Fire Dancer [Dr. Love Shark 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More)

by Bobbi Brattz

  He was sure she didn’t like him, though he had no idea why. When they pulled up at her house, he waited while she got out and tried to say something to her, but nothing came out, even though his jaw worked. As she climbed the steps out front of her house, he watched her hips sway, his libido going full tilt. The figure on her was perfection in his eyes, her rounded hips, narrow waist, and those breasts—she was perfection, and he couldn’t have her. Swearing again, he sped away, his tires squealing on the tarmac.

  * * * *

  Layla wiped the tears from her cheeks as she watched Van’s car disappear down the street. She was sure he hated her, though she didn’t know why. She’d always been shy around him, but tonight she was mortified that he couldn’t stand being next to her. His musky scent drove her to distraction when he was near. During the fire dance, she had to struggle to avoid looking at him for fear she’d drop a torch, or worse. He was a definite distraction.

  His impressive height made her nervous when she was near him. She loved the way his light-brown hair curled, though the style was short. The muscles on his body appeared to be hard and firm, though she’d never seen his chest naked. He was always dressed in a shirt and shorts, conservatively. She could tell he was fit because of his wide shoulders and narrow waist. It was hard not to drool over him. Layla was simply afraid of men. That was why she avoided them like the plague. It was too dangerous to get close for fear of getting burned again.

  When she walked to the door, she found a long box lying in front of it. Unlocking the door, she picked up the box and carried it in, opening the lid then gasping in surprise. There were a dozen rose stalks but the roses were missing, the thorns sticking out as though waiting to prick her.

  “Strange,” she said, shivers of dread crawling up her spine. The small card rested on top of them. When she opened it, she felt like screaming.

  Instead of calling the police, she placed the lid back on and took the box and left it on the kitchen table. Suddenly, she felt exposed and watched. She was sure someone was staring at her. She made sure to lock the door behind her. Breathless with fear, she began checking all the doors and windows, ensuring they were locked and the curtains drawn. One window showed that someone had tried to break in and failed. Chips of wood lay strewn on the sill outside.

  Kona wouldn’t be home until the wee hours of the morning, if at all. He usually had a woman or two on his arm for the night. They were drawn to him like flies to honey. Seldom did he come home on luau night.

  Shivering with fear, she curled up on her bed, holding a pillow in front of her. Unable to relax, she called the only person she knew who would talk her through her fear.

  “Hello, Rae?”

  “Hi, Layla. What’s going on? You sound upset.”

  “It’s happened again, but this time it was flowers. Well, just the stems of them with a note. I’m so afraid he’ll come when Kona’s not here.”

  “Why don’t you call the police? Van can⎯“

  “Van doesn’t even know I exist. He barely looks at me. I can’t call him, and the police can’t do a thing. The note was anonymous. I threw it out.”

  “You have to keep it and the flowers, Layla. They are evidence. What did the note say?”

  “It said, ‘I’m coming for you soon.’”

  “Do you want me to come and stay with you?”

  “No. No thanks. I don’t want to get you involved. I just needed to hear a friendly voice. I’m okay, really. Will you just talk to me a while? I’d prefer you didn’t tell Mateo or Van.”

  “Layla, it’s important that you tell the police. This is getting serious. First he sent the book, and now this.”

  “The book could have been from someone else. After all, it was only marked up.”

  “Marked up? Girlfriend, you’ve got to be kidding. Don’t you remember the highlighted words added up to create a threat? At least let me tell Mateo. I’m worried about you.”

  “Please, don’t. What I want to know is why this is happening.”

  “He’s a stalker, Layla. The man’s obviously dangerous.”

  Something outside banged, scaring the daylights out of Layla. When she jumped, she cried out, panic snaking through her veins.

  “What happened?” Rae asked, her voice full of concern.

  “Nothing. It was just a noise outside. I’m fine.”

  “I’m coming over.”

  “No, Rae. You’re still a newlywed and I’m not taking away your time with Mateo. Please understand. I don’t want to interfere with your marriage. I know how possessive he can be.”

  Rae laughed. “Possessive? That’s not as true as him being overprotective, but I’m not a prisoner here, and I can do what I want. That means when you need a friend, I’m here.”

  “Thanks for that, but I’m fine. I just needed someone to listen. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  “Layla, please listen to reason.”

  Layla interrupted her. “I have to go now. Chat tomorrow. Good night, Rae.”

  After placing the phone on its cradle, she tried to stop shaking. She didn’t want Rae to worry about her, as she wasn’t sure if the flowers or the book were a threat, but she was damned scared. It still felt like someone was watching her, so she pulled the blinds on each window then went to the kitchen for a snack. Seldom did she stay at the luau for dinner.

  Once she’d eaten, she headed to her room to read a book in bed until she was tired enough to sleep. When she finally dozed off, it was to a series of nightmares that kept her waking up all hours of the night. She was sure then that there was danger, and she was right in the middle of it.

  Chapter Two:

  Burnt Offerings

  Something woke Layla up in the middle of the night. She coughed, her throat raw as she raised her head from the pillow. It almost sounded like it was raining hard, but different. Exhausted from lack of sleep, she sat up slowly and reached for the bedside lamp.

