by Amy Briggs
The Brotherhood of District 23
Amy Briggs
Contents
Fired Up
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Acknowledgments
Fully Involved
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Acknowledgments
Controlled Burn
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Acknowledgments
Afterword
Bonus Chapter 1
Bonus Chapter 2
Bonus Chapter 3
Bonus Chapter 4
Character Interviews
Other Books by Amy Briggs
About the Author
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
The Brotherhood of District 23 Complete Series
By Amy Briggs
Copyright © 2017 Amy Briggs
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, copied, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical without the expressed permission of the author.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Cover Design copyright © 2017 Concierge Literary Design
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Fired Up By Amy Briggs: Copyright © 2016 Amy Briggs
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, copied, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical without the expressed permission of the author.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Cover Design copyright © 2016 Concierge Literary Promotions
Editing by Cassia Brightmore of LJ & CB Creative Images and Services
For my parents
I couldn’t find anything suitable to wear to my own dad’s funeral. Everyone was going to be there, wearing their Class A Dress Uniforms, which was completely acceptable, since he was a Fire District Chief, but I won't be wearing mine. I haven’t worked at that department in almost a year, and it just doesn’t seem appropriate at all. My aunt also informed me that my father’s only daughter shouldn’t be dressed like a boy the day he’s laid to rest; her words of reprimand have been ringing in my head all morning.
At least my best friend, Matt will be there, along with his brother Brian and the rest of the department of course. Brian was actually appointed into my father’s position when he died last week. We have a bit of a history. We had a moment really; a hot, steamy moment that I’d never be able to get out of my head apparently. I felt a moistness pool between my legs thinking about his beautiful green eyes, his well-defined muscles and the tattoos that couldn’t be more perfectly placed on his chest and arms. Jesus Christ, it’s your dad’s funeral, get your shit together, Josephine Meadows. That was a one-time thing, just kiss, a really great kiss. No matter how great it was, or how much deep down I actually wanted him, having those thoughts at this time and place was inappropriate. I shook my head to clear it; reminding myself that Brian was a cocky asshole anyway.
Matt was picking my aunt and I up, she was my only biological family left now and my dad’s older sister. My mom died when I was three, leaving me and my dad to fend for ourselves for the most part. After she died, he never dated, or married again; he was more or less married to the fire service. He worked the job until his last breath; when he passed away from a heart attack while out on a call. It was no secret that the stress of firefighting made heart attacks the number one killer of firefighters, but their shitty diets certainly didn’t help either, no matter how hard I tried to get him to be healthier.
“Josephine! Matt's here, let’s go!” Aunt Molly yelled from downstairs. I finished putting on my favorite red lipstick that I never wore except to go out or for events, grabbed some black heels that were probably a bit too high for walking around all day, and took a deep breath as I went downstairs. It was going to be a long day, but everyone that I’d be greeting loved us, they were all our family.
It's the day of Jack’s funeral, a day I've been dreading as I felt like I lost my own father. He was my fire chief for as long as I can remember as I moved up the ranks. Technically, he was the only father figure I had. My dad left my mom with me and my little brother when I was five and he was three. Our mom, and Jo’s mom had been friends, and Matt and Jo have been best friends
since they were born. The two were born in the same hospital in the same week; making them almost inseparable for as long as I can remember.
When our dad left, Jack Meadows stepped in to help out; teaching us how to be boys, and then how to be good men. He and our mom stayed friends and I always thought there might have been something going on there, but who knows. Jack was an honorable man, and when his wife died, around the same time our dad left, he made it a point to check on my mom, and that was good enough for us. From what I know, he never really involved himself with a woman again. They ended up being really close. When we were old enough, we couldn’t wait to join the fire department, and we’ve both made a career out of it. That fire department was our calling and definitely our family.
It was time to lay to rest the only father I've ever known, and to make sure his family had everything they needed from the fire department; that was my responsibility now and we looked out for our own. I adjusted my uniform, making sure it was all in place and thought about Jack’s family. His only family besides the department was his sister, Molly who lives out of town, and Jo.
