It was true. How many nights had Becket gone without sleep when he was a SEAL? Too fucking many.
“Beck, how’s your brother and his woman?” Teddy asked.
Becket’s fingers tightened around the mug. Jesse’s partner, Aspen, had been kidnapped, and just when he’d gotten her back and thought she was safe, she’d been put in danger a second time by someone no one had ever suspected.
Just like Becket, Jesse was former special operations, but when someone you loved was in danger, that training didn’t take away the fear.
“They’re both just trying to move on.” Jesse had taken a month off work and had only just gone back. It had taken him a long time to feel safe enough to leave Aspen.
Moose shook his head. “There are some real sickos around these days.”
“There’ve always been sickos around,” Becket said quietly. He’d run into his fair share during his time in the military.
The move from SEAL to firefighter had been a pretty easy one. He was still putting his life on the line to help others. A common misconception was that firefighters only fought fires—they didn’t. They performed rescues and attended medical calls. They had to be prepared for incidents like vehicle extractions and the release of hazardous materials.
The job was full-on, which was why training was hard and not everyone made it.
Suddenly, the alarm rang through the station, then the radios sounded.
“Station 8, there’s a vegetation fire on some land at five-thirteen Maple Terrace, Amber Ridge,” the dispatcher said.
Becket cursed and took one last sip of coffee before tipping the rest down the drain.
Moose and Teddy were already on their feet, and they all ran to the apparatus bay. Footsteps sounded around him as other firefighters moved to the engines. Everyone pulled on their jackets and helmets before Becket got into an engine cab with Irene, while Moose and Teddy climbed into the back.
He pressed his foot to the floor as Irene tapped the address into the GPS. The house was less than five minutes away. They’d make it there in three.
Irene turned to look at him. “What was that big-ass smile on your face when you got to work today?”
“Is it a crime to be happy?” he asked.
“No, but there’s usually a reason behind it.”
“Nope, just happy.” It was a damn lie. Anytime he saw Sky in the morning, he couldn’t wipe the damn smile from his face.
“Why do I not believe you?”
Because you’re perceptive. “Would I lie to you?”
She scoffed. “Yes. You lied to me yesterday about eating my donut.”
“That was Moose.”
“Hey!” Moose jumped in. “Don’t bring my name into this.”
“It was Moose,” Teddy confirmed. “I saw him.”
Moose slapped Teddy in the back of the head.
“Ow.” Teddy rubbed his scalp. “Beck’s the one who said it.”
Irene turned to look at the guys. “Everyone needs to stay away from my donuts.”
Becket bit back a grin. Irene loved her donuts, but unfortunately for her, so did others at the station, and not everyone was above thievery.
He’d worked at the station for five years and been the chief for two. Moose and Irene had been there for a hell of a lot longer, so this donut shit wasn’t new.
They pulled into a long dirt driveway and saw the fire, right in front of the house.
