Burned

by Stone, Piper

  Correction. What was left of the cabin.

  Smoke billowed toward the blackened sky, framed in the vicious glow of the fire. I heard the sound of another truck approaching as I raced past the fire engine. There was no concern about my safety.

  Or my life.

  I had to get inside.

  I had to save them.

  I would die trying.

  “A woman and a dog? Did you find them? Are they safe?” My question was unheeded as various firefighters continued working, water pouring over the room from two sides splashing down against the snow.

  After jerking up his mask, the firefighter wiped his brow. “We haven’t seen anyone. You’re saying there are victims inside?”

  “They couldn’t have left.”

  “Captain. We have people inside!” the firefighter bellowed.

  “My... girlfriend and my dog.” I wasn’t entirely certain whether he heard me or not or if it even mattered. I’d been through dozens of fires in my limited career. I was well aware of the odds of finding them alive. There was too much devastation.

  Far too much.

  I was no explosions expert, but this particular fire had the mark of arson.

  Hissing, I moved toward the side, scanning the perimeter. “Kelly!” There was no answer. “Buck!” Only the eerie creaking noises as the house began to crumble was the reply. I raced back to the front, taking gulping breaths before moving closer to the front. I might have one shot at rescuing them.

  “Whoa. You can’t go in there!”

  I heard the call from the previous firefighter as I headed for the door, but I didn’t give a fuck.

  “Hawk. You can’t go in there!” Cole screamed from behind me, his frantic call full of terror.

  “I have to. They’re inside.” I wasn’t entirely certain what I’d said, but the second I jumped onto the front porch, I was tackled from behind, hands yanking me backward.

  “You can’t go in there!” The deep voice boomed above the others, a harshness in the tone.

  Kicking out, I rolled away, scrambling to get back in position, immediately swinging the ax. With one hard crack, what was left of the door swung open, a rush of flames and ash whooshing from inside.

  “Get him out of there!” Another voice pitched in, yelling from the background.

  Cole yanked then shoved me back hard, getting in my face. “You can’t do anything.”

  “You don’t understand. Kelly and Buck are inside.”

  Grinder and Quinn raced toward us, flanking my side. “Who is inside?” Grinder demanded, inching closer to Cole.

  “His dog and...” Cole didn’t finish. “It’s too hot. There’s nothing you can do. Let the firefighters work.”

  Another cracking sound drew my attention and I could hear what had to be a yelp coming from Buck. “Fuck all of you. I’m going to save them.” How I managed to maneuver around them I had no idea, but I tumbled into the front door, immediately overcome by smoke and heat.

  The calls from behind me were shrill, commanding in a manner that didn’t faze me in the least. “Kelly! Buck!” I shot off their names, enough though the roar of the fire drowned out the noise. Everything was already a charred mass, burned beyond recognition. How the hell had a fire gotten this hot? I heard voices behind me and pushed forward, moving into the hallway. I swung the ax, breaking through the fallen debris, jumping over smoldering wallboard and pieces of wood. The blackness was overwhelming, the stench of burning plastic and twisted metal assaulting my nostrils. I wouldn’t be able to tolerate the fumes for long.

  But I had to find them.

  “Kel-ly.” The cough overtook me, forcing me to my knees. Everything started to become a blur, my eyes watering from the intense sting. I’d known better than to race into a hot fire. There was little of no chance of finding anything.

  Or anyone alive.

  Still, I wouldn’t stop until I was certain.

  “Hawk!” Cole’s cry was manic, crazed with worry.

  He couldn’t understand what I was facing. Losing her wasn’t an option. Not now.

  Not ever.

  The entire structure was engulfed in flames, the remaining trusses creaking and groaning. I had maybe three minutes left before what was left of the roof collapsed. I burst my way into the bedroom, adjusting to the darkness. There were no signs of the raging fire, only a black and quiet room, devoid of anything. “Buck! Kelly!”