  “Oh, my God!” she cried, choking. She threw herself on the floor and grabbed for the phone, dialing 911.

  “Help! My house is on fire.”

  Dropping the phone after giving the operator her address, she called out, “Kona? Kona, are you there?” Tears flowed down her cheeks as she opened the door. She couldn’t see his door for the flames. Choking and coughing, she shouted, “Kona?” Her throat was hoarse from the smoke. When she realized she couldn’t get to him, she turned and slammed the door shut, then fell to her knees by the bed.

  Layla grabbed her blanket and covered herself from head to toe as she crawled to the patio door. Thick black smoke followed her as she made her way, reaching for the lock. It took precious seconds for her to open it. Before she could get out, there was an explosion in the house. Flames danced at the base of the door, licking along the panel and following the carpet.

  When she was finally able to get out, she closed the door behind her and covered herself up, naked under the blanket. Tripping over something, she cried out as she dropped to the deck but kept on going. Sirens sounding in the distance, she moved toward the street and watched as the house became fully engulfed.

  She rushed over to Kona’s bedroom window and banged on the glass. He didn’t answer. Fear crawled along her spine as she wondered if he were home, perhaps a victim of the very tool they used in their dances.

  When she moved away from the window, it shattered, black smoke and fire reaching out to her with macabre fingers. She screamed, fearing the worst for her brother.

  Crying out, she realized that the neighboring houses could catch fast, the dry weather making them susceptible to the fire. She did the best she could to run, the blanket slowing her down. Banging on one door, she roused her next door neighbor’s on one side then did the same for the other. Sirens blared as the fire trucks arrived. It only took a short time because the station was just down the street, but it was too late. Flames danced in each of the windows as she watched in horror.

  “Layla?” shouted a firefighter.

  “Yes? I’m he
re.”

  It was Logan Graham, a man she’d gone to high school with. He raced over to her.

  “Is Kona inside?”

  “Oh, God, Logan! I don’t know if he came home or not. I couldn’t get to his room. Let’s check the garage for his car.”

  Since they shared the house, they shared the car as well. She watched with her heart in her throat as the garage door swung upward, relief filling her when she saw it was empty, but for the thick black billowing clouds of smoke.

  “Do you want to call him? Take my cell phone. I’ll be back in a bit to check on you.”

  “Thank you. I don’t know what happened. I was asleep and barely made it out.”

  She began to tremble as reaction set in. An ambulance pulled up as she dialed Kona’s cell number. She figured he was still at the resort, though it was three o’clock in the morning. He seldom came home on luau night because of the women who swarmed him after the show. Always, he had the pick of the litter and spent the night in the arms of one of them or more. The phone went directly to his voice mail. He’d probably turned it off.

  Next, she called Mateo.

  “Hello?” Mateo said, sounding groggy.

  “It’s Layla. I’m in trouble and need to find Kona.”

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, sounding wide awake now.

  “The house is on fire⎯it’s gone, Mateo, all of it.”

  “I’m coming to get you. I’ll find Kona. He’s not in the house.”

  Once he’d hung up, she watched in horror as the roof fell in, flames leaping toward the other homes. The firefighters tackled the home on the right of her house, stopping them. Tears washed down her cheeks as she watched everything she owned devoured.

  Logan walked over to her. “Layla, I found this on the back of the deck by your patio door.” He handed her a white gift box tied with a big red ribbon. The note on top of it was blackened but safe.

  “It’s not a good time for this. I’ll open it later.”

  The ambulance pulled up, and a paramedic spoke to one of the firefighters. She made her way over to Layla, who was still coughing.

  After handing the cell back to Logan, she walked with the woman over to the back of the ambulance to be checked out.

  “You took a lot of smoke in. We’ll have to take you to the hospital to get you checked out. In the meantime, I’ll give you some oxygen. Are you burned at all?”

  “No, I’m fine. Thanks.”

  “I know you. I’m Alison. You did a fire dance for my family a few years ago.”

  “Oh, hi. I don’t mingle too much with the guests at functions.”

  “I know. Kona sure does though,” she said, her eyes aglow as she met Layla’s gaze.

  “I’m sure he does,” she agreed, knowing what a reputation her brother had.

  “We’re going to head to the hospital now.”

  Removing the mask a moment, Layla said, “Mateo Mann is coming to get me if he can’t find Kona. Can we wait for a bit?”

  “As long as you feel okay. Keep the mask on, though.”

  “Thanks.” Her lungs burning, Layla watched the flames as they challenged the firefighters. Everything was gone but for the large white giftbox, decorated with a simple blood-red ribbon. A note was attached. That’s what I tripped over. She opened the missive and gasped. Her stomach clenched as fear set in as she read those three words.

  Come to me.

  That was all it said, but the writing was the same as the last note. With shaky hands, she opened the box and found it contained skimpy, sexy lingerie. The fire-red lace was reflected by the flames. Crying out, she dropped it into the box and shoved it aside.

  Van pulled up in a cruiser, rushing over to her.

