“It’s okay, cupcake. I understand.”
And I did. I was a child when I lost my mom and although I was an adult when I lost my father, I still wished I had them both back in my life. The hole they both left was still there. While Stormi didn’t know what it felt like to have a father at all, she still could see she was missing something the other kids had.
“Now tell me why you called in a panic,” I told her, changing the subject.
Lake let out another sigh that filtered through the line. “I got a strange and creepy call. We’d just come in from a call and some man phoned the fire station. One of my co-workers answered and is sure it was the same person who called previously, asking when my next shift was.”
My body went rigid.
I looked over at Stormi from where I was standing behind the couch as she watched her show. She was enthralled with what was going on and not paying any attention to me, but I still wanted to be careful with what I said in case she heard. I didn’t need to freak her out.
“Tell me what was said and then I’ll let you know how we’ll handle things.”
Lake scoffed. “You’ll tell me how things will be handled? That’s hilarious that you think you get a choice in the matter.”
That had gotten a rise out of her rather quickly. And while I knew why that was, she seemed to have forgotten just who I was and how stubborn I could be. There would be no stoppingme when it came to making sure both girls were safe. It may not have been my place according to Lake, but I was making it mine.
There was a reason Lake came back into my life, bringing Stormi with her.
And I wasn’t walking away again.
“What did the guy say, Lake?” I asked again in a stern, no-nonsense tone.
She seemed to relent the argument that she was about to unleash about what I did and didn’t have a say in, but not before she made it clear one more time. And her words stung.
“You walked away. I don’t know why I have to keep reminding you of that, Bronson. So you lost the right to try and tell me or my daughter what we have to do. But since I don’t have time to hash this out again with you, I will tell you what you need to know as it was made clear last night that we could use some help.”
“Thank you,” I said softly.
“On my terms,” she added.
Lake was tough and I admired her grit. It was fucking sexy as hell. In high school I had to tamp down my reaction to her just for this reason, so she and everyone else didn’t notice. Why? Because like a dumbfuck I had it in my head she needed to live a full life. If I had told her how I truly felt, I knew she wouldn’t go on and do that, but wait for me instead.
“Got it,” I said to appease her. “Now talk.”
“God, you’restillthe same bossy ass,” she said, causing me to laugh.
When I looked over at Stormi, she was still watching her show, paying me no mind.
“So, this guy calls and asks for me,” she starts. “I haven’t been in when he has called before so I decided to see who the hell it was. He didn’t sound right, Bronson.”
Lake paused as if getting her bearings and I had to do the same because I knew I wasn’t going to like what’s next.
“He doesn’t beat around the bush, he just tells me that I am supposed to save lives and I fucked up when I didn’t listen to him. Then he proceeded to say I was going to learn what that meant and that he’d be watching.”
My grip on my phone tightened and I took a deep breath while working to not lose my shit at what I just heard.
“Bronson?” Lake inquired at my silence.
“I’m here.” I rolled my neck a couple of times to ease the tension. “I promise your daughter is safe and I’ll do everything needed to make sure you both stay that way. I’m going to call some people.”
“Our Fire Chief already called the police. Someone is coming by to talk to me. If it wasn’t for that and the fact that I don’t have anyone to cover my shift, I would already be on my way home to Stormi.”
My gaze scanned Stormi again. If anyone hurt one hair on her or Lake’s head, they were going to answer to me.
“Listen. I’m going to have one of the guys come check the perimeter just to be safe. I won’t leave Stormi alone at all. Then I’m going to have someone escort you home.”
“Bronson—”
