Beautiful Burn

by Rachel Blake

  "Or, you know, when they arrest us and we all start turning on one another. Whichever comes first."

  "Smart ass." He traced Gwen's lips with his finger, tickling them slightly. "I love it when you smile."

  "Even when it's full of sass and dripping with sarcasm?"

  "Even then." He took her mouth forcefully, giving her no choice but to open for his invading tongue.

  The clearing of a throat had her tearing her lips from his. "I am shocked and appalled at the public display of affection."

  "Really? Because I seem to remember your eyes being glued to my mouth when I had Gwen's nipple in it during our game of poker?" Autumn jumped when Leland's hand landed on her ass.

  "And what a wonderful game it was, lovie," Atticus teased as he swung his arm over the other woman's shoulder.

  "Get your own brat, Pardoe." Leland snatched his girl from under the man's arm.

  Laughing, Atticus addressed the group. "Should we go to Jensen's office?"

  As soon as the door was shut behind them, all humor was gone. "No one else can know about this meeting." When he got the affirmation he needed, Atticus continued. "We believe the copycat is someone close to the case; it's just a matter of narrowing it down at this point."

  "Wait, so there's a copycat? I knew something was off!" Gwen looked around the room, catching the eyes of each person. "Why are Autumn and I the only ones shocked by this news?"

  "We couldn't tell you."

  Gwen veered back as if she had been slapped. "You guys already knew there was a copycat?"

  As he swore under his breath, Jensen rubbed his hands across his face before looking the woman in the eye. "Yes, but we were not at liberty to share the information. I wanted to. God, did I want to." He rolled his head back, a move Gwen knew was an attempt to stay calm.

  Too bad it didn't work for her. "You wanted to tell us? Would that line have worked for us when you guys found out about it?" Her eyes cut to Atticus. "Would it have worked the other night? Would it have kept us from getting out asses paddled or from being plugged?"

  "Gwendolyn."

  "Save your warning. I don't want it." She only got three steps toward the door before her wrist was clasped in an unrelenting grasp. Pissed, she spun on the culprit. "Let go."

  "Hear us out." Her only response was an attempt to escape his hold. "If I would have told you, I would have been arrested. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't."

  While she pulled her arm from his grasp, she huffed a laugh. "I'm pretty sure I said something like that right before the cold lube hit my ass."

  "This is different."

  "Different? Please explain, because I am having a hard time seeing the difference."

  "That's because all you're seeing right now is red." When his strong arms wrapped around her, she struggled. As she was contemplating the wisdom of kicking him in the shin, he said, "Be still, bellissima."

  She hated how the softly spoken phrase had her fight melting away. A simple endearment and she was a goner. "You fight dirty."

  "No, I just use every advantage at my disposal, and it just so happens that you're—"

  "Madly in love with me," she finished the familiar phrase. With a sigh, she turned in his arms, burying her face in his chest. "This isn't an issue that can be fixed with a band aid. I'm angry and hurt, and I don't see the difference between our two situations, other than you're not going to get a paddle taken to your ass."

  A kissed landed on the crown of her head. "I couldn't tell you. Atticus made it perfectly clear that if word of the copycat got out, it would end with us in jail."

  "I feel like I am missing something." Gwen let her eyes drop to the floor, afraid Atticus would read their secret in her eyes.

  "You three chose to keep something from us because you didn't trust us to help you without taking over or hearing you out." It was Autumn's turn to be gathered in her man's arms

  "You did take over. Ow." Her hand fell to her ass, rubbing the slight sting away.

  "The direct communication with him, yes, but every choice that is and will be made is made together." When a response wasn't forthcoming, Jensen tipped her head up with a knuckle under her chin. "Do you see the difference now? My eyes are up here."

  It took a few deep breaths, but Gwen was able to force her eyes to his, heat engulfing her face. "Yes, Sir, I understand. Just don't do it again."

  "I promise, if I ever discover a copycat arsonist again, I will tell you."