  As I lumbered back toward the living room, my mind raced with where the hell they could have gone. My eyes and throat were burning, my stomach churning from ingesting the level of smoke. Disoriented, I knew better than to continue, but the despair had taken hold, dragging me into the pits of hell. “Kel-ly!”

  “Hawk. Come on. You need to get out of there.”

  Cole’s frame was highlighted in the doorway.

  I threw my head back, tossing my arms out to the sides, a roar erupting from my throat.

  Whoosh! Boom!

  * * *

  “Do you think you’ll ever allow me to forget how we met?” Kelly laughed, tossing her hair before giving me a heated look.

  “Not now. Not ever.” My answer was exactly what she expected, her nose wrinkling as her luminous green eyes sparkled in the sunlight.

  “There’s nothing I can do?” She moved onto her knees, crawling ever so slowly across the blanket.

  “Nothing I can think of.”

  Frowning, she licked her lips in an exaggerated fashion, swinging her hips back and forth. “Nothing, huh.” She moved her hand to my crotch, using just a single finger to slide up and down my already throbbing cock. The woman knew exactly how to get to me.

  “Nah. If you think about it, you’re still a very bratty chick, prone to cussing and fussing.” I allowed the twang to be heavier, grinning after I said the words. I couldn’t help but glance up at the cloudless sky, the bright blue color accentuating the snowcapped mountains. The day couldn’t be more perfect.

  “Cussing and fussing? I’m a damn good girl. You know that?” She slapped her hand over her mouth, giggling.

  “Hmmm... I think that calls for a spanking. Don’t you?” I yanked her over my lap, immediately lifting the dress she’d insisted on wearing and exposing her rounded orbs. The woman had the most beautiful bottom on the face of this earth and both cheeks were about to become rosy in color.

  I smacked both sides, moving from one to the other.

  “Ouch! That hurts.”

  “I told you several times. A spanking is supposed to hurt.”

  Beep. Beep.

  I could feel the air rushing into my nostrils, filling my lungs. I took a deep breath. Then another. I felt myself reaching out, trying to wrap my fingers around a strand of her hair.

  There was nothing there.

  “Mmm... Kel. Ly.” The hoarseness of my voice was intimidating, unrecognizable. My mind was a foggy mess, thoughts shifting from one to the other with no connecting thread. “What. The. Hell?”

  “You need to rest, Mr. Chambers.”

  The voice wasn’t one I knew. I did everything to open my eyes, but they were like lead weight. “Who. Are. You?”

  “I’m sorry. I’m Dr. Peters. I’ve been taking care of you.”

  “Wha...t?”

  “You don’t remember. That’s very common in this kind of injury. Just rest. I’ll check on you later.”

  I knew exactly where the man was standing and managed to grab his wrist, finding just enough strength to yank him closer. “Tell. Me.” My throat was bone dry, my tongue sticking to the roof of my mouth. I dug my fingers in, but I wouldn’t be able to keep the firm hold for long. What in the fuck was wrong with me? Why couldn’t I remember?

  “It’s okay, Mr. Chambers. You were in a fire. From what I heard, part of the roof caved in on you. You’re pretty banged up, but no internal injuries. You were just taken off oxygen, so I’ll need to keep an eye on your saturation levels, but I have a good feeling. As I said, you’re damn lucky, but you inhaled a lot of smoke. You�
�re going to be with us for a little while. Just take it easy.”

  Struggling, I took a gulping breath, wheezing even as I attempted to open my eyes. The light was blinding, cutting into my irises like a sharp knife. Snarling, I was so freaking groggy. There were also no feeling in my legs. “No. Fuck. No!”

  “Calm down, Mr. Chambers, or I’m going to have to get you a sedative.”

  I realized I still had a crushing hold on his arm. Very slowly, I let go, blinking several times. Everything remained fuzzy, as if I’d been placed in a vacuum. A fire. I’d been in a fire. Damn, I couldn’t remember a thing. “Why can’t... I... remember?”

  “You have a pretty big lump on your head. Thankfully, no concussion, but I’m certain you’re going to remain disoriented for a little while. Nothing to worry about.”

