The medic gave a reluctant nod. “We’ll need her to sign an AMA refusal form.”
He handed me a tablet. My hands were wrapped and clumsy, but I managed to grip the stylus awkwardly between my fingers and scrawl my signature across the screen.
“If you experience shortness of breath, worsening dizziness, confusion, or persistent coughing,” the medic said, expression serious, “call 911 immediately. Understood?”
“Yes.”
He checked the gauze on my palms one more time, then asked Roman whether he needed medical attention.
“No,” he said without hesitation.
“You can sit here for a little while until she’s ready to be moved,” the medic said to Roman.
I felt Roman’s chin dip in a nod. “I’ll take care of her.”
Once the medic had exited the back of the vehicle, Roman pulled the blanket tighter around my body, drawing me back to him. His arms crossed over my chest, locking me in place.
Despite his warm body around mine, I felt hollow, like something inside me had been scraped clean.
But Roman was solid and impossibly safe, and I let him hold me.
A few moments after the paramedic had disappeared, a firefighter climbed inside the cramped ambulance. He had dark-brown hair that was a bit flat from his helmet, and his green eyes were vaguely familiar.
Then he spoke to Roman. “You good?”
Roman stiffened beneath me. “I’m fine, Nolan.”
The firefighter, Nolan, glanced briefly at me. “What the hell happened?”
Roman let out a sharp, bitter laugh that was devoid of all humor. “I was hoping you could tell me.”
Nolan’s face pinched with frustration as he shoved a hand through his hair. “I haven’t gotten in yet to investigate.”
They spoke in clipped, focused tones that barely cut through the fog in my head.
“Is everything contained?” Roman asked.
“Yeah. Front took the worst of it.”
“Point of origin?”
Nolan shrugged. “Probably. The scent of kerosene is potent. We’re lucky none of your brothers were in that building.” He grimaced. “Or Hailey, for that matter.”
“She doesn’t go to the office,” Roman said in a clipped voice. As if the very thought of his daughter being anywhere near thatfire made him want to rage. “She’s fine. I sent Damian to the main house to check on her.”
Nolan nodded, like he was reassured by that. “These arsons are getting out of control.”
The word broke through the fog in my mind.Arson?
Roman swore under his breath. “We need to put an end to this. I want another meeting with the detective on the case.”
Nolan winced. “I understand, but I’m not sure he has more information for you. None of these targets make sense. We haven’t been able to figure out how they’re connected.”
Roman’s voice went colder. “My brothers have cameras all over that building. I’ll have Fox send you the footage.”
“That should help. Maybe we finally got this fucker on video.”
“With any luck, we did.”
