“And then what will you do?”
“I’ll do what I do… I’ll enforce.”
I frowned up at him. “But you’re going to keep me in the dark about exactly what or whom you will enforce, right?”
“Yeah, probably.”
“This is where the problem lies, Silas.” I sighed. “You don’t trust me.”
“That’s not true.” He rolled me so he was hovering over me, then he stroked my cheek. “I trust you more than anyone I know.”
“More than the club?”
“In most situations, yes.”
I wrinkled my nose. “But not all.”
“Doc can shoot a peach pit off the top of a beer bottle from a hundred yards away… can you do that?”
“No, of course not. You know I hate guns.”
“Okay, then. I would trust Doc in a shootout more than you.”
“Silas,” I hiss-pered in frustration.
“Doc’s not gonna protect my heart, though, Cat. So, I trust you more than him… more than anyone when it comes to everything else.”
“Then you should trust me enough to tell me what’s going on.”
“I want to protect you from it,” he argued.
I reached up and ran my thumb over his lower lip. “You can protect me by letting me in.”
He kissed my thumb. “If I promise to try, will that work?”
“Yes.”
Silas chuckled. “That was easy.”
“What was easy?”
“I figured you’d grill me more.”
“Honey, you know me, but I think you forget I know you, too.”
“Yeah?”
I nodded. “When you make a promise, you keep it. So, I trust that you will try your best to fill me in.”
“And…?”
“And, what?”
He frowned. “What’s the catch?”
“Oh, if you don’t fill me in, then I’ll murder you in the face.”
He laughed. “There it is.”
I patted his cheek. “So, if you want to wake up in the morning, you need to start talking.”
“How about this?” he countered. “Let me find out everything I can, then I’ll give you the information that applies to you and Nova, leaving the rest to stay club business.”
“How long will that take?”
“A couple of days. Tops.”
“Two days?” I raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Tops,” he repeated, and kissed me.
I stroked his cheek. “Am I ever going to meet your family?”
“You’ve met my family.”
“Your biological one. Parents, siblings, cousins, that family.”
He scowled. “No.”
“Why not?”
He let out a hiss and flopped onto his back.
“You promised to let me in, Silas,” I pointed out. “We had a deal.”
“I know, baby. I will.”
His whole body had locked, and I knew he was holding his shit together the best he could, so I made the decision to let him off the hook. At least for the moment.
“Okay,” I whispered, sliding my hand over his stomach, and kissing his chest. “I’ll leave it for now.”
He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer. “Thanks, honey.”
I nodded, my cheek to his pec. “I’m going to talk to Willow and Olivia about finding Nova a counselor. She’s going to need someone professional to talk to.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” he said, his body relaxing with the change of subject. “But you think maybe we should wait to figure that out once they release Darlene’s body for burial? Nova doesn’t have official legal guardians right now.”
It was taking a little longer than expected for the coroner to release Darlene’s body, but Silas had been promised it would happen by the end of the week.
“You’re wrong there, bub,” I argued. “According to Nova’s birth certificate, you’re her dad.”
“Yeah, but we both know that’s not true, so what happens when and if someone contests it?”
I frowned. “You don’t actually think someone will do that, do you?”
He shrugged. “No fuckin’ idea.”
“Well, you need to make sure she stays put.”
“Gonna do my best,” he promised.
With that promise, I snuggled close and finally let sleep take me.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Catalina
“OKAY, SWEETNESS, TIME for bed,” I said, setting Nova’s favorite book on her bookshelf.
“Just one more story? Please?” she begged.
“No, honey, you need to sleep. You have school tomorrow.”
“When’s Uncle Shutter going to be home?”
I checked my watch. “Not until after midnight. He has church.”
She bit her lip.
“He did check the house, though, baby. It’s all locked up and the alarm is on. We’re safe.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m totally sure.”
“Can I sleep in your bed? Please?”
“I’m not going to bed yet, Nova.”
“I know.”
Darlene’s body had been released last Thursday and the club had made the decision to bury Darlene in the local cemetery. We didn’t know what her wishes had been, so Doc had decided to make sure there was somewhere for Nova to visit in the future should she want to.
After much discussion between myself and Silas, as well as Doc and Olivia, we’d asked Nova if she wanted to attend Darlene’s funeral. She’d immediately said yes, and we let her lead us in her wants and desires.
I was a little concerned when she wanted to ‘say goodbye to Mama,’ but Olivia encouraged us to let her, so she had been present at the viewing. Nova had drawn her a picture, setting it in the casket after giving her mother a kiss on her cheek. She’d then gripped my hand like a vice and did not let go until we were back at home.
I was amazed by how much grace and poise she’d shown through the whole ordeal, but with all of the new emotions came her need to be as close to me and Silas as possible… and at all times. We’d… no, I had decided that she would be allowed to be as needy as she wanted to be for a little while. We’d address all of that when we were able to find a counselor. Luckily, Olivia was on the hunt for us.
I sighed, stroking her cheek. “You know Uncle Shutter will move you when he gets home.”
“I know.”
