Trial by Fire (Southern Heat Book 4)

by Jamie Garrett

  “Why?” Meg’s lips were pursed, her eyes narrowed. She wasn’t buying this for a second, but Maya still had to try.

  “I left something at the motel yesterday. Something important. I’ll be there and back, I promise. The sun’s still up and it’s only fifteen minutes away.” Crap, Meg was starting to shake her head. “Please. I’ll keep my phone on me the whole time. Plus, I won’t tell Seth or Liam if you don’t.” There you go. Appealing to Meg’s inner four-year-old was the trick. Maya hoped one day she could be as happy and carefree as Meg was, but for now she’d take getting those papers back.

  “Okay,” Meg said. She picked a set of keys off the hook by the door and tossed them to Maya. “It’s the blue sedan out front. But give me your cell number, just in case, and bring back donuts.”

  Maya laughed. “Your wish is my command.” She scribbled the number on a piece of paper, grabbed the keys and left.

  Twenty-five minutes and three wrong turns later, she finally turned into the motel’s parking lot. She was going to have to start using her own car. Apparently, her mind had been elsewhere the vast majority of times Seth had driven them through the town. Either that or the view was different from up in his monster-sized truck than Meg’s sedan. The sun was setting as she parked the car and opened the door, and the coolness in the air as she stepped out into the lot made Maya shiver. She pulled her sweater around her shoulders, glancing around. The lot was empty. No large, expensive sedans lurking in the corner today. She was alone. She stepped quickly to her room, grasping the door key between her fingers, out in front of her like a weapon. A short, stubby, blunt weapon. She rolled her eyes. It’d do. She’d be in and out in five and back on her way to Promise House, laughing at the fact she’d let the windy lot of an old, run-down motel scare her.

  Her room was dark, which made sense. There was no one home.

  Idiot.

  Maya shook her head, took a deep breath, and then slid the key into the lock and pushed the door open, stepping inside. There. No ax-wielding maniac or gangsters with tommy guns jumped out at her. The papers she needed were sitting right where she remembered leaving them, the room’s porch light illuminating just enough that she could see them. She stepped over to the other side of the room. She’d grab them and be out of there. She didn’t even need to stop and fumble for the light switch. One step, two steps, and there she was. Her hands closed around the folded paper and a sigh of relief left her lungs.

  Until an arm wrapped roughly around her chest, pulling her off balance, and a large, cold hand clamped over her mouth, cutting off her breath before she could scream.

  25

  Seth

  Seth tumbled out of the truck and dumped his gear. It was a relief to leave the heavy turnout gear behind and the chow table was definitely calling his name. Someone in the universe must have decided tonight was the night to be annoying, and, well, just piss him off. He had to get his head in the game. He hadn’t liked leaving Maya that morning; actually, he’d fucking hated it, but if they were going to give this thing a shot, then it was something he was going to have to get used to. Besides, she was at Meg’s and as far as he knew, Liam wasn’t working that night. She was safe, completely fine.

  He, on the other hand, was about to murder the next teenager he came across. He shook his head, a wry grin on his face. He was getting old. It didn’t seem like that many years ago he was begging his old man to let him borrow the car to take a girl out to the movies—and more that he wasn’t exactly upfront about. A chuckle escaped him. That was the crux of it. He supposed he couldn’t get too cranky at the teen from the second rogue fire alarm callout of the night. It had been blindingly obvious to everyone except her father that she’d been holed up smoking a cigarette and accidentally set the alarm off. He remembered her wide-eyed stare at the scene. There was no way she was going to give that up, even with six firefighters giving her the side-eye. At least she was only experimenting with tobacco.

  The complete idiots who’d left a fire smoldering in the grounds of Hill Haven Cemetery, on the other hand, they’d better quickly turn the other way if they ever saw a firefighter heading their way. Seth kicked off his boot and dropped it on the floor, puffing out a breath. Not that he had any clue who the morons were. They were long gone by the time the company had gotten the call to go check out suspicious smoke near one of the crypts. Nothing was damaged except a bit of grass, but he could already guess at the rumors that’d be swirling through the town by the next morning. Everything from devil worshiping to trying to raise the dead. Most likely it had been a small group just screwing around and things had gotten out of hand. He stood, stretching. That didn’t make the third nuisance callout in one shift any less of a pain in the ass. He headed toward the kitchen. He was starving. At least they’d made it back to the station in time to grab a quick meal before the inevitable rush-hour calls came in.

