Don gives a half grin. “See what I mean? Touchy as hell over their women. Anyway, you, my friend …” He points at me, moving closer. “Are lost just like those two. I wouldn’t be surprised if wedding bells are in your future. Another fucker lost.”
“Lost?” I question with a lifted eyebrow.
“To the bullshit. Family. Love. Whatever. Janine has your head completely up her ass. And hell, I can’t blame you too much, I guess. I saw those leopard print—”
“Shit!” Carter curses just as I take a swing at Don.
He’s quick enough to duck in time, my fist missing his face by mere inches.
“Don’t talk about her,” I warn.
Don laughs it off. “What the hell did I tell you?”
My jaw tightens at the knowledge that he might be right. No. What the hell am I saying? Heisone hundred percent correct. The mention of wedding bells a minute ago didn’t frighten me but it intrigued me. I’ve already admitted out loud that I am in love with Janine. And in the many nights that we’ve spent together, I’d stayed up during the night with her in my arms, picturing doing this every night for the rest of my life, and instead of running from that thought, I embrace it. I want it. With her I’ve finally found my home. The same home I would do anything to protect.
I glance up into the dark of eyes of Eric’s and see he knows exactly what I was feeling at that moment. Eric doesn’t talk much, at least not as much as the other guys at the station, but he has an uncanny way of making his feelings very clear. He gives me a small nod.
“On a more serious note,” Don says, pulling my attention from Janine and our life together, back to him, “I talked to more guys at your old station.”
That piques my curiosity. It must gain the interest of the other guys as well because Eric and Carter move in closer to hear what Don has to say.
“Turns out, after we left, your old captain made it clear to his squad that no one is to talk to me about that night. They said Captain Rogers directed them not to speak with you about that night either.”
“Really?” I question, folding my arms across my chest. That didn’t settle well with me. “Why the hell would a captain direct the guys not to speak of a fire that happened nearly a year go?”
“Good fucking question. One that has me definitely planning to ask more questions.”
“Did you find out anything else?” Carter asks.
Don shakes his head. “They clammed up. All except for Larry … He told me he has more to say but asked that I give him a month. He’s retiring from the department soon. Going to go work for the family business. Says he’ll be comfortable opening up then.”
I nod, remembering that Larry’s brother owned a very successful home renovation company. He was always trying to get Larry to work full-time for the business their father had started when they were young.
“Larry’s a hell of a firefighter,” I comment.
“Do you trust him?” Eric asks, looking me squarely in the eye.
I return the stare. “With my life.” I never doubted Larry or any of my other squad members. Captain Rogers, on the other hand …
“Whoever’s been behind this has been quiet for some time,” Carter says.
“Or, his fires are just going unreported. Marked down as accidents like the one over at station two.”
“Yeah, but we thought he was targeting us, too. We haven’t had any incidents. Not since …” An eerie silence falls over us after Carter’s last word.
Everyone is thinking back to the night Corey was injured. The three of them are, at least. Looking at Don, Eric, and Carter’s solemn faces it’s still obvious how much they care for their missing teammate.
“I saw him,” I say.
Three pairs of eyes pin me with their gazes.
“Where?”
“When?”
“How’d he look?”
All three ask.
