Scorch (Missoula Smokejumpers Book 6)

by Piper Stone

  “I’m going to be late and I’m harder than you think.”

  “Uh-huh. I’ll be succinct.” Thrusting the entire length inside, his eyes were dancing and he lowered his head, pressing his lips just against hers.

  “God!” Her pussy was quivering, clenching around the thick invasion and the man filled her completely. She adored the way his dick was throbbing, pulsing so deep inside. Clinging to him, she wrapped her feet together as he used his strength to lift her, forcing her up and down, driving the tip into her cervix.

  “Damn, you feel good. I could do this every day.” Sawyer licked around her mouth before pressing his lips against hers, sliding his tongue inside.

  Reese closed her eyes, savoring the dazzling sensations rocketing through her muscles, erasing the tension, filling her with marvelous desire.

  He continued thrusting, jutting his hips forward as he thrust in harder and faster. With every brutal plunge, he pushed her back against the cool tile, splashing water over their heated bodies. Steam began to rise, filling the dense space and still he continued.

  Her body was rocked forward and backward, hitting her G-spot and there was no doubt she was going to come. When he broke the kiss, she panted, her eyes having difficulty focusing. She was drenched in sweat, mixing with the water and she could no longer feel her legs.

  Groaning, he kept his forehead against hers as he drove inside, his entire body shaking as if adrenaline had taken over, pumping into his bloodstream. “So hot. God, you’re wet.”

  Closing her eyes, she tried to control her breathing, but a slice of euphoria rushed into her, filling her mind as well as her heart. “Yes, I…”

  “Come with me, baby. Come. I…” His voice ragged, full of lust, his grip became tighter.

  “Oh, yes. I…” Unable to hold back, she allowed herself to fall into a moment of bliss, relishing the way he was taking her, demanding all of her. Dear God, she loved this man.

  “Yes. Yes!” His roar echoed, billowing out into the room.

  “Oh…” As the climax cascaded up from her legs, she cried out, her arms and legs limp.

  After his body stopped shaking, he eased her head against his chest, moving under the stream of water. “Nothing is going to happen to you, baby. Nothing.”

  She kept her eyes open, staring at nothing as her mind reverted back to the terror. And she prayed to a God that she wasn’t certain she could believe in that he was right.

  “Come on. Come on!” Beeping her horn, Reese gripped the steering wheel, resisting going around the traffic. She was going to be late. Jesus Christ. This wasn’t going to bode well all across the board. Why had she taken the time with Sawyer? Why? She cursed under her breath as she licked her lips, thinking about his sweet kisses. He’d tried his best to take her mind off the day. She’d thrown on a suit, trying her best to make her wild mane of hair mold into her usual bun. She’d failed miserably and knew the glow on her skin remained.

  Prayers might not do the trick. She was already fifteen minutes late. If her case was the first one called, she could be thrown into jail – contempt of court. That would bode well for the evening news.

  She bit back a laugh as the light turned green. She gunned the engine, swerving past a string of cars. The turn was just around the bend. So close. As she shot into the right lane, flipping on her signal, she heard the sounds of screeching tires, beeping horns. Yeah, whatever buddy. I’m in a hurry. She jerked the car around the corner and had to slam on her brakes. “What the hell is going on?”

  The entire street was filled with cars, sheriff and deputy cars to be exact. There was also an ambulance. Was there a car accident? She was half a mile from the courthouse and there was no other way of getting there. Fidgeting, she tried to figure out what to do. She was able to maneuver around two cars until she was right at the point of seeing a deputy, his hand out, his face full of anger.

  She pulled to the side, blocking in another car and threw the gear into park. There had to be a way around this. She noticed smoke rolling into the sky, the powerful black cloud swirling in the moderate breeze. What in the hell? Swallowing hard, she climbed out of the car, taking long strides in the deputy’s direction until she flanked his side. “What’s the problem? An accident? I have to get to court.”

  The deputy eyed her, studying her face. “Are you Reese Winton?”

