“I want forever with you, Erica. I want you living in my house, our rings on each other’s fingers, our children by our sides. I’ve wanted to marry you from the second I laid eyes on you.”
“Oh, Mike,” she squeaked out.
Her eyes filled with tears. He didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Fear locked him in place. It didn’t help when she rested her head against his shoulder, as if she couldn’t bear to look at him. That couldn’t be good news. Fine. They could weather this. They loved each other.
“I want all that too. I want to live my life. If we could get married right this second, I’d drag you down to Palm Springs and make an honest man of you.”
Love filled his heart. Reality crushed it. He cupped her cheek, gently forcing her to look at him. “We’ll do just that, sweetheart. We’re together now. That’s all that matters. The rest will fall into place. Keith won’t have a leg to stand on. We’ll find the best lawyer money can buy. Get a second mortgage on the house if—”
She pressed her fingers over his mouth. “I have to tell you something. It’s one of those big, big, big secrets that will change everything. I wanted to share it with you from the second I found out. Telling anyone… Well…” Tears trickled down her cheeks.
Was she sick? Dying? Damn, now he was starting to cry. He grabbed her hand in both of this. “God, honey, what is it?”
She swallowed hard, took a deep breath, then said, “I won that three-hundred-million-dollar jackpot.”
Okay, he was wide-awake, right? Not dreaming? “Wh-what?”
Erica pushed herself back a bit and stared into his eyes. “I couldn’t believe it. I told Keith I was divorcing him one day, and the next I was a lottery winner. My first instinct was to call you, but… I was so scared Keith would find out. If he did, he would have fought for his share. I wasn’t about to let him take another dime from me. I never would have gotten free. I put the ticket in the safe-deposit box.”
Mike still couldn’t wrap his head around this. One cold, hard fact chilled him to the bone. Keith did have financial gain to kill Erica. They were still legally married. With her dead, he’d be the heir to everything that was hers—including the contents of her safe-deposit box. The man was too clever not to realize she’d been secreting things away.
“I never signed the ticket, Mike.” Her words cut through the noise in his head. “I’m giving it to you. You sign it. Turn it in. Put it in safekeeping. Whatever. Keith can drag this divorce out until hell freezes over, but he will not get those lottery winnings.”
Now this was trust. Honest-to-God proof Erica was all in. It was quite the leap from her stance of just a few days ago. Mike didn’t question the reversal. He took it as the gift it was. Damn, but she made him feel like a real man. His chest puffed with pride, and fuck, he felt like beating his fists against it.
“God, I love you,” he said in a rush of breath. His cock hardened, ready to stake its own claim. “I will never destroy the faith you’ve placed in me. Never.”
He cupped her and kissed her hard and deep, just the way he intended to fuck her as soon as he could get her in bed. Her whimpered moan and the way she sagged into him urged him to hurry. Lips locked, he swept her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. He let go long enough to place her on the bed.
“You better get your clothes off fast, woman. I’m about to fuck the living daylights out of you,” he said as he started pulling off his uniform.
Erica gave him a deliciously naughty smile. “Or I you.” She tossed her clothes to the floor, beating his stripping by one sock.
Mike crawled between her spread legs. “I swear I’ll make it up to you, but if I don’t get inside you right now, I think I might die.” He stabbed his cock into her, right to the hilt. It wasn’t deep enough. It never would be.
Erica locked her legs around his waist, nestling her heels into his ass. “That’s right, hot stuff. Fuck me. Fuck me hard.”
He did. Hard and long. Coming with a furnace-like intensity that had him seeing red behind his closed eyes. Her kisses and the long sweeps of her hands down his back brought the fever down. He nipped at her lips while he eased from her body and slid his fingers into her pussy. Her breath caught when he circled her hard clit. She gripped his shoulders, nails biting into his skin. Orgasm trembled her body. He bathed her with kisses and caresses as she had him, until her fire cooled and she curled into his arms.
“I love you so much,” she whispered. “You’re mine, Mike Barnard. I promise to make an honest man of you the second I can.”