  "That's all I ask."

  When the laughter finally died down, Jensen took a seat, pulling her into his lap before he turned to Atticus. "I think we are ready now."

  "This copycat creates an entirely new level of danger. We can't leave the girls unprotected."

  When all he received were nods of agreement, he continued. "I have made arrangements for the girls to have a ride along. He's an undercover cop, and he starts next shift."

  Jensen looked around the room. "You didn't pull us in here just to tell us that. What is it?"

  "Our IT guys have found something."

  "What does that mean?"

  The officer's eye shot to Leland for only a second, but it was enough to raise the other man's suspicions. "What is it?"

  "They ran into a live feed."

  "Like the video the arsonist sent to the station?"

  "Not exactly."

  "Quit being cryptic and just tell us what the hell is going on?"

  "The feed was of Sierra's apartment. Real time."

  The sound of Leland's fist going through the drywall had Gwen jumping to her feet. "Leland?"

  "Fuck!" Leland shook his hand out to alleviate the pain. "Fuck!"

  Jensen slowly rounded the chairs. "Boisy, lock it down."

  "I'm good. I. My sister!"

  "Lock it down."

  "That's not it." When all eyes landed on him, Atticus continued. "It popped up so suddenly that I am pretty sure the guys were led to it."

  "Meaning?"

  "We believe that the original Hill City Arsonist led us to a feed that the copycat installed."

  "Why?" Gwen watched as Leland gathered her partner in his arms and buried his nose in her hair.

  "We don't think any of the recent 'arsonist' activity was the work of the original fire starter."

  "Which means the copycat is the bigger threat, at this moment."

  "Much bigger. It also means that someone close to the case is targeting you guys."

  She felt the color drain from her face as a chill took over her body. "Do you think Sierra's house is the only place he has cameras?"

  "We're not sure. She was the original reason we brought our guys in to your station, but this is beyond the computer hacking we thought it was." He looked to each person in the room. "We have men on standby, waiting for permission to search all of your places for cameras, including Liv and Kennly's."

  "Do it."

  As soon as the girls consented, Atticus pulled his phone from his pocket and left the room.

  "Gwen?" His voice pulled her from the idle study of the island's countertop.

  "I couldn't sleep."

  "Have you slept at all?"

  "No."

  "Do I need to pull you off the rig?" Ignoring the question, she took a long pull from her mug, the warm liquid chasing away the chill she hadn't realized had settled over her. "I'm worried about you." He silently took the seat next to her.

  "What if he's been in my apartment? I sleep there. That's where I dance in my underwear. Fuck, Jensen, I sing in the shower!" She knew she was being irrational, and those things should not be what she was worried about, but it was all she could think of. "I can't hold a tune to save my life."

  "Gwen."

  When he took her hand in his, she pulled away. "He violated my space. My home. Me!"

  She squealed when she was pulled from her seat and settled on his lap, her face automatically going to his neck. "We don't know if there are cameras yet."

  "You heard Atticus; there could be! What if there
are? I can't go stay with my parents like Sierra did."

  "If there are, then you will stay with me, but we don't know yet. There's no sense in borrowing trouble."

  A sob rocked her body. "There are two of them, Jensen. Two people targeting our shift, our people. Our friends. I can't lose another person. I can't."

  Chapter 16

  "I told you the calls were boring," Gwen called to the back of the rig as they pulled into the bay.

  "Do we go to all the arsonists' fires?"

  "We go to all the fires. It's a precaution." She climbed from the rig and plugged the vehicle in before turning to their undercover agent. "The best part of these calls, we don't have to restock the rig."

  "That was the arsonists', right?"

  "Won't know for sure until the fire marshal comes in and inspects, but it sounds like it." Dread gnawed at her.

  With a nod, he pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and headed for the door. "Smoke break. Don't leave the building."

  "Asshole."

  "Tell us what you really think of him." Laughter echoed off the walls.

  "What do you think of him?"