  I shifted, blinking several more times until some of the haze lifted. The tan wall staring back at me gave no comfort. “How long?”

  “How long have you been here?”

  Hearing his voice, I turned my head in his direction. The doctor couldn’t have been more than twenty-five, his eyes wide as he stared at me. I also outweighed him by a solid hundred pounds. “How fucking long?”

  Dr. Peters’ smile faded, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “Almost two days.”

  “What...” I noticed the IV in my arm and started to rip it out. I was getting the fuck out of here, a sense of urgency the only thing that seemed to matter.

  “Don’t do that, Mr. Chambers, or I’ll be forced to call security.”

  I heard the whooshing sound of the door opening and used everything I had to issue a husky growl. I didn’t want to be fawned over. I wanted answers.

  “Officer. This patient seems to have difficulty staying put,” Dr. Peters said quietly as he backed away. “He needs his rest.”

  “I’ll take care of him. You can leave us alone now.”

  Gage. A sense of relief rushed through me. At least my friend would help get me the hell out of here. I slapped my hand against the IV again, tugging at the line.

  “Just try and keep him quiet,” Dr. Peters said meekly before heading out the door.

  I sneered in his direction, loathing the fact I wasn’t able to get out of this damn bed. A day and a half? Bits and pieces started to float in. The fire on the ridge. Pulling Grinder away.

  “Whoa, bubba. Don’t do that.” Gage had a wry grin on his face as he approached. “Seriously. You need to follow the doctor’s orders.”

  “I need to...” Exhaustion seemed to fill every muscle, taking away what little breath I had. I eased back against the pillow, concentrating on his expression. “What... happened?”

  “You don’t remember?”

  “Fire on... the Bitterroot.”

  “Yeah,” Gage said, exhaling and shaking his head. “There was a fire at your cabin.”

  He seemed to be studying me, watching my reaction. “The cabin?” A sudden flash of memory rushed in, vivid images of the flames licking toward the ceiling then...

  “Afraid so. Everything’s lost.”

  A moment of paralyzing fear gripped my heart. The only thing I could hear was a hard thudding echoing into my ears. “Buck. Kelly.”

  Closing his eyes, he shook his head again. “Look, the fire investigator is still working but—”

  “But? Where are they? What...” Gasping for air, I finally managed to yank out the IV, swinging my legs onto the floor.

  “Fuck! You need to stop this.” Gage caught me a split second before I fell on my face. Muttering under his breath, he helped ease me back onto the bed. “Now, I gotta go call a nurse.”

  I gripped his arm. “Buck and Kelly... were in there.”

  “Kelly? You mean the girl you didn’t know anything about, the one who’s considered a fugitive?”

  “Stop,” I wheezed. “Just stop. Did you find... their bodies?” Every breath and every whispered word was a struggle,

  “From what the investigator told me, there were no bodies found, human or canine. What the hell happened?”

  “I don’t know.” I let him go and rubbed my eyes, taking a minute to catch my breath. “The fire was hot. Too hot. No way it was accidental.”

  “You’re suggesting arson?” Gage narrowed his eyes, peering down at me with a skeptical look.

  “I’m telling you it was.”

  “That’s a tall accusation, Hawk. Unless you know something I don’t.”

  The door burst open, two nurses racing inside.

  “Mr. Chambers. What did you do?” she asked, glaring at Gage. “And you need to get out of here.”

  “He stays.” My words were sharp, riddled with anger and a hint of revenge. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the amusement on Gage’s face as he leaned against the wall, crossing his legs as if this was just a social call. Meanwhile, I was freaking out, uncertain of anything with one exception.

  I knew in my gut Kelly had been kidnapped.

  The nurse huffed as she fiddled with my IV. “Pull that out again and we’re going to have to tie you to the bed. Is that clear enough for you, Mr. Chambers?”

  I shot her a look, bristling as she slapped down the tape. “Crystal.”

  Gage waited patiently until the two women left the room. “You shouldn’t be so rough on everyone here, Hawk. They’re just trying to help you.”

