by Chrys Fey
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a bright flicker. She turned her head. A foot-tall flame waved at her from the woods. After growing up in Florida, she knew that hot spots were a danger with wildfires. One hot spot could start a new blaze.
“Guys, there’s a hot spot over there.” She pointed.
In the front passenger’s seat, Donovan went to open his door.
“No,” Thorn said. “The two of you are staying in this car.” He unbuckled his seat belt. “I’ll take care of it. When I get out, lock the doors.”
Thorn stepped out, and Donovan hit the locking mechanism the second Thorn’s door closed. Thorn tromped over the smoking ground to the flame. As he came closer, the flame stretched taller, as if challenging Thorn. But it was a wisp of a thing. Thorn kicked dirt and ash over it and stomped his boot over the smoldering spot until the embers were squashed. He came back to the car, and Donovan unlocked the doors for him.
Thorn’s radio sounded. “The premise is clear, but the house still needs to be checked.”
“Ten-four,” Thorn said into the radio. “We’re on the way.” He put the car in drive and drove up to their house. “Stay here while we make sure the house is clear.”
Beth fiddled with her fingers as Thorn and two other cops went through the front door with their weapons raised. Could Viper really be in there, waiting for them to get comfortable before blowing out their brains? A dozen images flashed through her mind—Donovan and her sitting side by side on the couch, two bangs sounding one right after the other, and blood spraying from their heads. Another image was the two of them asleep in bed, bang, bang, and blood pouring across their pillows. Would she ever feel safe in their house again?
Her heart raced faster as the minutes ticked by. She hadn’t heard a gunshot yet, but that didn’t stop her from fearing for Thorn’s life. Viper would put him down without a thought. And they had left their guns back at the motel room. If something went down, they wouldn’t be able to assist. They wouldn’t be able to do a damn thing.
Her palms sweated. She tried to imagine Thorn and the two cops searching their house, checking every corner, every closet, every nook and cranny. Finally, Thorn came out, leading the two cops. All three of them had their guns back in their holsters. Thorn lifted a hand and waved them to come.
Beth stepped out of the car. The smell of burnt nature assaulted her senses. On the driveway, she rotated in a full circle, taking in the charred trees and telephone poles, the blackened ground, and the sparseness. She could see the houses several streets down. All their privacy had been burned away. Seeing all the black where the fire had scorched was shocking. Her whole life, she had stood on this driveway and seen green. Even with the addition of new houses, there had always been trees and brush. Now the nature that had thrived there for so long was gone.
Hand in hand, Beth and Donovan trudged to their backyard. On the right side, a few yards of green grass stood between their house and the burnt line of where the fire ended. In the backyard, the pool was a puddle of blue plastic on the ground. Burnt splotches marred the green lawn from the pinecones that had dropped like bombs from the treetops.
“Look.” Donovan indicated a patch of woods in their backyard.
Beth’s heart lifted. Could it be? Their shoes crunched over ashes and crisp sticks as they trudged to the small section of surviving nature. They rounded a group of palmetto trees and came to a halt in front of Beth’s childhood fort. It was still standing. A smile dawned on her face. The igloo-shaped fort was made entirely of pine needles. It could’ve easily gone up in flames with a single ember, but it made it. That little miracle gave Beth hope. Smiling, she peered at the rest of the devastation and felt it would be okay. One of her memories endured, and she knew, given a couple of years, what was black now would be bursting with life again.
They walked along the other side of the house, and Beth saw, for the first time, just how close the fire had come to stealing her home. A foot was all that remained between the wall of their house and the fire’s reach. A foot. Even at a wider distance, the roof could’ve caught on fire. She stepped to the side, over the burnt ground, to take a look at the roof. Not a single smudge of black showed. The fire hadn’t been able to so much as lick a shingle. She recalled how Donovan had fought the flames with a hose and squeezed his hand. His efforts might’ve tipped the odds in their favor.
Back on the driveway, Beth gazed at her house. Happiness filled her. Once this nightmare ended, she could go back home.
