Hot tears slid down my face.
Everyone had to be okay.
I wouldn’t accept any other outcome.
My world was nothing without them in it.
Ask and they will come.
Even if I hadn’t asked, our friends would have been there for us no matter what. I’d seen it with Capri multiple times and heard stories about their undying support of one another.
But this time they were out there in the waiting room for Stormi, River, Lake and me. And our unborn child too. Concern was etched across every one of their faces when I went out to give them an update.
Both Stormi and River were spending the night in the hospital so they could keep checking on the smoke inhalation issues and my sister-in-law’s minor burns.
I scrubbed my hands over my face in frustration and worry. Too many things were shifting through my mind at once. I’d left the guy who caused so much harm and while I knew he was in capable hands with the other officers at the scene, it still felt unsettled. And while they were gaining ground on the fire, it wasn’t completely out. Along with all of that, I just found out my wife was pregnant and I hated the stress she was under as our daughter and her sister lay in hospital beds.
Before I headed back to my daughter's side, I scanned the amazing group of friends who’d rallied around us. “Thank you,” I told the whole room. Because let's face it, our group took up all the available space.
Braxton, who was standing near, clasped my shoulder. “No need for that, we are here for you, whatever you all need. With that said I want you to know some of us made some calls and we have some information for you.”
The look on his face and the others as I glanced at all the men who now huddled around me, sent my already frayed nerves into overdrive.
“I hate to tell you this but River’s house is gone,” Braxton said. “There isn’t going to be anything left that is salvageable. Between the fire and the smoke, it’s a total loss.”
Fuck.I felt like absolute shit hearing that, but I knew it was nothing compared to how River and her kids were going to feel.
Lennon and Breland had been out together eating and taking in a movie, they hadn’t had a clue what had happened until they got a shocking phone call. And from Huntley no less. The man had made it his personal mission to watch over River and hadn’t left her side, even when the kids had arrived.
When I wandered in to check on the group so I could get Lake an update, Breland couldn’t contain her tears, Lennon was shooting daggers at Huntley, River looked uncomfortable but was more worried about soothing her daughter, and the fireman, he had a determined glint in his eyes.
I reported back to Lake and got a thoughtful look in her gaze. Then a small mischievous smile tilted her lips and she said, “Wait until I tell the other ladies.”
That’s when you knew there was trouble brewing.
Even though the grin on her face was brief before reality sunk back in, it had been nice to see for a second.
Braxton went on and I tuned back in on what he was saying. “River and the kids have a place at the condo for as long as they need. And we will help them out with things they need.”
I had an inkling that River wasn’t going to easily accept the help, but she was getting it anyway. She had family and friends now, she just didn’t know what to do with that quite yet.
“Thank you. Is there more?”
I was itching to get back to my girls but from the look on Lyric's face as he stepped closer I knew he had something.
“I called the captain,” he said, letting that hang in the air for a second.
Lyric had been a cop—a damn good one—before he’d given it up to build a life with Ruby and the kids, but he still had a strong relationship with everyone he’d work with so he would easily be in on whatever was going on.
I nodded for him to carry on.
“The man you took into custody isn’t even trying to hide what he did. When you left him in that squad car he sang like a canary and just spit all sorts of fucked up information out.”
Lyric drew in a deep breath before he said more. It was obvious he was pissed. “It’s a good thing you caught him because I have no doubt he would have continued on his spree of what he says is his mission to make Lake pay.”
Anger pumped through my body and a shiver ran down my spine thinking about how bad things already were but what could have happened if I hadn’t nabbed him.
“Why?” I asked, hoping for an answer even though the reasoning wouldn’t take away the feeling I was having about pounding my fist into the guy’s face.