  “Are you all right?” he asked, his gaze sliding over her body for signs of harm, though she was sure he couldn’t see much through the blanket.

  “I’m okay. Mateo’s on his way.”

  “Where’s your brother?”

  Sobbing, she swiped at her tears, her hand coming away with streaks of black soot.

  “I don’t know, Van. Mateo’s going to try and find him.”

  “How did it start?”

  “I haven’t got a clue. I was asleep and something woke me up. I’m not sure what.”

  “A noise?”

  “Yes. It was…I’m not sure, Van.”

  “Let’s get you to the hospital. I’ll be by later to check in with you.”

  “Okay, but first, I want to speak with the fire chief. I’d like to know what happened.”

  “Are you sure you didn’t leave the stove on or something?”

  “Van, if anything, with my career, you should know how careful I am with fire.”

  “True, but something started it.” He nodded toward the gift box. “A secret admirer?”

  “Oh, I forgot. Read the note.”

  He took it from her, careful to touch it only by the edges. Once he’d looked at it, he lifted out the contents of the box.

  “Doesn’t look suspicious. You must get a lot of admirers sending you things. Obviously, this one likes you in red.”

  If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was jealous by the stern look on his face. Somehow that touched her. He’d always been so aloof from her since they were in high school together. She’d always had a crush on him, but was too shy to let him know she wanted more than a friendship.

  “But that’s not the first one I received from him. The other one came with a box of roses.”

  “So? What did it say?”

  “I’m coming for you soon.”

  “What’s so unusual about that?”

  “There were no blooms on the stems,” she said, devastated by the way he was acting. She felt guilty for having an admirer. “This gift was left on the deck outside my bedroom patio door. I tripped over it when I was escaping.”

  “Leave the note and gift with me. I’ll see if we can get some fingerprints from them, but it looks like you have another conquest.”

  “A conquest? What are you talking about?”

  “You probably get a ton of gifts and flowers from men.”

  “No, I don’t. This is the first time.”

  “Right.” The way he said it angered her. His sarcasm left a bad taste in her mouth.

  She turned to the paramedic. “I’m ready to go now.” Layla had to get away from him before she blew up at him for being so cruel. Once she climbed into the ambulance, the tears started up again. Her heart ached along with her chest full of smoke. At that point she felt she could hate him.

  * * * *

  Mateo and Rae arrived at the hospital just as the doctor finished with her. Layla was supposed to stay for observation but declined. All she wanted to do was have a hot shower and sleep.

  “Did you find my brother?” she asked, exhaustion closing in. She’d had about all she could take for the day. It was closing in on six a.m. and she was no closer to finding out what happened.

  Taking her hand, Mateo said, “I’m having the staff look for him, door to door of the single ladies only. The fire chief said that the fire was caused by a number of candles lined up on your living room windows. It seems the flames caught the curtains.”

  “But, Mateo, I never use candles. I don’t even own any.”

  “They were there, Layla. That was the cause of the fire.”

  “You must mean that someone was in my house. There’s no way I lit them since I don’t ever use them. Oh, and one of the windows looked like someone tried to break in. There were chips of wood on the windowsill.”

  “Do you think Kona did it?”

  “No, of course not. We are both so careful.”

  “You should tell this to Van, Layla. It could be important.”

  Kona came rushing into the room, his face a mask of fear for her.

  “What happened?”

  Layla cried out and threw herself into his arms, tears of relief cascading down her cheeks. When she tried to talk, her throat was raw with emotion. She cupped his chee
ks, looking into his eyes. She knew then that she would have been lost without him. Her body shook from head to toe as she leaned up to kiss his cheek.

  “I thought you were inside. I tried to get to you but there were too many flames. I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you’re safe.”

  “What did the doctor say?”

  “He said I can go home,” she lied. Then she laughed bitterly. “Oh, that’s right, we don’t have a home anymore.”

  “You’ll be staying with us,” Rae said. “You can have my old room.”

  “Thank you. I’ll have to get another place and…Oh, my God, I have nothing to my name.”

  “We can take care of that. I brought you some clothes and a toothbrush. We’ll leave you alone to get changed. Somehow that blanket doesn’t seem right to walk around in.”

  “Rae, Mateo, thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “Hey, what about me?” Kona said flippantly, as though trying to lighten her mood.

  “That’s a given. I couldn’t possibly live without you either, Kona.”

  Once they’d left her to her own devices, she quickly put on the clothes that Rae had given her and stood to put the sandals on. Rae’s feet were a size larger than hers, but the straps were adjustable. Once she was dressed, the nurse brought some paperwork for her to sign, saying that she’d declined the observation. Finally, she met up with them all in the hallway.

  “Let’s get you home,” Rae said, putting her arm around Layla.

  “Can we drive by the house please?”

  “Are you sure you want to do that?” Mateo asked.

  “Yes. I want to see it now that it’s light out.”

  The short drive did nothing to alleviate her fears about seeing her home gone. Van was still at the house, talking to the neighbors. When he saw her, he came right over.

  “Looks like you have a secret admirer who is very careful with fingerprints. The only ones on it seem to be yours. We have to fingerprint you to make sure.”

  “Okay. When can we do it?”