Chuckling, his cupped her ass and pulled them tight together. “We’re together. That’s all that matters. Our life starts now. We’ll be making those pretty babies before you know it.”
“After we’re married,” she added with a laugh. “Which will be exactly six months and one day from now. Because I’ll be damned if I let Keith drag out this divorce. He’s about to have a fight he’s never imagined.”
“Damn right.” He leaned in to kiss her again.
His phone had other ideas. Mike reluctantly rolled away to retrieve it from the depths of the clothing piled on the floor. Then he crawled back into bed.
“It’s CJ.” He hit speaker. “You’re on speaker, CJ.”
“It’s Sandy. Someone set her place on fire. Paramedics just took her and the man she was with to the hospital. We need you on scene.”
“On my way.” He ended the call as he jumped out of bed.
“I’m going to the hospital.” Erica was by his side, reaching for her clothes.
Mike wanted to clutch her to him, remind her there was a man out there ready to kill her. Smothering her, though, was out of the question. That wasn’t the type of person she was. Erica was trusting him with a fortune. The least he could do was trust her to be careful.
“I’ll worry,” he said.
Erica brushed her hand over his back. “As I do every time you go on a call.”
“Fair enough.”
“I will miss you the next three days,” she said as she dressed.
Damn, that was right. He started a three-day shift tomorrow. Plus, they were now down two firefighters, which meant sharing the workload until they could get some reserve firefighters in place.
“I’ll try to get back home tonight,” he said. It was only ten. The chances were good. And he really wanted to sleep in her arms tonight, to make up for the three nights he couldn’t. “No guarantees.”
“I understand. I’ll try not to be long at the hospital, just in case.”
“There’s a fireproof safe in the back of my bedroom closet.” He gave her the combination and had her repeat it back. “You can put the lottery ticket in there. If I can’t get back tonight, don’t hesitate to call or text.” Mike stopped short of demanding hourly check-ins. Trust. “Keep me up-to-date on anything you hear or learn. I’ll do the same for you.”
She snickered. “God. We’ve become the new Tim and Trish.”
He tied off his boot. “Everyone should be lucky enough to be in love with their best friend.”
“Aww.” Erica splayed her hand against her chest. “You’re going to leave me with the sweetest thoughts.”
“Nope.” He slipped his arm around her waist and anchored her to him. “I’m leaving you with this.” Mike kissed her, loving the way she melted against his body and hating that he might have to wait three days to melt into hers. He’d get home. That’s all there was to it. Even if only for an hour.
Chapter Fourteen
Erica had no right being at the hospital as far as the staff would be concerned. Only real family had rights to information on and access to patients. She wasn’t going to let that stop her. She marched up to the doors of the place like she owned it, like nothing was going to prevent her from seeing Sandy. Hell, she’d lie and say Sandy was her sister if that’s what it took to see her.
The automatic doors shushed open at her approach. She spied CJ, Bub, and Berto off to one side in uniform. She recognized
it as a show of muscle so the staff wouldn’t argue their need to see a fellow firefighter. They’d be her in. They motioned her toward them the moment she walked in, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that she was a part of their group.
“Any word?” she asked.
They formed a semicircle around her.
“She and the man she was with were admitted for smoke inhalation,” Bub said. “All we know at this point is that Sandy pulled him out of the burning house. Nurses are settling her, and then we can see her.”
“Mike’s at her house now,” she told them. “Any word on who the man is?”
“Not Keith.” Berto snorted. “Can’t imagine she’d save his ass.”
Hard to tell on that one. Sandy wouldn’t have wanted to go to jail for letting him die either.
“Gina said Sandy called him Clint. She was worried for his welfare.” CJ massaged his forehead. The man looked exhausted. “Smoke alarm woke her. She managed to get him out.”
It had to be the really great guy Sandy had mentioned. Erica liked to think it was good news that they were together. Any steps forward they might have made, however, were now thwarted by the attempt on their lives. Because Erica couldn’t see this was anything but attempted murder. With Sandy dead, there was no one to accuse Keith of rape.