A high-pitched sound made Beth’s ears perk up. She tilted her head. Was it a hawk? The call came again, but it hadn’t come from above her. It was behind her. With her arms crossed, she turned around. Her brows lowered. What was it?
Meeeeoooow.
Her head whipped to the side, and she saw Misty, Mrs. Caraway’s cat, sitting in the middle of the road. “Misty.” She hurried to the cat, picked her up, and held her to her chest. Misty’s fur was matted with dirt and smelled like smoke, but she was okay. Even her paws were clean of burns. Beth pressed her cheek to the top of the feline’s head. Tears burned the back of her eyes. This silly creature had been on her mind off and on since Misty had run off toward the fire. Beth had prayed the cat would survive, and here she was hugging the furry critter. She looked up when she heard scuffling feet approach her.
“Your cat?” Thorn scratched Misty’s head.
“No, my neighbor’s. I need to return her. I’ll be right back.”
“You can’t go by yourself. I’ll come with you.” He fell into step with her. His hand resting on his firearm didn’t escape her notice, but she ignored it as she cuddled Misty.
At Mrs. Caraway’s house, she knocked on the door. Misty purred loudly as they waited on the doormat for an answer. Beth rang the doorbell. She glanced toward the empty driveway when there wasn’t a response. “She must not have come back home yet.” She bent down and picked up the ceramic lady bug for Mrs. Caraway’s spare key. She unlocked the door, but before she could push it open, Thorn stopped her.
“Let me check first,” he said.
“This is an old lady’s house,” she reminded him.
He removed his firearm. “Just let me do my job, okay? What’s her name?”
“Mrs. Caraway.”
Thorn pushed the door open with his foot. “Mrs. Caraway, this is the Orlando P.D. I’m coming in.” He stepped inside.
Beth waited on the doormat with Misty cuddled in her arms. A few minutes later, Thorn returned. “No one here.”
Beth shut the door behind her and set Misty on the floor. She immediately ran to her food dish and began gobbling down the kibble. In the pantry, Beth found a plastic container of cat food with a scoop. She filled the bowl to the rim and put fresh water in the other dish. “There you go, little girl.” Squatting next to Misty, she petted the feline from head to tail. Her long coat was a mess. Beth picked out stickers and twigs from her fur.
“Here.”
Beth looked up. Thorn held out a cat comb. Smiling, she took it and set to work making Misty presentable for her owner’s return. Once her coat was smooth and shining again, Beth wrote a note on a flowered piece of stationary. She didn’t know whether Mrs. Caraway had a cell phone or not. If she did, Beth didn’t have the number. A note was the best thing she could do under the circumstances. After rooting through a few drawers, she found tape and stuck the note to the front door, so Mrs. Caraway would be greeted with good news when she came home.
Misty’s safe return elevated Beth’s mood even more. She smiled all the way to her studio. Corissa and Amanda were the only ones there, since it was lunch time. Beth used her key to get in. Both women stared at her as if she was an intruder.
“Excuse me, ma’am, I don’t know how you got a key, but you—” Amanda fell silent when Donovan and Thorn came in after her. A flash of fear lit Amanda’s green eyes. Beth had forgotten all about the wig she wore.
“It’s okay,” she said. “It’s Beth.”
The women blinked at
her. Beth watched Amanda’s eyes skip over to the men behind her. Donovan had on a hat and dark glasses, but Thorn was the only one who still looked like himself. Recognition crossed Amanda’s face.
Corissa stepped forward. “Oh my gosh, Beth. You dyed your hair?”
“Not exactly. It’s a disguise.”
“What’s going on?” Amanda asked.
The girl knew the signs. Not coming into work and using a disguise weren’t normal actions. Amanda had employed the same tactics in the past to hide from her ex.
“We’re okay,” Beth said, wanting to reassure her, but the frown didn’t leave Amanda’s face. “How has everything been here?” She paused, knowing her next question would only deepen that frown. “Had anyone come here looking for me?”
Amanda and Corissa exchanged glances. “No,” they said together.
