Carter's Flame
Page 28
We all laughed, and I felt lighter than I ever had. Even with the shadow overhanging Rescue Four. Corey still hadn’t adjusted to his new life, even though he had been discharged from the hospital and was in a rehabilitation facility ― one of the best in the city, since an anonymous donor provided the financial means he would need to get back on his feet. And we still didn’t know who or even if there really was someone after Rescue Four. No more incidents had occurred in our day-to-day calls. Even still, I was relentless in ensuring Diego and Michelle were safe, hiring discrete security guards to keep an eye over both of them, at Diego’s school and at Michelle’s work. Neither one of them knew about that and I planned to keep it that way. Gabriel was out of the picture. He was tied up in a very messy divorce, blacklisted in the Williamsport legal world, and for all intents and purposes a non-factor, but I still kept tabs on him just to make sure. Nothing was going to touch my new family.
“Who the hell is that?”
I looked up from a giggling Michelle to where Don’s head was turned, and squinted.
“I’ll be damned,” I uttered.
Walking across the Williamsport City Park in our direction was a tall figure I was very familiar with. With his darkly bronzed skin, dark hair, and dark glasses, I couldn’t see his eyes but I was sure they held some mischief.
“’Sup boys!” he called as he moved closer.
“Emanuel? The hell are you doing way across town? Your squad’s not participating in the picnic this year,” Sean stated, slapping fives with Emanuel.
“You didn’t get the news?” he questioned, looking around. “Captain didn’t tell you?”
We all looked toward Captain Waverly who’d been too preoccupied with his date to notice Emanuel’s arrival.
“Oh, Emanuel. I thought you weren’t arriving until next week. Anyway, Rescue Four, say hello to our newest squad member, Emanuel Allende.”
“Oh my,” a woman behind me whispered.
I grinned. He still had that effect on women.
“That’s right. The brass finally decided to send a real man over to Rescue Four. Show you clowns how it’s done.”
“Fuck you, Allende!” Don yelled, causing most of us to laugh.
“Watch your mouth in front of Diego!” I told Don.
“What’s up, dare devil?” Emanuel greeted, holding out his hand to me.
My grin widened as I clasped his hand and pulled him in for an embrace. I leaned over in his ear so only he could hear me, “Suck my cock for that quip about my squad.” I pulled back. “Maybe we can make a real firefighter out of you yet, Havoc,” I finished. “Let me introduce you to my fiancée, Michelle.” I wrapped my arm around Michelle. “And this little guy …” I rested a hand on Diego’s shoulder, “is my son, Diego.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Michelle and Diego,” Emanuel greeted.
“Welcome to Rescue Four.”
I watched as Emanuel looked around, grinning at the women who’d come out for the picnic. “I think I’m going to like it over here just fine.”
I chuckled and then took Michelle into my arms as Emanuel sauntered off to meet the rest of the squad.
“Dare devil? Havoc?” Michelle inquired.
“Nicknames … from our army days together.”
She looked over her shoulder toward Emanuel and then back to me. “You two used to get in a lot of trouble together, didn’t you?”
“I’ll never tell, sugar.”
“As long as you’re not up to your old tricks.”
I shook my head. “Never. The only trouble I’m getting in these days is with you … and Diego.” I laughed as I bent down to pick Diego up on my shoulders.
“Thank you for coming to my rescue all those months ago. And everyday since,” Michelle said just above a whisper, as she stared me in the eyes. She pressed a kiss to my awaiting lips. “I love you.”
“Love you more. You’re my flame. My heart. And my love.” I kissed her again and ran my thumb along her bottom lip. Nothing else mattered but this.
The End
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More books by Tiffany Patterson
The Black Burles Series
Black Pearl
Black Dahlia
Black Butterfly
Forever Series
7 Degrees of Alpha (Collection)
Forever
Safe Space Series
Safe Space (Book 1)
Safe Space (Book 2)
Rescue Four Series
Eric’s Inferno
Non-Series Titles
This is Where I Sleep
My Storm
Something Special