  “Yeah? I don’t need any help.” I grabbed the pitcher of water, struggling to pour a cup. My hand was shaking as I lifted the small container, spilling more on the ridiculous hospital gown than down my throat.

  “Apparently you do.” He walked closer. “I tried calling you several times after our connection failed.”

  “The storm took out the reception. Then there was the fire on the ridge.”

  “Which is finally out, by the way.”

  I rubbed my arm, taking another series of deep breaths. A few additional memories slithered into my mind, filling in some of the gaps. Wolves. Their ravaging faces filtered into my mind. Were they lured to the cabin in order to put the fear of God into us or worse? Nothing seemed clear. “The rest of the team all right?”

  “Cole got banged up a bit trying to save your sorry ass, but he’s okay. You want to tell me what in God’s name possessed you to run into a burning building? You know better than that shit.”

  “I had to save them. They’re... They’re all I have.”

  Gage inhaled and held his breath for thirty seconds before exhaling. “I know you feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, but you have to cut this crap out. One day, someone isn’t going to be around to save your ass.”

  “What crap?” I knew exactly what he was talking about.

  “Trying to be the hero to everyone and everybody. Your captain told me what you did up there on that ridge. What, isn’t that two lives you’ve saved in a few days? Three if you count taking in a wayward fugitive.”

  “Kelly isn’t a fugitive. She was railroaded. You know it and I know it.”

  “Yeah. Heard you made a little visit to Hamilton.”

  Narrowing my eyes, I tipped my head until I could see into his. “Who the fuck told you?”

  “You forget. Small town. Everybody has ears. Don’t you think you had red flags raised?” Gage snorted.

  “I even saw a video taken by one of the customers. He saw the whole thing. Joe something I think. You should talk to him.” I could see just how uncomfortable he seemed. “What?”

  “You mean Joe Stryker?”

  I said nothing, trying to remember the guy’s name.

  “Older guy with a full head of white hair. Muscular dude?”

  “Yeah, that’s him.” I could feel the rage increasing.

  “Well, he turned up dead. You may ask how I found out.”

  “What. The. Fuck?” I shifted in the bed, prepared to rip out the IV once again.

  He held out his hand. “Just wait, for God’s sake, Hawk. You can’t do anything right now. That’s why I came to talk to you. Joe was a regular at the
bar. I went there myself and had a conversation with the woman now in charge.”

  “Sherry Piccolo.”

  “You did get around,” Gage said, chuckling. “That was her. She told me about Joe. Poor guy was in a horrible car accident.”

  “That was no accident.”

  He gave me an odd look, a slight shake of his head. “That’s my opinion. Took me a couple hours to find the record. The guy was driving on a straight road and just veered off, slamming into a tree. Kinda odd if you ask me.” Gage kept his voice even.

  I clenched my fist, taking several deep breaths. “Bastards.”

  “Connected bastards,” Gage stated with authority.

  “So tell me what else you need to say. I’m getting the hell out of here.”

  “Goddamn, you’re a hard ass.”

  “There were wolves at my cabin, at least eight of them.”

  “Wolves? That’s damn unusual.” Gage narrowed his eyes.

  “I have a feeling they were lured to the cabin.”

  “That’s another tall tale, but I can check out if any wounded deer or something else were positioned close by. That might bolster these crazy ideas of yours.”

  I knew they weren’t crazy. “I think Rusty was sending a message. I’m worried about Kelly. Don’t you get that? I love her, Gage. I...” I caught myself and grimaced, wincing as I moved back into a sitting position.

  “Wow. I didn’t know it was that bad.” Gage sighed. “Okay, look. I checked into Kelly’s background. I was curious because you’re not a stupid man. When you latch onto something, which is freaking rare, it’s usually for a reason.”

  “Yeah? Go on.”

  He stole a glance at the door. “Someone else has been checking into her background heavily. Going all the way back to her childhood.”

  “They found out about her record.” I studied my friend’s eyes. I could see there was a hell of a lot more to this story. Why her childhood?

  “They did but as you well know, that’s public record. I think there’s more.”