by K. C. Lynn
“So this is why you’re so pissed off,” Cam says, amusement laced in his voice as he speaks with no filter, as usual. “You’re coveting a beautiful woman.” Jumping off the kitchen stool, he walks over to Zoey, greeting her with a kiss on the cheek.
If he wasn’t one of my best friends, I’d punch him in the mouth for putting his lips on my girl.
“Hey, Cam,” she returns, accepting his gesture before giving Jake a small wave.
“How’s it going, Zoey?”
She shrugs but answers honestly. “Just okay.”
Jake nods in understanding. If anyone can grasp what she’s going through right now, it’s him. “Listen, we can come back,” he says, his attention back on me. “We should have called first.”
“No, please stay. It’s fine.” Zoey assures him, swinging her gaze my way. “Do what you need to do here. I’m going to go explore the property and test out the new camera. Meet up when you’re done?”
I nod. “I’ll come find you. Don’t go far.”
She gives me a mock salute. “Yes, sir, Lieutenant.”
I grunt but the truth is, I’ll take the sass over her sadness any day.
Chuckling, she blows me a kiss that Cam pretends to catch, making her laugh even harder.
Asshole.
Though, I can’t deny I love that sound, even if he’s the one to invoke it.
After one final wave, she walks out the door.
“Guess you guys patched things up,” Cam remarks, opening his trap once again.
“There was nothing to patch up. She just needed some time. I gave it to her and now she’s back.”
“Whatever you say, Lieutenant,” he mocks.
I shoot him an annoyed look before turning to face Jake, my arms crossing over my chest. “What’s going on?”
Within seconds the energy in the room shifts, and I quickly realize I’m not going to like this. “Cam found out something interesting about our rookie yesterday.”
My curiosity piques, eyes shifting back to Cam, finding all prior amusement gone from his face.
“Remember that shift Rubin switched with Declan because of a family gathering?” he asks.
I nod.
“Well, turns out there never was a family gathering.”
“How do you know that?”
“I ran into Clay at the gym last night,” he says, talking about Rubin’s older brother. The four of us graduated together. “We got on the topic of Declan’s death and how Rubin has been handling it. He said he hasn’t been himself since the fire, more stressed and agitated, even withdrawn. When I mentioned how the shift change must make it harder on him, he had no idea what I was talking about. Needless to say, by the time I was finished telling him, he was as confused as me.”
I mull over the information, something feeling off. “Why would Rubin lie? It makes no sense.”
Cam shrugs. “Maybe he has something to hide.”
The suggestion triggers a memory, the back of my neck tingling as I recall finding him going through Declan’s locker shortly after his death. I didn’t think it was important before but maybe it was.
Tension mounts further when I share the information with them.
“Why didn’t you say anything before?” Jake asks.
“Because he said he was looking for something that he lent to Declan. I didn’t think he was fucking lying. This is Rubin we’re talking about.”
“I get it,” Cam says, “but even if we put all this aside, I have to agree with Clay. Rubin hasn’t been himself since Declan. Just look at how many times he’s shown up late for shift in the last month.”
He’s right and it’s not smart on his part. I’ve already given him a warning, next time it will be Cap, and when it comes to him, three strikes and you’re out.
“Let’s also not forget how skittish he was when the chief showed up the other night,” he adds, making another good point. “He ran back into that station like his ass was on fire.”
“Maybe, but arson?” I say. “I just don’t see it. He’s too…amateur.”
“I agree with you there,” Jake says. “But I still say we take this to Cap. He needs to know, Austin. Right now, with the escalation of these fires, we can’t rule anything out.”
I let go of a heavy breath and nod. “We’ll talk to him next shift.”
The last thing we need is more tension around the station but they’re right, Cap needs to know about this. I just hope we’re wrong and there is a very good explanation for all this because the thought that it could be one of our own, that it could be someone from our very station, leaves me sick to my stomach.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Zoey
Surrounded by nature, I take my time snapping photo after photo as I rediscover a passion I’d abandoned over time.
At first I wandered the property, feeling a little unsure as I trudged through the wet grass from the rain we had earlier. It was almost like I had forgotten how to do this, but it didn’t take long before I found my love all over again.
It started with the sun casting a glow on the mountain peaks as it broke from the clouds. Then a squirrel on a branch eating an acorn. A bird’s nest that had newborn baby birds. Discovery after discovery came and euphoria slipped over me, the burden on my heart easing with every shot I captured. Until time became nothing more than an afterthought.
One of the things I love most about photography is the ability to see things differently through a lens, experience them differently. Things that you wouldn’t normally appreciate with the naked eye.
It reminds you just how big the world really is and that despite the catastrophes it can hold, the heartbreak it can bleed, somewhere within this madness we call life lies beauty.
It isn’t until I come upon the creek that my feet falter and I remember the last time I was here.
With my sister and Austin.