  Her skin began to crawl. “Yes. What’s wrong?” Now, she could see flames. It seemed like an entire city block was on fire.

  Waving to another deputy, he gripped her arm. “You’re coming with me.”

  “Why? What’s going on?” She scanned the area, trying to figure out what was going on and trying to jerk her arm out of his grasp. Her throat began to close.

  “We need to get you to safety.”

  Safety? What? “I’m sorry? What?” she couldn’t hear her voice over the sirens, the yelling. Another deputy trotted closer and she was able to see what looked like… Blood. “Oh my God. Did something happen?”

  The first deputy nodded to the second, who took over with traffic. He guided her to the sidewalk and toward what appeared to be a group of men and women in suits. “Please talk to me.”

  “We need to get you inside.” He crowded over her, racing her toward a dark SUV. “This is Reese Winton, the defense attorney for Katrina Dreyfus.”

  “What is going on?” Now, there was hysteria in her voice. Hearing Katrina’s name, a sick feeling pooled into her stomach. She could even hear the fire, the crackling and hissing sounds. Smoke was pulled her way and she coughed several times, the acid stinging her eyes. She couldn’t stop shaking.

  She was shoved inside the SUV, the door immediately slammed shut, hard enough the vehicle rocked. But she could see at least three ambulances, dozens of people, many running in her direction.

  “Miss Winton, I’m Agent Brennan and this is Agent Marks with the FBI. We’re going to take you somewhere to question you.”

  “But my car and…” Her voice trailed off as she noticed the ambulance and could just see what appeared to be… No. “Is that Deputy Worth?”

  “Everything will be explained to you and your car will be taken care of.”

  As the agent pulled away, the SUV’s tires going up on the curb, she gripped the back of the seat. This time, the terror was real.

  Sawyer turned off his phone before he walked into the hospital. He would spend a few minutes with Mike, convincing him to come to his ranch after he got out of the hospital. Then they would talk. And he would confess. His nerves remained on edge, but he knew this was the right thing to do. The man deserved to live a normal life, free of the consuming guilt. He noticed the entire reception area seemed to be abuzz. He walked past, heading for the elevator.

  Patience wasn’t his greatest virtue and he almost took the stairs. When the elevator finally arrived, he was thankful that he was alone. Easing his back against the cold steel, he thought about the dream once again. Even Boone deserved to hear the entire story. He snorted as he realized his fists were clenched. If karma really was hovering over both him and Reese, maybe they’d found each other for a reason.

  When the doors opened, he hesitated for a few seconds, trying to cull the lump in his throat. He was no good at this and never had been. Still, this was something he had to do. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he walked toward Mike’s room, keeping his head down. He smiled at a nurse before tapping on Mike’s room then going inside. The empty room, devoid of all the apparatuses from before, as well as the made up bed, meant Mike had been checked out. After a single day?

  Confused, he walked out and toward the nurses’ station, trying to catch the eye of one of them. The level of heightened activity was the same as the reception area. Voices were loud, overbearing. “Excuse me. I’d like to check on a patient.” He was ignored for almost two full minutes.

  “I’m sorry, sir. What do you need?” She was curt, her eyes darting to the ringing phone.

  “Mike Stanton. Was he released?” He tapped his fing
ers on the top of the high counter, studying the faces of the hospital personnel. Something was wrong.

  “Um. Let me check.” She typed into the computer, grabbing an approaching nurse with her other hand. “Get down to emergency. We have several coming in.”

  “An accident?” Sawyer asked, yanking his phone out of his pocket and turning it on.

  “No, sir. Gunshot victims near the courthouse. Mr. Stanton checked himself out yesterday against doctor’s orders. That’s all I can tell you. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

  Courthouse? His skin chilled. As his phone came on, he could see the emergency text and he raced to the elevator, slamming his hand on the button. A split second later, he raced toward the stairs, taking them two at a time. When he bounded into the reception area, he noticed the emergency sign and headed in that direction. Then he listened to his message.

