heard the sound of the cops crashing through the underbrush behind me, but I was listening for something ahead of me. It wasn't long before I was rewarded for my patience, when I heard the sound of twigs snapping, along with a muffled curse.
I'd always been pretty quick, and light on my feet. Nimble, you could have said. I was able to pick my way along the floor of the forest we were running through without stepping on anything that would send me flying, tripping over unseen hazards, or falling flat on my face.
As I ran, I heard the sound of the man in the forest ahead of me. He was obviously having considerably more trouble navigating his way through the darkened forest, and I was closing the gap quickly.
Another muffled curse up ahead of me, followed by a hiss of pain. I was close. Very close. As I came around a thick screen of bushes, I saw the man getting to his feet again, determined to continue running. I wasn't going to let that happen. This was going to end, and it going to end now.
He must have seen me coming from the corner of his eye, because he threw the punch before I even realized what was happening. As I saw his meaty paw coming at me, I dodged as best I could, but he caught me in the ear with a solid blow. It sent me staggering backward, and I landed flat on my ass, my head ringing from the impact. I literally saw stars and had to shake my head to start clearing them, as well as to drive away that dazed feeling.
Eric didn't wait for me to recover though. I thought he was going to come over and start wailing on me, but he obviously heard the cops closing in on our location and didn't want to be around when they showed up.
As I watched him turn to go though, I knew I had to do something. I couldn't let him get away. This fucking madness had to end. Climbing back to my feet, I did my best to push the ringing in my ears aside. I grabbed a fist-sized rock from the ground, and with all my might, hurled it straight at the man like Clayton Kershaw throwing a fastball. The rock hit Eric square between the shoulder blades – which was a little bit off the mark, since I'd been aiming for his ass. Oh well. It still had the desired effect.
Eric cried out and went down in a heap. He grabbed at his back, then knowing the danger he was in, tried to get to his feet again. I closed the distance between us and delivered a vicious kick to the man's midsection. I heard the air leave his lungs in a very audible whoosh, and he groaned in pain, curling up into the fetal position on the ground.
When he looked up at me, I thought the man looked tired. He looked completely beaten. Yet still, there was a light of anger and defiance in his eyes. I reared back and delivered another kick to his midsection. He let out a choked, strangled sounding gasp, and doubled over on himself again.
“That one's for Sarah and her sister, you son of a bitch,” I growled.
I shook my head, my ears still ringing, as the cops burst through the foliage and found their way over to us. The first one to the scene looked at me and grinned.
“Damn, boy. Took him down without a gun. I'm impressed,” Morgan said. “And here I thought you fireboys were all nerdy little pussies like Luke.”
I laughed. “We're tough enough not to need guns like you ladies do..”
“Yeah, you keep believing that.”
We traded a few more good-natured barbs as the others got Eric into handcuffs and hauled him to his feet. Together, we walked back toward base camp, each step we took making me feel better and better. This firebug asshole's reign of terror and destruction were over.
Sarah was safe. Her sister was safe.
That was all that mattered.
Sarah
With everything going on, I honestly forgot all about Christmas. Austin had kept his word - we were home in time for Christmas. A day before Christmas, actually. The first thing I did when I got back to San Diego was call my sister Mallory. Catching up with Jacklyn for a little while after we'd gotten the fire put out, made me realize it was on me to reach out to them sometimes. Maybe they assumed I was just as busy as they were, and I could – should – do a better job of making them more of a priority in my life.
I did more than call, however. I invited Mallory over for Christmas. Jacklyn was there too, but she kept to herself. She was still reeling from the heartbreak, and I couldn't blame her for wanting to be left alone.
Wes was singing along, loudly, to “We Wish You a Merry Christmas!” The eggnog had been spiked, and he'd had more than his fair share. Laughing, I plopped down next to Mall
ory on my sofa.
“How's life, sis?” I asked her, sipping my own glass of eggnog. “Your men keeping you busy?”
“Of course. They keep me jumping, no question,” she laughed. “But things are good. Really good.”
