Reduced to Ashes

by Kay Gordon

  “I’m starving,” Trujillo grumbled and I nodded in agreement. I hung up my gear, used the downstairs sink to wash off my hands and face, and headed up to the living quarters. When I saw the pizza boxes on the kitchen counters, I let out a groan.

  “It’s so beautiful.”

  Ladder Company had been back longer than us so they’d already eaten and were mostly hanging out in front of the TV. I inhaled two slices of pizza before going back to my bunk to get some clean clothes. My phone chimed from where it was plugged in but I ignored it. I needed a shower more than anything in that moment. Hell, I was beginning to gross myself out.

  I stayed under the hot water for about twenty minutes, scrubbing my body several times before finally feeling satisfied. After I was out, I towel dried my hair and left it hanging down before putting on a pair of department-issued sweat pants and a matching shirt. The sweatpants were baggy but the shirt was another correct-size tee that hugged my breasts, which were encased under a sports bra.

  Picking up my phone, I smiled at the texts Evan had sent and offered my own reply before switching to my e-mail. I had just clicked on one in the work inbox when the PA chimed.

  “Company 21 report to the bay immediately.” The captain’s voice was tense, more so than usual, and I frowned as I slipped my phone into the pocket of my sweats. Almost immediately, it started vibrating. I had just reached for it with one hand and the doorknob with my other when a big body appeared in my doorway.

  “Jones.”

  It took about three second of eye contact with Owens for understanding to hit me. His face pinched with concern said it all.

  “The video,” I breathed, feeling a tightness form in my chest. “No.”

  Owens said something but he sounded so far away. Blackness started to creep into my vision and I couldn’t tell if I was shaking or if it was just the phone vibrating against my hip.

  It had taken me seven years to get to where I was and just a few seconds to shatter it all.

  Chapter Twenty

  Evan

  I rolled from my stomach to my back and sighed while staring up at the dark ceiling.

  My mattress was a piece of shit.

  Okay, it really wasn’t. It was an expensive mattress that was only a couple of years old. The problem was that it wasn’t Victoria’s bed.

  It was kind of funny how used to sleeping next to her I was after only a handful of nights. Granted, sleeping next to her was equivalent to sleeping next to Grace or Jade. She took up as much space as possible and was either draped over me like a starfish or basically shoving me off the bed. I fucking loved it. I slept better with Tornado Tori next to me than I did alone.

  It didn’t help that all of my texts to her for the evening had gone unanswered once she’d left the soccer field. I knew she was working but I still couldn’t help feeling petulant. Ever since she had really opened to me, I’d become completely addicted to her. Behind that hard exterior, Victoria Jones had an amazing personality. She was funny, she was loving, she was smart, and she was so damn sexy.

  I don’t know how long I stared at the ceiling before I finally felt myself start to doze. I wasn’t quite asleep when my phone chiming on the nightstand next to the bed brought me back to consciousness. I reached over groggily and grabbed it, expecting to see the number for dispatch since it was so late. An unknown number showed up instead and I answered it with pinched eyebrows.

  “This is Evan Coleman.”

  “Coleman.” The voice on the other line was unfamiliar and gruff. “Simons Owens gave me your number. This is Vincent Jones, Tori’s brother.”

  My eyes had started to drift closed again but snapped open instantly. “What’s wrong? Is she okay?”

  “Physically she’s fine but…” Vincent paused but I could feel his fury. “That fucking video was emailed to every employee of the New Hope Fire Department and a good majority of us with Las Vegas Fire and Rescue.”

  “What?” I was on my feet without thinking and shoving my legs into a pair of jeans. “Where is she? How is she?”

  He let out a long sigh. “She’s still at the station. She wasn’t answering her phone so I finally got ahold of her captain. He asked if I could come get her but didn’t elaborate. I’ve been at a training sim in Boulder City. I’m on my way back to the city right this second but… fuck, Evan. I can feel how much she’s hurting right now.” His voice broke slightly at the end. “Can you go to her, please? I need you to help my sister.”

