“Eventually.”
David gave a pragmatic shrug. “Yeah.Eventually.”
When Colinand Joshua returned to the living room, David poured each of them a shot of brandy. “Sip it. It’s medicinal.”
He and Nate settled on the opposite sofa, then David leaned closer, Nate’s hand in his. “This is your home now. Thedownstairs is yours. It has its own bedroom and bathroom, and we can create a small living area for added privacy. Fix it any way you like. Stay as long as you need. If it takes six months or sixyearsto fix your house, you’re welcome to spend every day of it here.” He leaned toward them, voice low and fierce. “Every. Single. Fucking. Day.”
Joshua bowed his head, fighting back sobs, too moved to speak. Colin looked away, blinking tears. Finally, he turned to face them. “Thank you,” he choked.
Nate leaped to his feet and wrapped his arms around Colin’s neck. “What did you think, Irish? We’d leave you sitting in the middle of West River Road? Ofcourseyou’ll stay with us!”
Across from them, David’s phone chimed, and he grabbed it, frowning. “OK, Norm. Hang on.” He extended the phone to Colin. “Your boss.”
Colin took the phone, listened for a moment, then scoffed a laugh. “Thanks, Norm. Yeah.” He shot Joshua a look and smiled. “He’s OK. Hanging in there. We’ll try to go back out there tomorrow, though I doubt we’ll be allowed in. David’s lining up a contractor.” He listened again. “Hell yes, Obi-Wan. Thanks for letting me know. Night, boss.” He scoffed a laugh and handed the phone back to David.
“He wanted me to know that Lexi Moreno is back in his cell at Red Onion and screaming like a banshee.”
“Tough shit!” Joshua muttered.
“Was he due to be released?” Nate asked.
“Transferred. Lower security. Part of the deal.”
“Some fucking deal!” Joshua spat.
Colin shook his head. “I’m not sure what to make of that. Elias Moreno is a rat-fuck bastard, but when he gives his word, it’s usually golden. He couldn’t do business otherwise.” He shot Joshua a look. “This may have been something else. We’ll see.”
“I don’t care what it was,” Joshua said, leaning against Colin, eyes drooping. “I just care what they did.”
“I know this much,” Colin growled. “Lexi-fucking-Moreno will never leave Red Onion.”
Nate knelt before Joshua and carefully rebandaged his feet. Once finished, he slid a pair of thick socks over the gauze, then a pair of David’s slippers. “There. That should do it.” He looked up. “I’d ask if you were OK but…”
Joshua stroked Nate’s hair. “Yeah. ‘OK’ is a bit much to hope for at the moment. But thanks, Nate.”
David sat on the coffee table, applying healing salve to Colin’s burned hands, his brow furrowed, the scent of antiseptic mingling with the smell of smoke, which clung to all of them.
Joshua moved to sit beside Colin.
“This’ll feel cold,” David said quietly, smoothing Silvadene over Colin’s burns. “Try not to move.”
Colin flinched despite himself, and Joshua’s hand tightened on his arm.
“They’re shallow, second-degree,” David said, voice clinical and even. “They’ll hurt like hell, but they should heal just fine. We’ll rewrap them tomorrow.”
Joshua nodded, his hand never leaving Colin’s arm.
Colin finally spoke, his voice hoarse. “Didn’t expect to end the day on the goddamn injured list.”
“You’re lucky to be onanylist,” David said, tugging the gauze snug. “Most people would’ve run for the door. But notyou—you ran straight to the fire and tried to put it out with your bare hands.” He shook his head, both exasperated and admiring. “Couldn’t just use an extinguisher?”
Colin let out a slow breath and leaned his head against Joshua’s shoulder. “Josh was already using the extinguisher.” He glanced down at his bandaged hands. “Thanks, Davy.”
“You can thank me by taking one of your pain pills so you can sleep tonight,” David said, voice quieter. “Now go to bed, both of you,” he ordered, standing. “Tomorrow’s a big day.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ONLY WHAT YOU CAN CARRY