The newfound peace I had just discovered shatters, pain threading through my hurting heart as I remember that day. It’s so vivid that I’m thrust back into the memory, reliving it all over again.
Chrissy’s stuttering laugh carries with the soft breeze, lighting up her entire being as Austin carries her down to the water, kneeling so she can touch it.
“Co-ld,” she muses, smiling back at him.
“It is. Do you want to go for a swim?” he teases, pretending to throw her in the water.
She shrieks with laughter, clinging to his shirt.
Eventually, he walks her further down the bank, showing her the different rocks and a dam that was built before he moved in.
I snap pictures of them with my phone, my heart full as I watch the man I love carry my baby sister in his strong arms and show her the beautiful parts of Mother Nature. He doesn’t complain or even break a sweat. By the smile on his face, I’d say he’s enjoying it as much as Chrissy is. It’s all I can do to contain the sheer joy I feel in this moment.
I end up picking a spot on the grass and empty out the picnic basket we packed before calling them over.
Austin situates Chrissy between my open legs, her back resting against my chest as I hug her close, then he takes the spot behind me, his arms coming around both my sister and me. It’s the most perfect moment of my existence, one I decide I must capture.
Turning my phone to selfie mode, I hold it up, far enough to get all three of us in. “Everyone say cheese.”
My sister’s smile fills the screen while Austin turns his face, his lips pressing to my cheek. It’s a moment that will not only be in a photo forever but also photographed on my heart for the rest of my life.
A bird chirps next to me, pulling me from the memory and bringing me back to my devastating reality. I find myself down on my knees, tears streaming down my face as my heart bleeds with longing, wishing I could have several more moments just like that one. All the times we were supposed to have but were stolen from us much too soon.
My breath shudders, agony slicing my chest as I feel myself being pulled back into grief.
One moment, I’m lost in my despair, and then the next, everything changes.
The sun suddenly becomes brighter, dancing along my skin and calling my attention. Lifting my face, I gasp at what I find before me.
A rainbow.
A beautiful, unmistakable rainbow that lights up the entire sky, touching my soul like never before.
A kiss from heaven.
“Chrissy.” Her name leaves my lips on the softest whisper, a feeling of unconditional love washing over me.
“Zoey!” Austin’s worried voice breaks into the moment as he races forward, dropping down before me. He frames my tear stained cheeks between both his hands, his concerned eyes searching mine. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
I shake my head.
“What happened?”
“I…” I trail off, words rolling around in my head as I think of a way to explain this to him, but how do you explain something as extraordinary as this? How do you explain the unexplainable? “I think I’m going to be okay,” I tell him instead.
Understanding flashes across his face before remorse fills it. “You will be, Zoey girl. I’ll make sure of it.” He pulls me into his arms, holding my fragile pieces together as we both look out at the rainbow, silence settling between us.
I snap a few pictures but know a photo will never bring this moment justice. Nothing can.
“I think she knew,” I say softly, telling Austin something I haven’t been able to admit. “I think Chrissy knew she was going to leave me.”
His lips brush my temple in comfort. “Why do you say that?”
I shrug. “Just some of the things she said and did.”
Over the last few weeks, I’ve replayed some of our last moments together. Remembering the night she touched my face, telling me she wanted me to be happy, it has knowledge filling my heart, one I haven’t wanted to accept.
“I didn’t want to believe it,” I whisper. “I knew she was suffering but I still selfishly wanted her to stay.”
“You love her, Zoey. There’s nothing selfish in that.”
Maybe he’s right but I can’t help but feel a sense of guilt, thinking she held on as long as she did only for me. She worried about me and wanted to make sure I was happy. She sacrificed for me too, probably more than I did for her. With every precious beat of my heart, that awareness spreads and it’s something I won’t take for granted, not anymore.
The last thought has me saying what I do next. “I’m going to sell the bar.”
“Yeah?” he asks, a note of surprise in his voice.
I nod, though it wasn’t until I just spoke those words that I realize just how confident I am in the decision. “As much as I appreciate all it has given me, it was always only meant as a means to support Chrissy. Now that she’s gone it just doesn’t feel right anymore. It’s…lost its purpose,” I add, remembering the words he said to me last night.
“Then sell it. Do what makes you happy, Zoey. I’ll be here for whatever you decide.”
I smile, my heart swelling with the love this man makes me feel. Turning in his arms, I look up into his handsome face. “You make me happy.”
“Good because you’re never getting rid of me.” His warm brown eyes hold mine captive as his mouth descends, sealing this moment with a promise. It isn’t long before we are shedding our clothes and making love under the sun, finding something beautiful amongst the pain.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Zoey
Friday afternoon, I walk into the bar to find Frank standing behind the counter, doing inventory before it opens for business.
His head lifts at my arrival, relief flashing in his dark eyes before disapproval takes over. “You’re not working tonight.”
His surly tone doesn’t deter me in the least. I continue forward, my hands lifting in surrender. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to work. I’m here to see you.”