  “I’m already on my way,” I promised after pulling on a t-shirt. I shoved my feet into my sneakers, grabbed my wallet, keys, and gun, and took off towards the door. “I’m going to kill Tristan.”

  “Not if I kill him first.” Vincent’s voice was a murmur but I could hear the promise behind those words. “Can you call me once you get to her? I hate being this helpless when it comes to Vic.”

  I started my engine and slammed it into reverse so I could pull out of my driveway. “I understand completely.”

  “Thank you,” was all he said before we disconnected the line. My office was only a few miles from the station house and I made it in just four minutes after some questionable traffic choices.

  I parked in the lot where a few other cars were and barely had the engine off before I was sprinting toward the building. I ripped open the door I’d gone through with Grace all those months before and couldn’t decide whether to go to the offices or up to the bunkrooms. Before I could make a choice, Nick appeared at the top of the staircase, a stoic expression on his face.

  “She’s up here, Evan.”

  I took the stairs two at a time and followed behind him as he led me through the common areas. Most of her company was standing in the kitchen, looking similar to Nick. No one said anything as we passed and when we came to where Tori’s room was, Captain Stevenson and Simon were standing outside the door. It was the latter who spoke.

  “Lennox is in there with her now but she’s shut down completely. She had a panic attack when I first told her and damn near passed out. She wouldn’t let me near her when she came out of it, won’t talk to anyone.”

  I nodded and reached for the doorknob. “Let me try.”

  No one stopped me when I walked inside the room and my eyes immediately fell on my girlfriend. She was in the corner of the small room with her back against the dresser. Her legs were bent with her arms wrapped around her knees and her face buried in them, hidden by a curtain of blonde hair.

  Tyson Lennox was crouched in front of her but not touching her in anyway. He looked like he was speaking to a wild animal while trying not to spook it. The jealousy I’d felt earlier that day when he had been with Victoria was completely forgotten and all I felt was concern.

  He looked over at me and I could see the worry shining behind his eyes when he straightened up. I wasn’t sure what the nature of their relationship was but it was obvious that Tyson cared about Victoria a lot. He gave me a stiff nod, letting me know that he was trusting me with her, and then glanced back to the catatonic woman before leaving the room. The door closed behind him with a quiet click and I moved to my knees until I was directly in front of her.

  “Victoria,” I whispered softly, slowly reaching a hand up to brush some hair from her beautiful face. She flinched slightly at the contact but I was encouraged when she didn’t pull away. “Everything’s going to be okay, baby. I promise.”

  Her shoulders began to shake and it suddenly felt like a ten-ton truck was sitting on my chest. When the first sob escaped, I moved quickly so I was sitting next to her. I pulled her to me until she was in my lap and was thankful when she willingly buried her face into the crook of my neck.

  Each warm tear that hit my skin gutted me and I held her tight against me. Her body shook as she sobbed violently while I murmured into her ear.

  “Don’t let him break you, Tor. He doesn’t get that power. You’re strong, so much stronger than he is, and you can overcome it all.”

 
; It was while I was holding that unbelievably strong woman in my arms as she fell to pieces that I knew for sure.

  I was in love with Victoria Jones.

  Her fists were clutching my shirt but the grip she had lessened as her cries tapered off. It took about ten minutes before she was hiccupping slightly. I let up on my hold, too, and ran one hand down her back soothingly.

  “Evan.” Her voice was a hoarse whisper as she tipped her chin to look up at me. Her normally bright green eyes were dim, swollen, and rimmed with red. She looked so unlike herself. “Did they all see it?”

  I used my thumbs to wipe away the stray tears that were still falling down her cheeks. “I don’t know, Tor, but they’re your friends. They won’t care.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “You do, though.” I pressed my lips to her forehead and shook my head slightly. “They respect you and that video isn’t going to change that.”