  With a shrug, Autumn headed for the great room. "I don't know if I would trust him with a patient, but I guess that isn't why he's here."

  "Thank God! I thought it was just me being difficult." Gwen slumped against the counter with a forced chuckle. "A patient would bleed out from a paper cut before he got the damn Band-Aid. I'll start the coffee."

  "Don't want to deal with your man without buttering him up first?"

  "Are you kidding?" Gwen questioned as she opened the cupboard. "I may have gotten a little short with him earlier so, yes, I am going to suck up as much as I can in order to save my ass."

  When she turned back to her friend, her heart stopped. "Autumn, what's wrong?" She followed her line of sight to the TV mounted in the corner. On the previously black screen, was the same dark silhouette as before. With a few quick steps, she was at her friend's side, clutching her hand and pulling her phone from her pocket.

  "Cell jammer, trying to call the guys will do no good."

  The computerized voice sent chills down her spine as a nagging warning went off in the back of her head. She made a show of setting the phone on the counter.

  "How did he know you were getting your phone?"

  "The bugs."

  "Now, girls, I am disappointed in you. Contrary to popular belief, planting bugs in places they have no business being is not one of my talents. However, I am going to use every avenue the copycat leaves for me, especially if it will help me keep you safe. I simply tapped into his feed; the rest was easy. I am a person of great capabilities."

  "What do you want?"

  "All I have ever asked from the Hill City FD is that you follow the rules. That, and the protection of you girls."

  "How can they protect us when you are manipulating them by distracting them with the fires?"

  "I haven't burnt since." The silhouette shook his head sadly. "These recent fires have not been mine, but I think you already know that, don't you?" When neither woman replied, he continued. "I started all of this to protect you girls. You are the treasures of the department, and this imposter is putting that in jeopardy."

  "Lies. You started this to feed your need to burn, like every other arsonist who has ever existed."

  "You are wrong, and unfortunately, you will know that sooner, rather than later. You see, a rule was broken today."

  "A rule?"

  "The most important one. Your protection. As a direct result of this lapse in judgement, one of you was hurt."

  "What did you do to Kennly?"

  "Now, Gwen, I'm disappointed in you. I would never hurt you girls."

  "What did you do to Kennly?" The demand was sharp, but she couldn't help it. Fear had settled into her gut and was threatening to take over.

  "Kennly is fine, Gwendolyn. I didn't hurt her. I would never hurt any of you. But since she didn't follow the rules, Sierra got hurt by someone else.

  "What did you do?"

  "Nothing, but I have these rules in place for a reason."

  "So you've said. Where is she?"

  "She is on her way, but you need to prepare yourselves and know that I tried to get her out of there, away from that… man. I tried so hard, but there was only so much I could do. Her taxi should be arriving at the station in just a few minutes. I—" Gwen watched as something out of frame caught his attention. "Someone is outside the station."

  "Our student ride along; he has a nasty habit."

  "No, I am turning off the jammer. Call the police."

  Autumn had her phone to her ear in a second. "Damn right, we have the fucking arsonist on a—"

  At first, Gwen thought it was a firecracker, but the reality of the situation set in as Autumn's weight collided with her, knocking the breath from her chest and taking the two of them to the ground behind the island. "No, no, no, no, no!" Gwen frantically searched the other woman for wounds. "Damnit, Autumn. I cannot do this again!"

  "I wasn't hit. I was just—"

  "We don't have time. He's leaving!" Gone was the calm and collected man from before; in his place was a frantic and, was that worry? "The jammer's disabled. Call the cops before he gets away!"

  Gwen picked up her phone and put in the necessary numbers before putting it on speaker and heading for the door.

  "911, what's your emergency?"

  "My name is Gwendolyn Carlson. I'm a paramedic at the Hill City Fire Department." She burst through the front door as a car peeled away from the curb, tires squealing in its wake. A yellow taxi pulled into the now vacant space. "We have shots fired outside the station. A dark SUV just left the scene. Send units."