I hadn't seen Mallory smile like that in years, and it made my heart happy. Still, part of me was envious of what she had. I looked out across my living room, at my own men spread about. Austin was talking with Luke near the pitiful excuse for a Christmas tree. Owen was off by himself, but not too far from Wes. He was smiling at Wes, shaking his head and chuckling at Wes's antics. For once, he didn't seem out of place amongst us and that was a Christmas miracle in and of itself. I loved having them all here, together, and my smile only faded when the reality of the situation hit me.
I'd have to choose amongst them.
Wes and Luke were okay with sharing – they'd already come to that agreement with me. But, Austin and Owen? I had some other news to share with them - bittersweet news. News that might change everything – especially between Austin and me. I had a lot of decisions to make, and I felt like Mallory might be the only person who could help. I was pretty sure she was the only person who would understand.
“Sarah?” Mallory waved her hand in front of my face, pulling my attention back to her.. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, sorry, just thinking,” I said, as I bit my lip. “You know, I'm wondering – how does it work with your guys? Like, do they get jealous of each other? Are they competitive with one another for your attention? How is it possible to be with four different men and still keep the peace between them all?”
“That's a lot of questions,” she laughed. “Are you asking out of idle curiosity? Or because you're looking for some advice?”
“Honestly? Mostly advice, I guess,” I admitted sheepishly. I shot a quick glance around the room, and Mallory read my mind.
“Do you think they'd be open to sharing?” she asked me.
“I know two of them are. I kind of already have that arrangement with them. But I don't know about the others,” I said. “They don't know about the other two – or each other for that matter. It's a big fucking mess, sis.”
It felt silly even worrying about it, honestly. Austin could still decide that as our supervisor, he had no choice but to keep his distance – and while and Owen and I had had fun the night at the ranch, it could have just been the adrenaline of the situation fueling things. Wes and Luke were purely keeping things casual, even though I suspected we all had some feelings for each other. Especially after everything we'd been through. Going through that kind of a hellish experience tended to bond people together tightly.
“First thing you need to figure out,” Mallory said, “is whether or not they can share. Talk to them. Be honest with your feelings, even if it's hard. You need to find that out up front, or you might as well not even entertain the notion, sis.”
“You make it sound so easy though.”
“Trust me, it's not,” she chuckled. “But it is worth it. At least, it is if you can make it work. Truthfully, it's not conventional by any means, but I've never felt so appreciated and loved in my entire life.”
“I guess I need to talk to them, huh?” I sighed.
“Yep,” Mallory said, patting my arm, “To be in a relationship with anyone - even just one p;erson - requires communication, Sarah. I know it's hard, but you save lives for a living. What's a heart-to-heart conversation have against running into a firy building?”
“Honestly? I'd take the firy building over this any day,” I muttered. I had so much to lose if it went south. I could lose all of them, all the men I cared about deeply.
“Rip off thre bandaid, Sarah,” Mallory said, nudging me up off the couch. She cackled with laughed.
“You need to put the eggnog down, sis,” I teased.
She shrugged and drank some more. “Only after you talk to your guys.”
“Fine, okay, I'm going,” I said.
“Good luck, sis,” Mallory said, her tone more serious than before.
Yeah, I needed all the luck I could get.
Austin was now alone, and our eyes met from across the room. We hadn't really spoken since the wildfire, and we hadn't talked about anything personal. But he was the first person I needed to talk to. Not just because of my feelings for him, but because I had other news I had to share. News he needed to hear from me, directly.
In that moment, with “Jingle Bells” filling the air, it felt like Austin and I were the only two people in the room. The music drowned out the others, and I closed the distance between us.
I came face-to-face with my boss, and we both smiled. That's when I noticed the present in his hands. He handed it to me. “It's not wrapped very well, but it's my way of saying that I'm sorry for overreacting,” he said.
I motioned toward the tree. “Your gift is under there, with all the rest,” I said.
He chuckled and rubbed his chin. “And here, I figured I didn't deserve any presents this year. For being such a dick and all.”
I hugged him. He seemed surprised, but I wrapped myself around him and melted into his firm, strong body. He relaxed and put his arms around me, and it was complete and utter bliss.