  His cell rang as he was heading up the stairs and he pulled it out to answer without stopping. If he didn’t get to the kitchen before Matt did, they could all be in trouble. He smiled at the number on his screen—Meg. The girls had probably been too busy gossiping all day to call, but it would be nice to hear from Maya now. He’d ask Meg to pass the phone over once they were done chatting. “Meg, hi. How’d the day go?”

  There was a short silence before she spoke. “Umm, Seth. Everything okay there?”

  Seth frowned. He didn’t like the way this conversation seemed to be going. “It’s fine. A few of the usual hiccups but nothing that’s a problem. Why?”

  Meg huffed out a breath so loudly he heard it down the phone and then it all came tumbling out. “Seth, she borrowed my car. I wasn’t sure I should let her leave, but hey, she’s not a prisoner, and she said she’d only be fifteen minutes, but that was nearly an hour ago and now it’s properly dark, and the car isn’t back and she won’t answer her cell and Liam’s still at HQ, and oh God, what if something’s happened and she’s lying in a ditch somewhere and—”

  “Meg, slow down. Meg!” Seth raised his voice a little. He hated speaking to his friend like that, but he had a feeling nothing else was going to get Meg’s attention right now. At the second sound of her name, Meg stopped talking and Seth spoke again, quieter this time—the way you’d speak to a spooked animal. Whatever was going on with Meg, something had gotten under her skin. “Slow down, Sweetheart. Just tell me what’s going on.”

  A small hiccup, then, “Okay.” Another breath. “We’d just gotten dinner in the oven and I asked Maya how her brother’s case was doing. She went to grab her research, but . . . I don’t know, I think she noticed something was missing. She asked to borrow my car to go pick it up.”

  A small shiver went through Seth, but he kept his voice level. “Any idea where she was going?”

  “She said to the motel,” Meg replied. “It was still light out, and it isn’t that far away, but now she’s not back. Oh, God, Seth—what’s going on?”

  He turned on the stairs, sprinting into the locker room and grabbing his truck’s keys, ignoring Conner’s stunned look as he nearly ran into him the hallway. Slowing down to a fast walk, he paced to Mason’s office with the phone still clamped to his ear. “Meg, listen to me. I’m going to go to the motel now and check up on her. Do you have someone with you there?”

  “Not yet, but Liam should be home soon. He had to head into HQ today, but he said he should be back for dinner.”

  “Okay. You just sit tight, and if either Liam or Maya come back or you hear from either one of them, you call me. Okay?”

  “Okay. You stay safe, Seth, and keep her safe as well, you hear? You need her.”

  He smiled grimly. “You’ve got that right. Talk to you soon, Meg.” He pressed to end the call just as he swung around the corner into Mason’s office. He rapped on the glass and stepped in without pausing. His captain would just have to forgive him this once. “Mason, I’ve gotta go. There’s an emergency.”

  Mason’s head shot up from his paperwork, his eyebrows furr
owing with concern. “What’s up, Hale? I didn’t hear any callouts.”

  Seth shook his head. “This one’s personal. Meg just called. Maya left Promise House over an hour ago on a fifteen-minute errand. She’s not back yet and she’s not answering her cell.” His hand wrapped around his keys, tightening. “I need to go find her, make sure she’s okay and there hasn’t been an accident.”

  Mason stood and strode to the front desk. He picked up the radio. “Dispatch, this is Captain Rawlings from Company 81 in Monroe. Any callouts registered tonight to a blue Chrysler sedan?”

  The scratchy voice came back after a few seconds. “Nothing tonight, Mason. Want me to put the call out to other counties?”