  She sniffled and ran her hands down her cheeks, getting rid of the rest of her tears. “I just want to go home.”

  “Okay. I’ll take you anywhere you need to go.”

  We both moved to our feet and I helped her gather up the few items of hers that were out in the small room. Once everything was shoved into her backpack, including her cell phone, she slipped her feet into her sneakers.

  “Come on, Tor,” I murmured softly, holding my hand out to her. “Let’s get out of here.”

  She nodded and placed her palm against mine without saying a word. Her grip was tight and she immediately looked at the floor when I pulled the door open.

  Four sets of eyes landed on us instantly. The captain, Simon, Nick, and Tyson were all leaning against the wall and all four men looked like they wanted to say something. It was Simon who found the words to speak.

  “You’re a badass, Jones. That video doesn’t make us see you as anything less.”

  She didn’t look at him but a small nod of her head told us that she’d heard what her lieutenant said.

  I thanked the guys quietly and led her towards the staircase. When we passed the kitchen and living room area, several of her co-workers stood from where they’d been sitting on the couches. One of them moved until he was standing in front of us.

  “Leave her alone, Hughes,” Lennox warned behind us but the guy, Hughes, didn’t even spare him a glance. Instead, he stepped even closer to Victoria and I wanted to shove him away when she shrank closer to my side.

  “If you think that something like this changes anything, you’re wrong.”

  At his words, Tori’s eyes snapped up from the floor so she was looking at him and Hughes offered her a small smile.

  “I expect you to keep being the woman who blew in here and made us all look like fools with your work ethic and strength. I’m not sure what kind of douches you worked with before but I know all of us would follow you anywhere and it’s not because you have a nice ass.”

  I narrowed my eyes at his last comment but Victoria let out a small snort, telling me she wasn’t offended, and my rage simmered a bit. Hughes grinned and reached out to gently nudge her shoulder.

  “See you next shift, Jones.”

  She nodded once and the corners of her lips tipped up into an almost-smile. He seemed happy with her response and stepped aside so we could pass.

  We walked out into the dark night and ignored her car in favor of mine. I helped her settle into the passenger seat without a complaint from her and then came around to my side.

  Neither of us spoke during the drive to her house. Victoria watched the dark city pass by and she just seemed smaller somehow. That only pissed me off even more. I wanted to drive to the city, find my brother, and knock his teeth out.

  There was always tomorrow.

  When we pulled into her driveway, I turned off the engine but neither of us moved. Victoria just stared up at her dark house for about two minutes before sighing. When she spoke, she did so without looking at me.

  “I hate your brother.”

  “So do I.” I gripped the steering wheel tight, feeling that murderous urge again, but she leaned over and removed one of my hands from the death grip, linking our fingers together.

  “Let’s go inside, Ev.” She squeezed my hand once and only let go after I’d nodded.

  The two of us stepped out into the warm night air and our hands reconnected as we moved to the front door. We didn’t turn on any lights downstairs and instead went up to her bedroom. I dropped her backpack onto the floor next to her closet and watched as she toed off her sneakers.

  We undressed quietly until we were both completely naked and she slid under the sheet first, pulling it down next to her in invitation. I followed suit until my head was on the pillow and Victoria was gathered into my arms. She pressed her face into my neck and let out a long breath against my skin.

  “Thank you for coming tonight,” she whispered, so quietly that I almost missed it. I tightened the hold I had on her and pressed my lips to her hair.

  “You don’t need to thank me for that, Tor. If you need me, I’m there. Always.”

  She tilted her chin so we were looking at each other and I could tell she wanted to say something. After a second, she just shook her head and pressed her lips to mine.

  I planned to keep it sweet and innocent, I swear, but when her tongue demanded entrance into my mouth, all of my blood flooded south. My dick had already been very clued in to the fact that Victoria was naked but it came to life completely when she molded her entire body against mine.