Josephine Meadows. I started to get a little twitch in my dick; she was always so fucking sexy and had absolutely no clue how hot she was. She was a firefighter too, it was in her blood. We used to all ride together, and my God, her ass in a uniform. It would stop you in your tracks if she walked by. She was off limits though, her dad had been my boss, and my brother was her best friend--that’s like two bro code fails in one. I haven’t seen her all that much since we drank too much, and got a little handsy with each other at one of the fire academy graduation parties last year. We said some stuff to each other that probably should never have been said.
We'd decided to do only one service, viewing, whatever you wanted to call it. My dad knew it would be a production, he was a Fire Chief, and as humble as he was, he was a fucking good one, and well respected across our state as well as several others. We'd casually discussed what he wanted over the years. It’s something you got comfortable talking about in emergency services; you knew how short life could be. We were going to the funeral home, then straight to my dad’s house for a reception that the fire department stepped in and took care of for me.
In traditional fashion, I was up at the front of the room by the memorial, thankfully with my aunt, and I had asked Matt to be with me too. Normally, he would have come with the rest of the fire department, but as a show of support, he arrived with me instead. Dressed in his Class A uniform, he stood by my side, ready to be my crutch if I needed it. It was a lot of people, he knew everyone, and could help me say and do the right thing. I honestly think I was still in shock, I had yet to shed one single tear. Matt was a little worried about it, but I knew it would happen after all the “business” of the funeral was over. Matt’s mom, Catherine, was also sitting in the front row, she'd been really close to my dad, and I could see she was grieving as well, dabbing at her eyes with a beautiful little white lace handkerchief that appeared to have tiny blue flowers embroidered on it.
My dad was cremated, as per his wishes. He was a firefighter, and as sick or crazy as it sounds, he thought it was amusing to be cremated. Whatever, it was what he wanted, and at the end of the day, what did it matter? It was the only thing my aunt and I disagreed on about this whole situation, she felt that he should be traditionally laid to rest. We compromised, and I let her buy a plot and a headstone, and I’d promised that we’d have a private non-burial sometime after the service, but not that day.
My feet were killing me from my heels already, and the service had barely started. The fire department had wanted to do an honor guard and I asked them not to, but they were all there, showing their support. There was a sea of navy blue uniforms, and I truly appreciated their presence even though it was a little overwhelming. My heart thumped against my chest thinking of how supportive these people all were. I’ve shown up to a lot of these in the support role myself, always knowing this day would come, but was still in awe at the amount of people in attendance.
Matt leaned over to whisper to me. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m alright. I probably should’ve worn more sensible shoes though,” I giggled, and my aunt threw me a glare. I leaned over to her. “You know my dad had a sense of humor, lighten up a little bit.” She took my hand and squeezed. She knew I was right and that even if we didn’t know all of the firefighters, EMTs and police officers coming through to pay their respects, they had all been touched by my father in some way. It was important for us to not make their hurt any worse either. We were a family, a big crazy family that most folks didn’t understand, but family nonetheless. He had even indicated, should he pass, that we should play upbeat music at his “funeral.” We did just that, turning the service into an almost cheerful gathering.
Matt checked his phone and smiled. “Looks like our department is here, just got a text from Brian.” They could all be so annoying and crude, but would do absolutely anything for you. I basically had one hundred brothers, which was the coolest thing since biologically, I was an only child.
“Ok, so here we go. No crying.”
“You can do whatever you want you know. I’m here for you.” He put his arm around me and gave me a squeeze. He looked down at me with a soft smile, eliciting a small smile from me in return. Matt always knew how to keep me calm and I was so grateful he was there for me.
“I really appreciate it, Matt, thank you. I just want to be strong, he was so loved by everyone, I really want today to be a celebration and I know that’s what he would want too.” I sighed.
