He nodded. “Same, Jocey.”
“How’d you know where we were?”
He dug into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. “I’m still one of your emergency contacts. When I got the alert, I went straight to your office. Your dad and Cameron told me everything and where you’d gone.” He squeezed Don’s shoulder. “Thanks for saving my sister, man.”
Even with the mask over his face, I could hear the deep affection in his voice.
“Thanks for saving my ass,” Don replied.
“Just returning the favor,” Corey said, smiling at Don, the first genuine smile I’d seen from my brother in a long time.
“How’s Hallease?” I asked, suddenly remembering that that bastard had hit her.
“Don’s dad and Cameron and took her to the hospital. She was up and talking, though.”
I exhaled my worry. “I’ll have to check on her...wait, Corey?” I dropped my gaze to his jeans-covered legs and then back up to him. “You pulled him out of there.”
He looked at me with furrowed brows.
Don squeezed his shoulder.
“I did.” Corey stared off in the distance as if letting what a big deal that was sink in.
I felt people approaching from behind me and turned to see Carter, Eric, Sean, and Emanuel, standing there.
Carter was the first to speak, approaching Corey. “Long time no see.”
Standing, Corey accepted the hug from Carter, followed by Eric, then Sean. Lastly, he paused and looked at Emanuel. The two nodded as if they’d shared some secret before pounding fists.
Don pulled me onto his lap despite the protests of the paramedics.
I wrapped my arms around his shoulders.
“Hell, maybe now you’ll stop sending me all those damn articles,” Corey said, looking over at me.
Frowning, I asked, “What articles?”
“The ones about those firefighters and soldiers who lost a limb and were able to return to work.”
“I didn’t send you anything.”
He looked from me to Don.
Don shook his head.
Corey turned to the four other men still standing around us. All four shook their heads with curious expressions.
“Huh,” Corey huffed with a questioning look on his face.
Epilogue
Three months later
Don
“Congratulations, Don,” Captain Waverly said, clapping me on the back as we stood around the central area of the fire station.
“Thanks, Captain,” I replied, wrapping my arm more securely around Jocelyn’s waist. I kissed the top of her head.