“I’m going to make sure the studio is secure,” Thorn said. He stepped away from them and slipped his firearm from the holster at his hip.
Amanda stared after him as he maneuvered with stealth to the back of the studio. When he was out of sight, she spun back around. “Is this about me? Has he contacted you?”
Beth took Amanda’s hands. “No. This is about me. You’re safe here. Corissa knows what to do if Damon comes around.” Corissa nodded confirmation, and Amanda’s shoulders lowered a fraction.
Thorn came back out into the main room. “Safe and sound,” he announced.
Beth nodded, liking his choice of words. Amanda’s fear probably hadn’t escaped him either. Not with his cop eyes and instincts. “Thanks, Thorn.” She couldn’t help but notice the shy smile Amanda gave him and the way Thorn seemed to freeze where he stood when they made eye contact. Damn, if there wasn’t attraction there. Beth could feel it humming in the air. She wished she could give them a shove right into each other’s arms, but it wouldn’t work that way. Baby steps. Or, more precisely, insect steps.
The five of them talked briefly. Beth asked how the classes were going and if anyone else had any fire scares. She was grateful to hear none of her other students had been threatened by the fiery beast set loose by Viper and his goons.
“I almost forgot,” Corissa said. “The other day, someone dropped off a little package for you, Beth. I put it on your desk.”
Beth’s gaze jumped to Donovan and Thorn. A package? Her heart raced. What if Viper had left her the heart of the pig he had slaughtered? Her stomach flip-flopped.
Thorn gave Amanda and Corissa a charming smile. “I actually think that’s for me. Beth and I will go and get it real fast.” He glanced at Donovan. Beth felt a silent order pass between them. Thorn didn’t want to upset Amanda and Corissa, so he wanted Donovan to stay there to show them the package wasn’t dangerous.
Beth walked to the back of the studio with Thorn matching her steps. Her gaze flicked to his holster. His hand wasn’t on his firearm, which she knew must’ve taken a lot of restraint. They turned into Beth’s office. Right there in the middle of her desk was a padded envelope. Not what she had been expecting. Her mind went wild trying to figure out what could be lurking inside it. Another dead snake? Anthrax? Or maybe it wasn’t evil, after all. It could easily be business related, like the fliers she had ordered or a bill.
She reached out for it, but Thorn snatched her hand away before she could touch it. He pulled a pair of latex gloves from his back pocket and gingerly opened the envelope. He peeked in, and his jaw tightened. His protected fingers pulled out a bloody switch blade.
Beth’s throat constricted. Was it more pig’s blood? Or would it be human blood this time? She didn’t want to know.
Thorn slipped out a note. He flipped it open. His gaze hardened.
“What does it say?”
He turned it around. Scribbled on the piece of torn paper was “UR NXT!”
Beth swallowed. “You’re next.” She nodded. “Message received.”
****
Beth and Thorn came back into the main room. Thorn held a bubble envelope, but his fingers were pinching the corner, as if he didn’t want to disturb any prints. Amanda and Corissa might not notice that, but Donovan did. His interest piqued.
Thorn held up the envelope with a smile. “Turns out it is for me. Thanks for letting us know.” He leaned casually against the counter. “If another package comes, can you let me know? Corissa, you should have my number.” He tilted his head at Amanda. “Do you still have my card?”
Amanda nodded. A blush crept across her cheeks. “I keep it on me at all times.” Her hands lifted, and her fingers pulled back the corner of her workout top. She pulled out his card. Her curves had bent it. She smiled. “Actually, I could probably use another. That way I can keep one here, and the other can be in the pocket of my normal clothes.”
Speechlessly, Thorn took a card from his pocket and handed it to her. He had to clear his throat to speak. “Well, I have to get back to work.”
“And he’s our ride,” Beth said. “So, we have to go, too. The two of you are doing a great job here while I’m gone. I wouldn’t trust The Fighting Chance to anyone else.” She hugged them.
Donovan held the door open for Beth. “Take care, ladies,” he said then closed the door.
Once they were on the sidewalk, heading to Thorn’s car, Donovan heard Thorn say, “Damn. My business cards are lucky.”