“When I get my hands on that little bastard…” Bub curled his fingers into a white-knuckled fist.
“Could have been his freak of a sister,” Berto muttered.
“Or both,” CJ added, then jerked his chin toward the reception desk.
The nurse there wiggled her fingers, calling them forward. “You can go up now. Room 216.”
They were headed for the elevators when Detective Posner called out, “Wait up.”
Berto held the doors for him. “You get anything out of the sister?”
“No.” Posner didn’t sound happy about it either. He entered the elevator just as the doors closed. “We’re trying to get a warrant to search the car now. We didn’t want to tip our hand by letting her know we were on to her. We had to let her leave after she made her statement about her brother.”
The doors opened on the second floor. They got as far as the nurse’s station before they were blocked by a head nurse, who looked like she could bench press all four men. She matched them for height, basically topping out at approximately six feet. Arms crossed, she barred their passage like an African queen guarding diamonds. Her name tag said “Allen, Maude RN.”
“And where do you think you’re going?” she demanded to know.
“ER desk said we could see Sandy Freeman,” CJ replied, taking a hands-on-hips stance of his own.
“ER doesn’t run my ward,” Maude snapped back. “Visiting hours were over at eight. It’s eleven. Nobody sees Miss Freeman until the morning.”
Posner flashed his badge. “I do.”
Maude conceded the challenge and stepped aside to let him pass.
Posner cupped Erica’s elbow. “Come on. Another woman, a friend, will help her stay calm.”
Maude didn’t argue that either. “You three can take it back downstairs.” She jerked her arm toward the elevators.
CJ, Bub, and Berto didn’t have a choice. They went one way while Erica and Posner went the other.
“Thank you,” she whispered to him.
“No thanks necessary. I’m grateful you’re here.” He pushed the door open to Room 216.
Sandy was the only occupant inside. An IV ran into her left arm. Her right arm was draped over her eyes. Tears carved tracks in the smoke smudges still on her face. It pissed Erica off that no one had helped her clean up until she reminded herself their initial focus would have been elsewhere.
“Hey, Sandy.” Erica kept her voice soft as she stepped forward. Posner remained by the door.
Sandy dropped her arm. Her face screwed up into a sob. “He did this. You know he did this.”
“I know.” Erica sat beside her, picked up Sandy’s hand in hers.
Sandy grabbed hold. “Everything’s gone.”
“I know.” What more could she say? “I’ve moved out of the rental. You can stay there.”
More tears trickled to her chin. “So he can torch that too?”
Posner cleared his throat and edged forward.
Sandy shot him a glare. “I suppose you’re going to say I lied about this too.”
“No, ma’am.” He looked sufficiently humbled. “I want to catch this person as much as the rest of you and was hoping you could answer some questions for me.”
Her nod told him to continue, but she didn’t release Erica’s hand. If anything, her grip tightened.
“Please tell me what happened.” A simple request, gently given. Posner might not be so bad after all.
Sandy swallowed, then began. “My friend and I had fallen asleep. The smoke alarm woke me. The house was filled with smoke. I jumped up and dressed. Then realized Clint was unconscious. The smoke got to him fast. I wrapped him in the bedspread, threw his gear in with him, and dragged him out. I remember flames coming from the kitchen, I think. There was just so much smoke. I got him outside, as far as I could, and next thing I know, Gina’s standing over me, trying to get an oxygen mask over my face.”
Posner nodded as he scribbled the info on his notepad. “And your friend’s name?”
“Clint Clifford. He’s been admitted too. They tell me he’ll be all right.”
“Good.” He smiled. “I’ll get his statement in a few minutes. Anything else come to mind or strike you as odd?”
She shook her head.
“If it does, give me a call.” He handed her his business card. Sandy relinquished Erica’s hand to take it. “If I have any more questions—”
“I won’t be here,” she said. “And considering the leaks in your department that brought reporters to Erica’s door yesterday, you don’t get to know where I’m going or my phone number.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He bowed his head. “I’ll leave the two of you alone. I want to talk to your friend.” He started for the door.