“And if you get into my bed, you have to stay there until Uncle Shutter moves you.”
She grinned. “I will.”
“Okay, honey,” I acquiesced. “Take Mr. Diggles with you. I’ll come tuck you in.”
“I’m gonna go potty again,” she announced, and slid off her mattress, heading for the bathroom. I grabbed her stuffed pig and followed her.
Once she was tucked into my bed, I headed out to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of wine, dragging myself to bed a little after ten. I didn’t have work in the morning, but wanted to be up to take Nova to school. After brushing my teeth, I slid in beside Nova and fell asleep surprisingly quickly.
* * *
Beeping permeated my dream, and I was freezing. I realized distractedly I’d forgotten to close and lock my bedroom window.
“Cat,” Nova called, her hands shaking me gently.
“What’s going on?”
“Something smells weird,” Nova said, and I shot out of bed, now realizing the beeping was my fire alarm and the weird smell was smoke.
“Get on the floor, baby,” I ordered, laying my hand flat against my door. The wood was hot, so I grabbed my phone and dialed 9-1-1.
“9-1-1, what’s your emergency?”
“This is Catalina Grant. My home is on fire.” I rattled off my address as I stepped into my closet, pulling on sweats, and grabbing my emergency go bag, along with the fire ladder Nolan had given me.
My brother had insisted I pack one with a few changes of clothes and anything that might be important as f
ar as paperwork. I had my passport and birth certificate, along with some cash and an extra set of car keys. I had argued with Nolan about putting this together because it was a pain in the butt, but I was really glad I had it now.
“Hey, Cat, it’s Johnny. I’ve got fire on the way. Do you need an ambulance?”
“Not so far,” I said. “I’m going to hang up now. I need to try and get out.”
“Be careful.”
“I will,” I promised, hanging up and sliding my window the rest of the way open. “Nova, come over to the window.”
She grabbed her stuffed pig and made her way to me.
I cupped her chin. “I need you to be brave, can you do that for me?”
Her eyes filled with tears as she nodded. I rushed into the bathroom, grabbing towels and wetting them down. Closing us back into my bedroom, I shoved a towel at the base of my bedroom door, then one at my bathroom, handing Nova a damp washcloth.
“If the smoke comes back in, put that over your nose.”
“Okay,” she rasped.
“Uncle Shadow gave me a special ladder and we’re going to climb out my window and down to the ground.”
“But it’s high,” she rasped.
“I know,” I said, rolling the ladder out the window and making sure it was secure on my windowsill. “But we can do this.”
I was terrified of heights as well, but I was more afraid of fire, so heading out the window was our only option.
I knelt in front of her. “I’m going to go first, and then I’ll hold you as we climb down, okay?”
“It’s cold.”
“Right, sorry.” I stepped to my closet and grabbed one of my hoodies, sliding it over her head. “Better?”
She nodded. “Can I take Mr. Diggles?”
“I’m going to put him in my bag, and we’ll get him at the bottom.”
I zipped her pig into the bag and leaned out the window, dropping everything into the bushes by my front door, hoping nothing broke.
“Ready?”
“No,” she said, sniffing.
That was when we heard the sirens.
“Uncle Shadow’s here!” Nova squealed. “He can get us now.”
“I don’t think we have time to wait, honey,” I said, leaning out the window. “Up here!” I bellowed.
“Shadow!” Nova yelled behind me.
“Uncle Shadow’s at church, honey,” I reminded her, leaning out the window again.
“Cat?” a deep voice called.
There was only one person I knew with a voice that deep and I finally felt a sliver of hope. Shepard Waller. He was one of my brother’s firefighter buddies both in and out of the department, and one of the few non-biker friends my brother had.
“Shep?”
“Yeah,” he called back. “We’ve got the truck ladder. Stand back.”
“Hurry.”
I pulled Nova close and got as low as we could to avoid the smoke, now seeping under the bedroom door, bypassing the towel.
A helmeted head peeked through the window. “Let’s get you out of here,” Shep said.
I nodded, handing Nova to him. “Take her first. I’ll wait until she’s down safely.”
“We’re gonna take both of you now, Cat,” he said. “Nova, you’re first.”
“I don’t wanna go,” she whispered, grabbing onto me.
“Baby, I’m right behind you, but we have to get out,” I said. “Shep will keep you safe.”
“I want Uncle Shutter.”
“Me too,” I admitted. “We’ll see him soon, I promise.” I peeled her off of me and pushed her gently toward Shep. “Go, Nova… now.”
Shep lifted Nova out the window and handed her off to someone behind him, then leaned in again.
“The floor feels hot,” I said.
“Then get the hell out of there,” Shep growled.
I nodded and slid one leg over the sill.
“I got you, Cat,” Shep encouraged. “I won’t let you fall.”
I nodded, taking a deep breath, and forcing myself to climb out onto the ladder. Shep was behind me and we started backing down just as I heard the pipes of Harleys.
I’d never heard a more beautiful sound in my life.
It felt like it took an hour to climb down the ladder, but I was finally on my feet and Nova rushed me, wrapping her arms around my waist. I held her close, stroking her hair.