  “Multiple gunshot victims located a block from the courthouse. In addition, there is a fire that has crossed from one building to three others. We need all EMT units to dispatch.”

  “Oh my God.” Sawyer jogged into the ER just as the doors flew open, EMT’s racing into the room. He could tell the injured was a deputy. Blinking, he reacted, running in the direction until he was able to recognize the man on the gurney. “Oh shit. Carter. God.”

  “Sir. We have to get him into surgery. He’s bleeding out.”

  Pushed aside, he almost tumbled backwards as he noticed at least two other ambulances pulling up. The courthouse. Reese. Oh, dear God. This couldn’t be happening. Taking several long strides backwards, he took off in the direction of the exit. Whatever was going on was a catastrophe.

  He dialed the captain as he was running, weaving through cars as various other emergency vehicles rolled into the parking lot. “Captain. I heard the emergency call. What the hell is going on?”

  “Lincoln. We have a mess on our hands. We’ve been called as backup for the situation surrounding the courthouse. Reports of several people injured from multiple gunshots and at least four buildings are on fire. Two of the engine companies are already out on fires so they are pulling in our unit for air support as needed. Stay on call.”

  “I’m already headed there.”

  “Sawyer. Stay out of the way until we are needed,” Captain Phillips barked.

  “I have to go. There’s someone there I need to check on.”

  “Hold on! Wait. We have more information coming in.”

  Sawyer jumped into the truck, starting the engine and roaring out of the parking lot. He had to get to her. Nothing could happen to her. He almost slammed into another car. Jerking to a halt, he tried to control his breathing, his mind reeling from the terrible possibilities.

  “Shit. Sawyer, there’s been another explosion, a fire purposely set just on the outskirts of town, which could blow toward the mountains. The entire forest is lit up like a damn Christmas tree. Get your ass there. Cooper is rolling in with equipment.”

  As the captain rattled off the area, he fell into a near trance, hearing the words but debating what he should do. Acres of pristine land backed up to a beautiful area of homes, one side moving straight up the mountain to vacation homes and cabins as well as… Fuck. The school. The fuckers knew exactly what to hit.

  “Sawyer! Are you listening to me? We need to get this under control. Another storm is rolling in, the wind ahead of it and if this fire reaches the city limits, we will have a disaster on our hands.”

  “Yes, sir. I’m on my way.” Flooring the engine, he took off, racing in the direction of the fire. He struggled to find her number, dialing as he floored the accelerator, rolling around other vehicles, swerving in and out of morning traffic. “Answer the phone. Come on.” Maybe she made it to court and was safe. When he got her voice mail, he cringed. “Reese. Call me and let me know you’re all right. No matter when. I know about the situation at the courthouse. There’s another fire I’ve been called to but let me know you’re alive.”

  He tossed the phone on the seat and gripped the steering wheel with both hands. The same sickening feeling created cramps running all the way down into his tense calves. This was a siege on the city. But why?

  As he took several side streets, avoiding the courthouse area, he glanced out his windshield. “Fucking. God.”

  The entire city seemed to be lit up, flames towering over the buildings, smoke swirling, blackening the sky. His body shaking, he knew in his gut that lives had been lost.

  He could only pray to God that Reese wasn’t one of them. If she was, he would hunt down the bastards responsible.

  And he would kill them.

  Chapter 12

  Rushed into a building, Reese had no idea what was going on other than the entire city seemed to be on fire. She heard dozens of sirens, witnessed several fire engines rushing toward the courthouse. She was yanked by her arms, the group moving inside a location she’d never been to before. She studied the walls, searching for any signs. There was nothing to give her any indication of where they’d taken her. As she was led down a hallway, flanked on both sides by the agents, she had the distinct impression that she was being investigated and the interrogation would begin as soon as she was plunked into a room.

  They stopped just outside a steel door with no windows.

  “Wait here. We’ll be right in,” Agent Brennan said with no inflection in his voice.