“We need to talk,” I whispered to him. “But I'd like to talk to you, alone.” .”
Austin nodded, and I led him from the living room down to my bedroom. The Christmas music was still echoing down the hall, but it was quieter and more private. I shut the door behind us, and Austin handed me his gift. I placed it on the nightstand, for now.
“I need to get this out, before I lose my nerve, Austin--”
But he cut me off, pressing his lips against mine. He silenced me, just like that, and I forgot about everything I had intended on telling him. I pulled away, but only because the reality hit me hard. Tears flooded my eyes.
“I'm taking a new job, Austin. I'm no longer going to be working with you, at the firehouse--”
“Sarah, please--” Austin said.
I held up my hand, stopping him. “No, this is for the best. I'm going to miss all of you dearly, but its a promotion. Something that will be good for me, and it has nothing to do with us - if there is even an us after everything that's happened.”
Austin was silent, and his brow was furrowed. I'd caught him off guard. I meant everything I said too. It wasn't just about no longer working underneath him, I needed something else. I needed more, and I wanted to do more. My new position would allow me to make an even bigger impact and to hopefully save more lives.
“I'm happy for you,” Austin said. “You're going to tell me about the new gig, right? What is it, what will you be doing, where is it?”
“I will,” I said, wiping my eyes. “But I want to announce it to everyone first. I just wanted to let you know it was coming.”
Austin brushed a strand of hair away from my face and stared deep into my eyes. I knew what he was thinking because I was thinking it too.
We could finally be together.
Except, of course, it wasn't that easy anymore.
“I have something else I need to say, Austin,” I said, my voice cracking. I could no longer look in his eyes as I said the next part. “I have feelings for you, you know that. But I also have feelings for Owen, Wes and Luke, and I really don't think I can decide between any of you.”
The tears slid down my cheeks even faster now, and Austin wiped them away. He didn't respond for a long time, but his body tensed up. I felt him go stiff against me, and I knew I had to see his face. I tilted my head upward and met his gaze, expecting to see hurt or anger, but instead, he didn't look the least bit surprised.
Leaning close, he kissed me gently on the lips.
“Let's get back to the party,” he said. “And let you share your big announcement.”
Without knowing how he felt or what he was thinking, I felt lost. Instead of fighting for some answers, however, I nodded. He might need some time, I told myself. Give him some time to think. Hell, I neede
d some time too. If I had to decide between my men, it wouldn't be a choice I took lightly. At one time, Austin would have been the only man for me, but a lot had changed. I'd seen my team in a new light, learned things about them that I hadn't known before. Nothing would ever be the same again.
We walked down the hallway in silence, and Austin had Wes turn down the music. With the room mostly silent, all eyes were on me.
“Hey guys,” I said, clearing my throat. “I have an announcement to make.”
All four men turned their attention toward me. Austin was closest to me, and his brow was furrowed with lines as he looked at me. Concern was etched across his features, and the features of the other men I'd fallen for over the last few months and years of working with them.
“Is everything okay?” Luke asked.
I nodded. Everything would be okay, though what I was about to say was bittersweet and brought tears to my eyes. Wiping them away, the guys all circles around me. They were standing so close together – and so close to me – I couldn't tell where one man began and the next ended. The strange thing about it was, that it felt nice. Really nice. The warmth of their bodies, and the strength, as well as the love, I felt radiating from each of them, made the next part even easier.
“Everything is fine. I just have some news,” I said. Taking a deep breath, I let it out. “I've been offered the opportunity to join a specialized team trained in fighting California wildfires. After what happened, and watching the ranch be destroyed, I've decided to take the position.”
The faces of the men around me fell, one-by-one as they realized what this meant for our little family. I'd be leaving the team. I'd be leaving them behind and moving on. Leaving them behind – I hated thinking of it like that, because they'd forever be part of my life. I'd make sure of it. Even if we couldn't find a way to be together intimately, I needed them to be a part of my world. I looked up and met Austin's eyes. We both knew what this meant, and truth be told, it was one of the many reasons I decided to take the job in the first place.