Matt smiled and leaned into me. “I think that’s exactly what he would want.”
The funeral director came over and let us know people were arriving and that he’d direct them where to go. I thought it was pretty obvious where to go, and we already knew, but I kept my mouth shut for a change. I was planning to really make the effort to not offend anyone or give too many of my opinions which would be a change of pace for me. The first to walk in the door was Brian, and the rest of the guys filed in one after another. I noticed those goddamn sexy eyes right away, and felt myself getting warm and flushed in his presence. Brian looked me straight in the eyes and nodded, before holding the door for his men to come in and pay their respects. They were so professional looking. I mean they were professionals, it’s just that I grew up with so many of them, sometimes I’d forgotten how handsome and well put together they could all look when they needed to, especially right now.
Each of the emergency services well wishers that came through the line, said something wonderful about my dad, gave me and my aunt a hug, shook Matt’s hand, and then took residence in the back of the funeral home. That’s how it worked, the “family department” basically stood watch at these events to see if anyone needed help. Brian didn’t come through the line with the rest of the guys, which seemed odd. I spent the greater part of the afternoon shaking hands and hugging my friends, my dad’s friends and several people I didn’t actually know. That felt like it went on for an eternity and I was growing uncomfortable from all of the talking and hugging. My uncomfortable shoes weren’t helping me either.
As the guys from my old department, which was my dad’s department came through I thought about all the things I loved about each of them, and what I know my dad loved about them too. Scotty was always the driver, and ran the pumps. He was kind of young for a full time driver with that much responsibility at twenty-three, but he took it in stride. He was also our engineer, he could get water to flow out of anything, and was often called upon to teach rural departments how to get water when they had hydrant problems or couldn’t get water at all. He was so smart, and had such an instinct for reading a scene and knowing where equipment needed to be efficiently and effectively.
Our engine officer, Kevin Taylor, was quiet and cool all the time. Never lost his head, always had a good answer to a question, and could read a fire like nobody else. He was almost forty, and had never settled down himself. He
was actually older than Brian who was thirty-five and now our chief. Taylor had ladies throwing themselves at him, but he never took the bait, at least not in front of any of us. He could be a bit of a loner, but I had the best late night conversations with him in the kitchen at the firehouse, I could have sworn he was the most interesting man in the world like in those silly beer commercials.
Jax was, well he was Jax. Seth Jackson was actually his real name, but he reminded us all of a tall, Australian guy on a soap opera we saw one time, named Jax. It just stuck once we started calling him that as a joke years ago. He was tall, blonde, blue eyed and handsome like a model. An ex-marine, he was so fit and good looking, he was always beating the girls off with a stick. Matt lived with Jax. He bought a house when he got out of the marines, and figured he’d offset costs by having a roommate. I think all those years in the marines, he didn’t really like being alone that much, even though he was kind of quiet. We always got along well, and he was a great firefighter. Always training, and reading about the latest thing in fire suppression. He was a walking encyclopedia of new technologies.
Matt was usually on the same shift as me when I was riding regularly. He’s also an engine guy. Back in the academy, I had to coax him off of a fire escape that we were training on when he got paralyzed up at the top. It’s no joke, and if I wasn’t helping him myself, we were partners on that training exercise, I probably would have frozen too. That’s the thing I love about firefighting, you always, and I do mean always have a partner; it was actually a very common rule. No going off on your own and freelancing at a fire, everyone has a partner. Since we’re so close personally, we work together really well and were usually side by side until I left the department to work several part time and per diem jobs at different departments and for the county, which seemed like a great way to branch out at the time. . He dates the worst girls ever, I hate them all, and that’s not because I have a secret crush on him, I saved that for Brian. Matt just has horrible taste and dates the dumbest girls I’ve ever met in my life, but they sure do love firefighters. Most girls love a sexy firefighter, we’ve all seen the movies. As a female firefighter, it was both nauseating and hilarious to watch the dating rituals of the guys around me.
