Page 65 of Burn Protocol

As the words leave my mouth I also know what it means. More focus on writing, and less time with Elena. And that is the last thing that I want. Even if that means having to give up my career. I’ll go back to freelancing. It wasn’t that bad and I have my connections now. Seriously, a few steamy nights and you are willing to give it all up? I grunt and run my fingers through my hair.

“What does tha—”

“Gonzales. Carter. In my office, now.”

The Chief’s low voice booms through the bay. Several firefighters look up to stare at us and I hear the sharp inhale of Rosa’s breath. I frown as I look at Elena, who looks just as surprised as I feel. We both move to follow Fernando Salisar through the dimly lit corridors to the back of the station as if we are being called into the principal’s office. Did Helen call him? Complain about the quality of the article? Did she comment on Elena being ‘difficult’? The hairs on my arms rise and I grind my molars into each other.

Elena glances over her shoulder before stepping into Salisar’s office. Her eyebrows knit together briefly and she slightly tilts her head. She parts her lips as if she wants to say something, but then turns around. The mask is back in its place.

Salisar is already behind his desk when we step inside. His normally warm and friendly face has a cold and distant expression to it. His eyes glide over me once, almost dismissive, before turning to Elena, and something in them changes. They start to blaze as he frowns ever so slightly. He doesn’t ask us to sit and he doesn’t sink into his own chair either. His knuckles simply rest on the wooden top of his desk, as if he wants to maintain a certain distance between us. I bite the inside of my cheek when I see his nostrils flare, and suddenly I feel like I am five years old again. What has Helen done?

“What is going on?” His voice vibrates through me, loud and foreboding.

“Sir?” Elena’s frown deepens as she glances at me for an answer.

“Do I have to remind you about the reputation this station has to uphold?”

“No, sir, it—”

“A supreme public reputation might I add?”

The Chief stares Elena down while he towers to his full height. The scrutiny sends a chill through my body and I have to clench my fists to keep them from shaking. I am two seconds away from telling him to back the fuck up. That he can’t talk to her like that. But Elena is a grown woman who is more than capable of fighting her own battles. And Salisar is her Chief. Speaking now might just add fuel to the fire.

“And you,” his gaze sweeps to me now. “I thought you came here to write an honest article. To learn what you could.” His eyes flick down once, cold.

“I… I am,” I answer, puzzled.

“Then what are all these rumors I hear?” He whips his head and points from me to Elena and back.

“Well? What the hell is going on between you two?” His hand comes down on his desk so hard that the vibration knocks over his pencil holder. I flinch at the sound and see Elena twitch from the corner of my eye, but her face still holds that unreadable mask.

“I am not sure if I understand, sir.”

Her voice is flat, void of any emotion or reaction to his outburst. His eyes flick from me back to Elena and he seems to cool down a bit.

“People are talking, Elena.”

The sound of her first name in his mouth, like it is some sort of scolding, makes me cringe. But it also gives me pause to hear what is truly behind his words and the heat with which he speaks them.

“There are rumors about you two being…” his eyes flick to me again. “…engaged.”

I hear Elena’s molars grind, but she keeps her face emotionless toward her Chief.

“The rumors are wrong, sir.”

The steel in her voice makes my spine instantly go rigid. I had not expected her to confirm anything, quite the opposite, but to hear that cold tone hurts me in an unexpected way. I force myself to keep my eyes forward and my expression blank, but my nails are digging deep into my flesh and my head starts to throb from the tension between my shoulder blades.

“Carter?”

His eyes bore into mine, as if he is looking for any cracks. I stare back, an eerie cold feeling swirling through my insides like long tendons gripping at my intestines. It doesn’t even take effort to keep my face neutral. I am numb from the inside out.

“You heard her. The rumors are wrong.”

Salisar stares at me for a long moment before letting out a deep sigh. He slumps in his seat and rubs his hand over his face. The stubble on his chin sounds crisp under his fingertips. The noise runs through my bones like voltage, and makes me press my fingers even harder into my palms.

“Listen, I couldn’t care less what you ladies do in your free time.” He lets out a breath through his nose. “But I can’t have the reputation of this station dragged through the mud. If there is something going on here…” he gestures between us and trails off.

Elena only lifts her chin and I press my lips together in a tight line. What did you expect? That she was willing to throw away everything she worked for, just like you would? Get a grip, Maya. When I swallow, it feels as if I am ingesting thousands of pins and needles. I don’t flinch though. I just stand there until Salisar flicks his hand to tell me I am dismissed. Because apparently that is the theme of the day—getting rid of Maya.