“You are only a captain here,” Bennet snapped. “You’ll do well to remember that. You spoke out of line and made us look like fools in front of the governor. Your actions were disgraceful. Two sailors and one civilian dead and three soldiers injured!”
Theo swallowed as Bennet spewed the results of their small battle from the morning.One dead civilian. The crimson overlay crept into his mind, bathing his vision in blood as he stood before Bennet. He may not have been the first one to attack, but he’d instigated the fight.
Bennet released his shoulder and began ranting about insubordination, but Theo could only hear the ringing in his ears. No one else would die for his actions. His breaths came quick and painful, like each one would be his last.I fight and I live. He repeated the chant, rubbing his thumb against the crest in his dagger’s hilt.
He didn’t know when Bennet stepped away or when Gerard clearedthe alley, but his mind focused on Gris, who stood before him. The red slid away, and Theo found himself panting and staring down either end of the alley, but Bennet and Gerard were gone.
“Where did they go?”
“Back to the inn.” Gris’s voice was hesitant, but he pushed past her to head toward the inn they’d procured rooms at for the night.
They crossed the cobbled street and passed zooming carriages. Theo couldn’t look her in the eye after his moment of weakness. What had come over him? What had Bennet said to him? He opened the door to the inn and rushed to his room before anyone could snag him.
He sat on the edge of the bed, gripping his temples between his calloused fingers and praying to his gods to keep his heart steady and his mind clear.
Chapter 3
Amaris
With her duffelbag hanging from her shoulder and a coffee spilling in her hand, Amaris fumbled with her key in the worn lock. The rickety porch squeaked as her feet finally shuffled into the house.
She was immediately hit with the smell of cinnamon rolls and a fresh brew of coffee. After the fire yesterday, she was ready to shove a fat cinnamon roll in her face and guzzle some piping hot coffee. She’d gotten her ass ripped by her chief, and if that hadn’t been enough, Charlie had caught her bawling her eyes out in the utility closet. Thankfully, he’d stepped out and hadn’t asked why, but he’d wanted to. His pleading eyes had given him away when he’d handed her a bowl of ice cream while they’d watched the television after dinner.
Amaris dropped her bag and shoes in the hall and leaned into the wall, picking at a spot of chipped off-white paint. No amount of ice cream or cinnamon rolls could take away the writhing in her chest. She’d played the scenario in her head all night, and no matter how terrible she’d felt, she wouldn’t have done it any differently. They’d gotten the couple out, but whether they survived was a different story. She’d ignored the outcomereport. Enough morbid thoughts had already consumed her mind.
She peeled herself from the wall, taking more paint with her with the elevated humidity plastered across her sweaty body. She rubbed at her sleepless eyes and the dark bags as her feet carried her through the living room and over the stained shag carpet toward the bittersweet smell beckoning her. Her legs were leaden from the fire as she stumbled to the kitchen.
She stopped before the swinging door, allowing the mask to settle over her, to harden like armor. It’d become routine now, bracing herself for which Derek she was about to get. With the stress of planning the wedding and work, his moods were growing unpredictable. Swallowing the lump in her throat each morning was growing more difficult, but cinnamon rolls were usually a good sign. She pushed open the door and was hit with an even stronger aroma.
“I’m glad I get to see you before work.” Derek poured a thermos of coffee. “I made your favorite.”
A smile flourished his features, capturing the perfection of his ensemble with his slicked-back, chestnut-colored hair and his button-down and slacks. She missed the police uniform he used to sport and the tight fit around his ass, but she didn’t care as a weight released from the massive boulder sitting on her shoulders. She couldn’t help her cheeks growing rosy at his peace offering.
He gestured to the folding table with the mismatched chairs they’d acquired through various garage sales. The counter creaked under his weight as he leaned against it and screwed the lid on his thermos.
“How was work? I was out of the station for most of the day and didn’t hear anything,” he said, further bearing his weight against the peeling white countertop.
“Fine,” she began. Her teeth nibbled at the edge of her lip as she debated whether it was a good idea to mention the fire or not. “Just a normal day.”
Derek didn’t bat an eye as he plated her breakfast. She hated lying to him, to anyone. She was pathetic at it.
He laughed, sucking a bit of the icing from his thumb. “I’ll never understand how any of you are willing to enter a stranger’s house without a gun.” His lips curled into a smirk as he patted the police-issued weapon strapped to his side.
Gainesville was a small department, which meant minimal staffing and cross training. Amaris wasn’t only a firefighter but also a paramedic. She might have had the occasional combative patient or two, but no one had ever pulled a gun on her.
“They’re usually not calling us because they want to hurt us,” she said, sliding into a chair. “They want our help.”
“So you say.” The corners of his lips turned up, and he placed a plate of cinnamon rolls and a fresh cup of coffee in front of her.
“Thank you,” she said, a plea for a truce.
Derek planted a kiss on the top of her head, stopping a moment before slithering over her neck to plant several wet kisses. Her hand slid into his hair as her pulse thrummed. The woodsy musk of his cologne filled her senses, relinquishing the hold the cinnamon rolls had. His arms slid around her body, embracing her in his warmth. His fingers twirled with the end of her ponytail as his lips nibbled at the edge of her ear.
“You know I only want you safe,” he whispered. “I don’t know what I’d ever do without you.”
It was nice to enjoy a moment without arguing. His nose tickled her ear as he snuggled into her neck. Amaris couldn’t help releasing a sigh, blowing out her anxiety for how the morning could’ve gone.
“I’m sorry about the other night. You know the scotch throws words into my mouth.” He breathed into her neck, prickling the goose hairs down her spine.
