I open my mouth to respond when my phone begins ringing. Scythe’s goes off at the same time with a text. There’s only one reason that happens. It’s club business or an emergency that affects both of us.
I swipe across my phone and answer the call. It’s my brother. All I hear are the words “fire” and “Granny Jo” as I listen. Rage and fear collide as the news sinks in. “I’m on my way!” I announce before I hit end.
“Fuck,” Scythe curses, shooting to his feet.
I swallow the shock and growl the news to everyone in the bar, already striding away from the bar and heading for the door. “Someone just set the Butter Bliss on fire, and Granny Jo is inside.” Fuck!
“I’m going with you!”
I nod at Scythe. I expect his answer.
He shouts orders for the club to get their asses moving. We need help because I can’t let the Butter Bliss burn down. It’s been in Cami’s family for generations. Urgency spurs me on as I hop on my bike and pull back on the throttle.
I’ve got no idea if Granny Jo is okay. My knuckles grip the handlebars tighter as I ride through the fall-themed streets, passing by the Fear Farm and the carnival, and arrive to find a large crowd surrounding the exterior of the bakery. Granny Jo is more than Cami’s grandmother. She’s family to me, too. The patient voice when the past overcomes the present. The holder of my secrets. Someone I love and trust as much as my club and brothers.
Whoever did this is gonna pay.
I’m off my bike fast, rushing into the chaos as firefighters try to douse the flames. Smoke billows from the broken front windows, and I feel my heart squeeze.
I’m already too late.
“Granny Jo?” I ask as I push through, swallowing as I find my youngest brother as he aims a hose at the roof.
Braden volunteers as a firefighter because Raven’s Crest is so small. We don’t have more than a few guys full-time. With only four thousand residents, it’s not needed. Arson isn’t usually a problem. My brother works in the family business, putting in hours at the lumber mill unless he’s needed for an emergency like this. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him put on this uniform.
I don’t want to think about the last time I saw flames as they rose into the night, the soot and smoke staining everything around us.
“With Emily,” Braden shouts. “Check on her.”
A paramedic. Shit!
I spin around and find the ambulance, rushing up to Granny Jo. She’s wearing an oxygen mask, and her clothes smell like smoke. There are a few holes where the fabric is charred. Soot stains prove she barely escaped. Ash covers her face and body in a gray powder.
“Granny!” I shout, pushing through the paramedic to get to her.
She holds up a hand and waves me away. “I’m okay, Rex. Gonna take more than that to take me out.”
I don’t think it’s funny. “You’re hurt.”
She snorts, but it doesn’t have the same effect as she intends since she’s got that mask over her face. There’s blood on the side of her forehead and a gash that looks deep. My fingers curl into fists. Did she stumble? Or did something fall on top of her during the fire?
I open my mouth to ask questions, but I’m quickly denied.
The paramedic, Emily, shoots me a glare. “She needs rest. Her lungs were exposed to a lot of smoke, Rex. Once she’s been triaged, you’ll be able to see her. I need to take her to Oak Valley.”
Oak Valley Hospital is located at the west end of the closest town, near Willow Wood Falls. It’s almost an hour away.
I blink, then notice that Emily is bandaging Granny Jo’s arm. “A burn? How bad is it?”
She glances at her patient. “The wound needs treatment.”
Granny Jo shakes her head and rests against the gurney. She looks exhausted and in pain.
Fuck.
“Call Cami, Rex. I need her.”
I nod, knowing she’ll be devastated to learn her Granny is in the hospital, but it’ll be worse since I’m the one delivering the news.