“Catalina!” Silas bellowed.
“Over here!” I called back, and I saw him push past several of the firefighters in order to get to me and Nova.
He pulled us both into a hug, nearly crushing me in the process. “What the fuck happened?”
“No idea,” I said, hugging him back, despite the pressure on my lungs. “I can’t breathe, honey.”
He loosened his hold but didn’t release me completely. I noticed my neighbors filing out of their homes as the fire department evacuated anyone whose home might be in danger of going up in flames.
“Cat?”
This came from my brother and he, too, pushed through his firefighter brothers to get to us. “What happened?”
“I don’t know.” I turned toward my now fully engulfed home. “My go-bag’s in the bushes,” I said, making a move toward it.
“Don’t you dare,” my brother growled, heading toward the danger.
I blinked back tears and leaned against Silas. “Everything I own is in there.”
“We can replace everything except you and Nova,” Silas grunted out.
I nodded into his shoulder.
“Uncle Shutter?” Nova sniffed out.
He knelt in front of her. “Yeah, baby?”
“Where am I going to live now?”
He stroked her cheek. “Well, we’re gonna move into the barn for a little while until we can find a place all together.”
“You won’t send me away?”
“No,” I stressed.
I knelt beside Silas. “No one’s sending you away, honey. We promise.”
“But if we don’t have a house, then where will we live?”
“We’ll find somewhere even bigger and better,” Silas said.
With what money?
I didn’t voice that out loud, however, because I didn’t want to freak Nova out more than she already was.
Oh, who was I kidding?
I didn’t want to freak myself out more than I already was.
Silas lifted Nova, then slid his hand to my neck and squeezed. “Come here.”
I leaned against him, burying my face in his shoulder.
“You’re okay, baby,” he whispered. “You’re safe. Both of you. That’s all that matters.”
I nodded, even as I forced back desperate sobs. Nova wrapped her arms around both of us and we stood, our little family unit, as the inferno raged around us.
“Got your bag,” Nolan said, setting it in front of me. “No damage.”
“Thank you.” I sighed. “I just wish I’d thought to bring my purse into my bedroom.”
“You can’t think of that shit right now, Cat,” my brother warned. “It’ll drive you nuts.”
“How did the fire even start?” I continued. “It’s a brand-new building, so it’s not like it could be an electrical fire, right? And I don’t burn candles…”
“Let’s wait until the report comes in,” Nolan said.
“No one is suggesting you had anything to do with it,” Silas said, tugging me even closer than I already was.
I slid my hand under his cut and wrapped my arm around his waist. “What if it was my fault?” I whispered.
“There’s no way in hell,” Silas hissed.
“I want the EMTs to look you both over,” Nolan said.
“We got out before there was any damage done, NoNo. I just want to go ho… I mean, to the barn and sleep.”
“I’ll take them home,” Silas said. “Doc’s there tonight if either of them run into trouble.”
Nolan nodded. “I’m gonna hang out here for a bit and see if I ca
n get any answers.”
“Okay, brother,” Silas said, then focused on me. “I’ve got a truck, so we can all go.”
“I have keys to my car in the bag. I can follow you.”
“Nope. I’ll drive your car. Someone else can bring the truck back.”
I sagged against him. “Are you sure? If you’re busy…”
“You and Nova are my priority. Of course I’m sure.”
“Okay, thank you.” I glanced over at Nova, still on Silas’s hip, fast asleep. “You are the only one who can make us feel safe.”
He smiled gently. “It’s my job, honey, and I take it seriously.”
I nodded. “Take us home.”
He gave me a gentle squeeze and released me long enough to pick up my bag. Carrying both the bag and Nova, he wrapped his arm around me again and took me to my car.
* * *
Shutter
I waited until I was sure both Catalina and Nova were asleep before stepping out of my room and calling Shadow back. He’d texted an hour ago saying he had an update, but I needed my girls to feel safe first.
“That took fuckin’ forever,” Shadow bitched the second he answered my call.
“Yeah, well, I needed to take care of Cat and Nova.”
He sighed. “I appreciate that, brother.”
“What did you find out?” I whispered.
“Looks like arson.”
“What the fuck?” I hissed.
“I’ll send you the few pictures I could take before I was ushered out by the fire marshal,” he said. “I’m no expert, but I could smell gasoline, and saw the burn patterns that are a tell-tale sign it was set purposely.”
“Jesus.”
“Yeah. We’re gonna find out who did this, Shutter. It just might take a little time.”
I rubbed the back of my neck and nodded. “Yeah. Send me those pics.”
“Will do. Is Cat awake?”
“No.”
“Have her call me when she feels up to it. Just wanna hear her voice.”
“I will,” I promised, hanging up and heading back into my room.
Catalina sat up and cocked her head. “Where did you go?”
“Just had to take a call,” I said, setting my phone on the nightstand, and sliding into bed beside her, on top of the covers.
Revealing the Biker's Destiny (Dogs of Fire: Savannah Chapter Book 9) Page 11