  Mason pressed the radio button down to reply. “Negative, Dispatch. Thanks for checking.” He turned to Seth. “I’ll cover you, but you call the second you know what’s up. I want you both back here in one piece. Understood?”

  Seth nodded and clapped Mason on the shoulder. “Understood, and thank you.” He turned and ran out the door. Within two minutes, he was behind the wheel of his truck and roared it out of his parking spot outside the firehouse. He slowed down, barely, once he hit the highway, his fingers tapping the steering wheel. He wanted to be there now—screw the speed limit—but if he got pulled over for speeding, he’d just be delayed further. Plus he didn’t think Scott would appreciate a call asking him to come bail Seth out after he blew past highway patrol. He hadn’t found the time yet to fill his friend in, and Scott would be pissed to hear something had gone down and he hadn’t been able to help.

  Ten minutes later, as he pulled into the motel’s parking lot, Seth looked skyward and offered a small word of thanks to anyone who was listening. He’d made it there under time without being stopped for a single red light. Now he just had to find Maya. There! Meg’s car was pulled in outside her room. It was parked neatly, pulled straight into the space. He looked around. A few other patrons were coming and going as the evening blew in, but there was nothing that looked out of the ordinary. He strained his ears—no weird sounds, either. Seth stepped toward Maya’s room. There was a light on inside, but he couldn’t see anyone moving. He raised his hand to knock, paused, and then dropped it again. He’d try the door first, gently. If it opened, then he was going in. If not, well, he could only hope that if anyone was inside who shouldn’t be, they weren’t looking at the door handle that second. No sense in giving himself away with a knock if he didn’t have to. He placed his ear to the door, leaning forward silently. Nothing. In a fluid move, he grabbed the door handle and twisted it open, pushing inside.

  Inside the room, his brain took a second to catch up with what he saw. Maya! She was sitting on the bed, eyes and face wet from tears, but thank God, she was there! He rushed over, cupping her face in his hands and just staring at her for a few seconds, before his training kicked into gear and he ran his hands over her, checking for blood or injuries. “Sweetheart, what’s going on? Are you okay?”

  Before she could answer, a scuffling noise from across the room reached his ears. His heart, which had began to calm down when he’d spotted Maya, kicked back into high gear, pounding in his chest. A large shadow pushed up off the wall and stepped forward. Seth turned toward it, pushing Maya behind him. The shadow took another step and Seth risked looking away for one second, counting the steps to the door. Three, if he dragged Maya with him. Could they make it? Another step. “Who the hell are you?” he asked. His hand grabbed Maya’s wrist and he started to move.

  Something kicked into his leg from behind and he held onto Maya tighter, refusing to let go. That only earned him a clip to the back of his head. “Seth! Let me go. He won’t hurt me.”

  He turned, looking at Maya, but keeping one side of his body facing the stranger. He’d stopped moving, but was close enough that Seth could see he was a dude. A big dude, but not threatening them—for now.

  Tears still ran down Maya’s face in rivers, but she was smiling, even though her face twisted briefly into a scowl when he met her eyes. Her lips pressed tight and she gripped his hand in hers. Maya opened her mouth, but nothing came out, and she placed a hand on her chest, hiccupping.

  The giant took another step toward them and Seth moved to grab Maya again, but she stepped out of his reach. “It’s okay, Maya,” the giant said. “You can tell him.”

  Maya turned to him, her eyes bright despite the tears. “Seth . . . my God, I still can’t believe it.” She took a big breath and exhaled shakily, her whole body trembling. “Seth, I’d like you to meet Jesse. My brother.”

  26

  Maya

  Maya looked over at Seth, her forehead creased in worry. He’d been alternating between muttering and pacing for the last several minutes, stopping every now and then to look at her and then Jesse. She got looks of love, bewilderment, and support. Jesse, on the other hand, Seth glared at him like he’d murder her brother all over again himself. She stood and walked over to him, stopping his latest trip around the motel room’s already threadbare carpet. “Seth, it’s okay. I’m okay. We’ll figure out the rest.”

  He turned, taking her offered hand, and let her lead him to the bed. She looked over at Jesse, who took the hint and pulled up a chair close by.