Sandy snapped forward. “He doesn’t get to know I’m leaving either. Got it?”
“Understood.” Though he didn’t look happy about it. He left the room.
She eased back into the pillows. “I need a favor from you, Erica.”
Erica wanted to say anything but hesitated. No telling what Sandy was about to ask of her. “What is it?”
“My purse is in the bottom of that stand.” She motioned to the nightstand beside her. “I managed to grab it with my go bag.” Every firefighter Erica knew had an exit plan and a duffel bag with necessities and a change of clothes a grab away. “Get my keys and bring my car here. I’m leaving first thing in the morning.”
“I’ll be glad to get your car here if you’re sure that’s what you want to do.” The men would help her with the task.
“I’m sure. I can’t stay here. Not after all this,” she said.
“Is that fair to your friend, Sandy? Clearly the two of you had made some—”
“It’s over and done with, and that’s all I’m going to say on the subject. How do I know Keith won’t walk through that door”—she jerked her head—“and finish me off in my sleep? Hell, I’d leave tonight if I could. I’d check myself out and get the hell out of here.”
Erica knew how she felt. Knew the fear that paralyzed her. “But you won’t, right? You’ll wait until daylight?”
She snickered. “I’m desperate, not stupid. Right now, I feel like shit. Besides, it’s hard to spot someone following you in the dark. Waiting until morning is my best option.”
Thank goodness she was thinking clearly. “Where are you going to go?”
“My parents in San Diego. If Posner needs to reach me, he can go through you.”
Fair enough. “CJ, Bub, and Berto are downstairs. We’ll get your car here. I’ll leave your car keys with the nurse on duty. Will you text me in the morning to let me know you’re on your way?”
A single nod was he
r answer. “I’ll need your number.”
Erica pulled her notepad from her purse, wrote it down, and put the paper in Sandy’s purse. “Here you go. You get some rest.”
“I’ll rest when Keith Randall is dead and in the ground.” Hate spewed with every word spoken. Erica knew that feeling well.
“You should stay here with me,” Sandy said. “He could be watching right now, waiting for his chance. He’ll follow you, know where you are.”
Erica took her hand again. “Chances are he already knows. And as long as Maude Allen is on duty, no one is coming off that elevator who doesn’t belong.”
“You’re right.” Fresh tears accompanied Sandy’s resigned sigh. “I’m being a crazy person.”
Keith could do that to a person.
“Rest.” Erica gave her hand another squeeze, then left.
Maude was going through the charts behind the desk. Her eyebrow lifted at Erica’s approach.
“I’ll be returning soon with the key to Miss Freeman’s car.” She held up the key ring. “She asked me to bring it to the hospital. When I come back, it might be a good idea for you to hold on to them for her until morning.” Just in case Sandy’s fear got the better of her common sense.
Maude lifted her pointy chin. “Heard you loud and clear. We’ll take good care of her. No one steps off that elevator without me knowing. I’ll make sure she knows it.”
“Thank you.” Knowing you were safe and feeling you were safe were two different things. At the moment, Erica’s fear and common sense waged a battle of their own.
The men snapped to their feet when the elevator opened on the ground floor. Erica hurried their way. “Sandy asked me to bring her car to the hospital. I need one of you to follow me home, then take me to her place.”
“I’ll do it,” CJ said.
“We’ll all go together,” Bub said. “You can fill us in.”
She waited until they were in CJ’s truck to tell them what little she knew. None of them questioned Sandy’s decision to leave. They arrived at what remained of Sandy’s house to find the place swarming with people—neighbors, reporters, the deputies who kept them at bay, and the investigators trying to find clues. Klieg lights pointed toward the scene turned night into day. Erica wondered how long it would take to have the neighbors file complaints against the fire department and sheriff’s office. Mike stood out among the crowd. His height gave him an advantage.
Wrapped in Flame Page 16