****
Beth and Donovan spent two more days locked up in the motel. On the third day, Thorn told them they were getting the boot. Despite the threat, Chief Cormac was pulling the guard after that night, and they would be free to go home in the morning.
“Do you think it’s safe?” Beth asked Thorn.
He sighed. “I can’t say for sure. Viper hasn’t shown up anywhere. Maybe I scared him enough he dropped his whole plan. Since we determined the note was delivered the day of the fire, we can’t prove he’s still after you, especially since nothing has happened since the fire.”
“That’s bullshit,” Donovan said as anger clashed inside him, raging to break free. “You know he’s not going to forget or let Beth go so easily. He’s still out there.”
Thorn wrenched his head left and right. Bones popped in his neck. “I know. Damn it, Goldwyn, I know, but my hands are tied. There’s nothing more I can do. You can pay for this room and stay here longer, and I’ll continue to check in every day, but that’s the only option we have right now.”
Beth groaned. “I don’t want to stay in this room any longer than we have to.” She peered up at Donovan. “I want to go home.”
He cupped her chin with his hand and stared into her eyes. She was tired of living this way, and so was he. “Okay,” he said. “Tomorrow morning, we’ll check out.”
Thorn got up. “I’ll be back then to take you home. Sleep tight.”
Donovan locked the door after Thorn’s exit. He went back to Beth, who sat at the end of the bed. He held her face in his hands and leaned over to kiss her. Her lips were plush and warm. They responded under his, parting to caress his lips. He tasted something sweet, sugary. Was it lip balm? Did she just suck on a piece of candy? He didn’t know, but it heightened his hunger for her. His tongue flicked the inside of her lips. The tip of her tongue came out to tease his. Then her mouth opened, accepting him. He sought the sweetness. It seemed as though her tongue was made of honey. He groaned as he tasted, took.
Beth pulled away, much to his protest. She pushed her body backward across the bed until her back touched the headboard. “We may be stuck here for the night, but we can make it enjoyable,” she tempted.
His breathing was heavy. Every part of his mind seemed hyperaware, aroused. All he wanted was to plunder her mouth. “Why the hell do you taste so sweet?” His voice sounded deep even to his own ears, as if he were a bear roaring at a honey tree, starving for the goods inside. Beth responded to his voice in ways she couldn’t control. Her pupils dilated. Her lips parted. Her legs flinched as her thigh muscles tightened.
“It’s peppermint.” Her voice was breathless.
He didn’t know if peppermint was an aphrodisiac. He knew it stimulated the brain, and damn, he felt stimulated. He crawled over the bed. The closer he got, Beth scooted down, so when his body was poised over hers, they were eye to eye. He lowered himself, but not all the way. The front of his T-shirt fell with gravity and settled over her chest. Propped above her, as if he was holding a push-up, he brought his mouth to hers. He savored the candied taste of her lips, her tongue, her breath. Soft sounds of pleasure purred from Beth as he relished in her flavor.
Beth finally turned her head away, breaking the contact, ending his feast. She panted. Smirking, he nuzzled the side of her neck. His nose moved along her throat. He didn’t touch her skin with his mouth. Instead, he let his nose give her Eskimo kisses.
“Damn,” Beth gasped. “You’ve never kissed me like that before.”
She turned her head, but still didn’t let him have access to her lips. He smelled her skin and moved his nose along her jaw and down the length of her neck. It turned out Eskimo kisses over the body were just as invigorating as the real thing. Her hands slipped beneath his T-shirt and molded to his ribcage. Her nails softly bit him.
“Stay with me, kid, and I’ll kiss you in a million different ways.”
She turned her head back to his. Her eyes were so black they glistened. “I’m in.”
Her word choice only made his arousal stronger. Stripped of their clothes, he hovered over her. He wanted to make love to her in a way they never had before. No, they wouldn’t be trying an outrageous position. What he had in mind would give them a deeper connection. At the moment, he wanted to be as bonded to Beth as was humanly possible.