  Maya watched them both, her mind barely able to believe it. Two of the most important men in her life: one she’d known since she was born and one she’d fallen in love with after one of the most intense weeks of her existence. Right now, it was better to just go with it. She’d process it all later when she was alone. She frowned. Not that she’d be getting even a second of alone time anytime soon. It was obvious that neither man fully trusted the other.

  She wondered if they were aware they were both looking at her in the exact same way. That intense, protective look. The one that said they’d step in front of a bullet for her. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

  The last half hour had rocked her entire world—again—and yet a large piece had settled back into place. A piece that had been missing. Until the arm holding her had moved to spin her around, the hand still over her mouth to stop her scream, Maya had thought she was getting over Jesse’s death, that she was learning to live without him. Now, it was as if everything was right with the world again. But at the same time, she was terrified he was going to be taken from her again. Things were far from over, and that scared the hell out of her.

  “So, Jesse,” Seth said. “Where the hell have you been for the last six months?” His voice was steady, but it wasn’t exactly calm. Seth was holding it together strictly for her at this point, and the thought swelled her heart just a little more.

  Jesse leaned forward, steepling his fingers. “Playing dead mostly,” he quipped, frowning when his attempt at a joke fell flat. He turned to her. “Maya, I’m so sorry I had to put you through all this. Mom and Dad, too.”

  She was torn. Having Jesse back in her life was a miracle, something she’d never even considered a possibility. At the same time, an anger rose inside her. It felt all weird and wrong. Why the hell was she mad at him? Her brain told her that Jesse had to have a good reason. There was no way he would have gone through with any of this without a damn good one. And yet, her heart was still holding back something, a little piece of the pain and the hurt he’d put the family—put her—through the past six months. She took in a shaky breath. It was like the seven stages of grief in reverse. She should be thrilled to see him, utterly ecstatic. Instead, she found herself sitting quietly at Seth’s side, nursing his hand in hers. Things with Seth might be new, but she could trust him; her heart was comfortable with him. Jesse’s sudden reappearance had shaken her to her core, and she had a feeling the ride wasn’t over yet.

  “How are they?” he asked. “Are they okay?”

  “Okay? Of course they’re not okay!” Maya pushed to her feet and her voice rose. She snapped her mouth shut, forcing herself to sit back down. She looked over at Jesse, finally making eye contact. His blue eyes had lost the warmness she remembered from their c
hildhood. Now they were just sad. Her voice quieted. “They didn’t do well, Jesse. I’m not sure Mom will ever be the same, but at least she shows her emotions. Dad hides it, and himself, away. He doesn’t talk much anymore, to me and Mom, or anyone, really.” A pained expression crossed Jesse’s face. Maya studied him. Lines that weren’t there six months ago crinkled at the corner of his eyes and the light stubble on his chin was peppered with a few flecks of gray. Whatever had happened in the months Jesse had been missing, it had aged him beyond his time.

  “I thought they’d kill you, too,” he said, his voice low. He shifted, his hands flexing into fits and then unfurling again. “I knew someone was watching me. Something had been off for a long time.” He looked up, first at her and then kept his eyes on Seth as he spoke again. “I’m a good agent. I knew what I was doing. I’m also not stupid. Someone was trying to sabotage the case, and they didn’t care who they had to hurt or kill to do it. I just didn’t know who until I saw him staring at me across the room.” He twitched again and Maya resisted the urge to move next to him. Her heart wasn’t quite ready yet, but to see her confident older brother like this, scanning the room every few seconds, insisting that she use only the one small light . . . It broke her heart. “Bill Miller,” he said. “He was the one.”

  Maya’s body went cold. Why, she didn’t know. They’d already known, or at least had strong suspicions. But somehow hearing it from her brother’s mouth, it was still as scary as hell.

  Seth’s hand gripped hers a little tighter and he nodded at Jesse. “Your SAC.”

  Jesse’s eyes widened. “How do you know his name?” He stood, closing the gap between him and Maya. “You’ve seen him? He’s talked to you? God! I shouldn’t have stayed away all this time. What if—”