  “Are you going to talk to me?” The door was slammed shut and she had no doubt locked. She jumped given the noise and folded her arms, still shivering from adrenaline as well as fear. She’d thought about what could have happened. Katrina. She’d made good on her threat. There was nothing else that could have occurred. Pacing the floor, she realized she didn’t have her phone, her purse or any way of contacting either her office or Sawyer.

  Her breath skipping, she swallowed several times in an effort to calm her nerves. Fat fucking chance in hell. She needed to know what was going on or she’d lose her bloody ass mind. She counted her steps, eyeing the camera in the upper corner. FBI. Well, she’d heard they had an auxiliary office, but had never come into contact with them.

  Sawyer. What he must be thinking. She leaned against the wall, closing her eyes. And waited.

  What had to be ten minutes later, the door was opened, and the agents walked inside, closing the door. She eyed them warily, her anger level increasing. “About time. Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

  Agent Brennan slid a cup of coffee across the desk. “Thought you could use this.”

  “I’m fine, except I’d like to know what the hell is going on.” She heard the rage in her voice and didn’t give a shit. She was one of the good guys.

  “Ms. Winton. You were the last person to talk with Katrina Dreyfus and that was yesterday. Correct?” The female agent plopped a paper file onto the desk, her eyes never reaching Reese’s.

  “I don’t know if I was the last, but I had a visit with my client yesterday. What is this about?” Reese remained where she was, glowering at the file.

  “Katrina Dreyfus has escaped or more importantly, she was helped to escape. In the process, a Missoula Deputy was shot and is currently in surgery, his injuries considered life threatening. In addition, there are reports of two casualties and at least five injured from bullet wounds. Then several explosions occurred, no doubt set off by bombs already planted at the various scenes in an effort to help them get away. That’s what this is about.” Agent Brennan’s voice boomed, the words stilted.

  “Shit,” she mumbled. The magnitude of what had occurred was unfathomable.

  “Exactly,” Agent Marks stated as she opened the file.

  “Any knowledge of their whereabouts?” Reese was shivering.

  Agent Brennan shook his head. “Nothing yet. As you can imagine, there are APB’s out for their arrest in several states. They could have gone in any direction.”

  “And we need to know exactly what you talked about,” Agent Marks added.

  “Are you insinuating that I had anything to
do with this?” She could tell by the looks on their faces that they were more than interested.

  Agent Marks eased down in the chair, pointing to the one across the table. “We’re not insinuating anything; however, we need to learn everything that you know.”

  Reese crossed her arms.

  “I suggest you sit down, Miss Winton. We are going to be here for a while.”

  Boom!

  Sawyer cringed as he grabbed his gear. The fire was burning hot, flames swallowing up the trees as if they were matchsticks.

  “Explosions created this mess,” Cooper huffed. “Heard a rumor this is from Katrina Dreyfus escaping.”

  “What?” Sawyer shoved his ass into the loop and grabbed the chain saw, checking the oil. He could only see smoke, but he knew the fire was rolling from the inside out. Whoever had set up the explosion knew what the hell they were doing.

  “Yeah. Crazy shit. She was on the way to a pleading hearing and two vehicles rolled up, blocking the deputy’s car, shooting as they grabbed her. Heard the city street is a freaking mess.”

  He glanced at Cooper and shook his head. “Reese was going to the courthouse. She was there.”

  Cooper patted him on the back. “She’ll be okay. From what I heard, this shit happened almost an hour before court. This is a mess. The explosion wasn’t huge, but just enough to start the fire. A slow burn at first.”

  Breathing out, he studied the fire. “What kind of explosives were used?”

  Cooper huffed. “We don’t know at this point, but given the track of the approaching storm, we need to get this derailed fast. The winds are kicking up and we don’t need lightning strikes added to the mix.”

  Sawyer studied the cumulous clouds rolling through the darkening sky, nodding as a bank of embers floated down from the bank of trees. “Copy that.”

  “Glad you arrived, buddy. This thing could get out of control fast,” Landen called as he approached. “Antonio, Riker, Moose and Zane are already on the other side. We need to kick this thing head on.”