  "Ma'am, I need you to slow down. I—"

  She took in the sight in front of her. A crying Sierra was gingerly climbing out of the taxi, but the wounded woman only held her attention for a second. It was the growing pool of dark, ugly red surrounding the crumpled form next to the building that had her dropping to her knees.

  He was dead. The hole in his forehead made that sickeningly clear.

  Chapter 17

  The sound of the door opening had everyone on their feet. "How is she?"

  "She's in pain, but she'll be fine." Autumn sighed heavily before dragging her eyes to meet his. "I need you to lock him down. She won't talk to anyone until she knows that Leland won't go off the handle."

  Jensen didn't have to look behind him to know that Zander was right on his heels. One of their brothers needed them, and they were damn well going to be there for him.

  He didn't know what he expected to see when they rounded the corner to Sierra's room, but it definitely was not the scene playing out in front of him. Kennly and Gwen stood side by side in the doorway, neither willing to give an inch and both giving the livid man standing before them a piece of their minds.

  "Jensen, thank fuck, tell your sub to get out of my way."

  "I can't do that, man." At the other man's roar of frustrations, he continued. "That's why."

  "She's my sister. She needs me."

  Liv walked out of the room, stepping up to Leland so they were nose to nose. "You're right; your sister needs her brother. She needs her strong, controlled, caring brother."

  "Then let me in!"

  "You are not any of those things right now."

  "A bear with a thorn in his paw." All eyes fell to the woman standing in the doorway behind Gwen and Kennly, her voice small and a bit pained.

  "Or an older brother denied his baby sister." All the anger that had been rolling off the man a few seconds ago visibly simmered just below the surface.

  Jensen stepped in front of his friend. "Take a walk. Go punch a wall, something. Take five minutes to get your shit together. We need to hear what she has to say, and she won't talk to anyone with you like this." With a quick nod of his head, Leland spun on his heels and walked away as he pulled his cell from his pocket.

  "You were told to stay i
n bed."

  "I'm fine." Sierra brushed off the concern with a wave of her hand.

  "We don't know how the pain medication is going to affect you, and until we do, you are to stay in bed."

  "You don't get to go all bossy with me, Liv."

  "Actually, when you're my patient, I get to do exactly that." When Liv's eyes fell to him, Jensen moved to do her bidding, but he only got a few paces before he was cut off by Zander.

  A small, startled cry passed Sierra's lips as she was swept off her feet. "Zander Allen, put me down."

  "I don't take orders from you."

  "And I don't take orders from you anymore, so put me down!"

  "When I am twice your size and you've been admitted to the hospital, you don't have much of a choice."

  Jensen had to turn away from the bickering pair to hide his smirk. In doing so, his eyes collided with Kennly's, her face unreadable.

  "How are you feeling?"

  "For the thousandth time, Liv, I feel fine."

  "Liar." Leland walked right up to his sister, pushing Zander from her side.

  He took the hint and walked back to Kennly, wrapping his arms around her middle as he sat in a chair and pulled her onto his lap, both content to sit on the sidelines.

  "Just got off the phone with Dad. I told him you were fine and not to worry, but you had an accident and you won't be home tonight."

  She flinched. "Lee, I—"

  "You were supposed to be staying with them while your place was swept for bugs."

  While she plucked at the necklace at her throat, she pleaded with her furious brother. "Please, Lee, you—"

  "You lied. Dad thought you were staying with me." He turned away, his eyes catching Jensen's as he raked both hands through his hair and headed for the door. Without a word, Jensen followed the other man into the hall. "She lied, Keetes. She never lies. Damn it!"

  The clattering of the chair as it bounced across the floor drew the attention of a few nurses. "He's fine." Jensen held up his hands, hoping to mollify the situation a little. "He's locking it down."

  "She fucking lied." They walked into a small, empty waiting room at the end of the hall.

  "Yeah, she lied, but that isn't what's important right now."