  She shifted slightly, causing my erection to dig into her hip, and she pulled back with her eyebrows raised. I offered her a reproachful smile and shook my head.

  “Ignore him- he has a mind of his own.”

  “I like the way he thinks,” she replied in a low, husky voice that made my dick jerk. She kissed me again, this time throwing a leg over my hip so that we were lined up perfectly. Tori shamelessly rubbed against me, moaning in pleasure as she did.

  “I want you inside of me, Ev. Please.”

  I hadn’t planned on having sex with her that night, not when she just needed comfort and reassurance. But who was I to deny my beautiful girlfriend what she wanted?

  “Fuck,” I growled when she slid against me again. “Condom. Now.”

  She let out a small whimper. “I’m calling the doctor first thing Monday morning. Screw this condom bullshit.”

  Jesus. She was determined to make me lose my mind.

  Thirty seconds later, I had the rubber on and Victoria was on top of me, sliding down until I was as deep inside of her as I possibly could be. She didn’t move, not at first, as we stared at each other.

  Victoria Jones was a sight to behold in that dark room- Chest heaving, causing her gorgeous breasts to do the same. Hair wild from my hands, sticking up in every direction. Lips swollen from our make-out session, slightly parted. Eyes dark from the room but lids heavy with passion.

  God, I loved her so fucking much.

  I almost told her just as much but she rose up and slammed back down, causing me to grunt and her to cry out. I ran my hands up her stomach until I had my thumbs over both of her nipples. She moved again, finding a slow but wonderful pace, and I pulled her down so I could capture her lips.

  We kissed for a moment before she pushed back up on my chest, riding me even faster. Pleasure shot down my spine and I grit my teeth to keep it together. I gripped her hips so I could meet her thrusts from below and she gasped from surprise.

  Her body began to tremble as her cries increased and it felt like there was a vice grip on my dick. Suddenly she tensed on top of me, and I felt her orgasm hit her at the same time she called my name into the dark room. I kept moving and let go of the control I’d been trying to maintain, surrendering myself to pleasure I only knew with Victoria Jones.

  She collapsed on my chest, gasping for air, and I wrapped my arms around her while doing the same. I ran my hand down her sweaty back and closed my eye
s with a grin.

  Despite the shit swirling around us, I was a lucky bastard.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Tori

  I was a light sleeper. It was a first responder thing and ingrained into all of us before our first year of probation was over.

  So, when I opened my eyes and saw that Evan’s side of the bed was empty, I was surprised. It was impossible for him to sneak out of bed without waking me anytime he woke up first, much to his frustration.

  It was light in the bedroom and a glance to my nightstand showed it was shortly after eight. Even though I knew I needed to get up and face reality, I decided to burrow back under the sheet. It was warm, comfortable, and smelled like Evan.

  My eyes closed and it was just a few moments later that I felt myself drifting off to sleep but Evan’s voice caught my attention. It was muffled, telling me he was obviously downstairs, but I could also tell he was mad.

  I slipped out from my cocoon and pulled on the t-shirt and sweats I’d been wearing the night before. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and cringed when I saw that I had over thirty missed calls and twenty text messages. The phone had been completely silenced, both vibration and ringer, and I knew I had a certain detective to thank for that. Ignoring all the notifications, I pocketed the phone and pulled open the bedroom door.

  Evan’s angry voice filtered up the stairs, becoming louder the closer I got.

  “I don’t care what you have to do. Get me proof that the asshole released it again so we can nail him to the fucking wall!” He paused, listening to whatever the person on the other line was saying. “Just do it. I won’t let him hurt her anymore. Call me as soon as you have something. I have another call to take.”

  A smile hit my face. It was weird, honestly. After doing things for myself for so long and refusing any sort of help, even from my father and brother, it was kind of nice to have someone fighting for me like Evan was. The smile only grew when he answered the second call and I heard who he was talking to.