“Oh. Well in that case, get your ass over here and give me a hug.”
A giggle escapes my mouth as he meets me halfway, embracing me while I give him a kiss on the cheek. His hands move to my shoulders as he steps back, his eyes assessing. “You’re looking better, sweetheart. Still sad but better.”
“Thanks. I’m trying.”
“That’s all we can do.” He pulls out a bar stool, gesturing for me to sit. “Have a seat. Want something to drink?”
“No, thanks. I’m good.”
He takes the chair to my right, turning to face me. “What’s up?”
I open my mouth to speak what I came to say but then close it. No matter how many times I went over this in my head, I still find myself lost for words, feeling nervous for his reaction.
He cocks a brow, waiting patiently.
Squaring my shoulders, I decide to just blurt it out. “I’m going to sell the bar.”
I wait for his surprise but it never comes. “I think that’s a good idea.”
Shock rolls through me, a frown taking over my face. “You do?”
He nods. “Your heart has never been in this place, not the way it should be.”
My shoulders slump, guilt working its way into my chest. “Was I really that bad at hiding it?”
He shrugs. “What’s there to hide? You ran this place with pride and worked your ass off for your sister. Nothing wrong with that.”
Warmth invades my chest. This man may not have known me long but he gets me.
“I did and I appreciate all it’s given me. It’s just not where I’m meant to be anymore, ya know?”
“I get it, and as I said, I think it’s the right decision.”
“I’m glad to hear that because I want to ask you something.”
“Oh?” He peers back at me, waiting for elaboration.
“Any chance you want to buy it from me?”
The surprise I expected earlier now flashes across his face. “Me?”
I nod. “This may not have been my dream job but the bar still means a lot to me and I want someone who will love it the way it deserves. I’m not looking to make money,” I rush to assure him. “Not if you take it. I’d be willing to just hand over the loan as is.”
He waves me away. “Don’t worry about that. We’d make this fair for both of us. I just…I never thought about the possibility.” He pauses, pondering it for only a minute. “I’ll take it.”
I sit up straighter, caught off guard by the quick response. “Really? You don’t want to think about it more? Because you can.”
“Nope. I’m making my decision now. I want it.”
A sense of relief slips over me, the weight of the world lifting from my shoulders. “Then it’s yours.”
A grin stretches across his face, his hand lifting in the air. “Can you see it? Frank Lowery, bar owner,” he says, an almost wistful sound to his voice. “Sounds good, don’t it?”
I’m unable to hide my own smile. “It sounds wonderful.”
Laughing, he jumps to his feet. “Come here, sweetheart.”
Jumping off my stool, I walk into his arms, our hug lasting longer than our first one.
“Thanks for always being my friend, Frank,” I murmur against his chest.
“I’ll always be your friend, kid, and you will always have a place in this bar if you ever change your mind.”
My heart swells as I realize just how lucky I am to have this man in my life. He’s been more of a father to me than my own ever was. No matter where we go from here, I know he will always be a part of my life.
A loud bang suddenly sounds from the kitchen, pulling us apart.
“Is Tara here already?” I ask.
“Shouldn’t be.”
He heads toward the kitchen with me following close behind but when we enter we find it empty.
“Don’t tell me we have damn mice. It’d be just my luck after buying this place.”
I chuckle but it quickly trails off when a distinct odor suddenly fills the room. Something that smells oddly sweet. It’s so overwhelming that it makes me nauseous.
My ga
ze swings to Frank. “Do you smell that?”
Confusion masks his expression seconds before a blast rocks the ground, throwing us off our feet. I land with jarring impact, my ears ringing with painful finality as the air gets shoved from my lungs. Fiery debris rains down upon us as the entire world crumbles, trapping us in darkness.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Austin
Cam, Jake, and I sit before the captain in his office, relaying the information we found out about Rubin. I hate to do this but the more I’ve thought about his deceit, the more concerned I’ve become. We deserve the truth about where he was that night and, as lieutenant, it’s my job to get to the bottom of it, especially when this shift change helped cause the death of one of my men.
“This is a serious accusation, you all understand that, right?”
“No one is accusing him yet, Cap,” I respond carefully. “We just want the truth. Clearly he lied about where he was that night, and I want to know why.”
“Same,” Cam says, cutting in. “As much as I hate to entertain this idea, you have to admit it’s a little unnerving, especially when Austin caught him going through Declan’s locker only days after his death.”
Cap nods. “It is but that doesn’t make him a criminal. He and Declan were close. It makes no sense why he would put him in harm’s way, or anyone for that matter.” His eyes move to Jake for the first time since this meeting. “What’s your take on all this? I know you’ve been discussing things with Hamilton.”
Jake shrugs. “Honestly, I don’t know. The more I think about it, the more I feel he doesn’t fit the profile but I do agree that these instances are more than suspicious. I also think it’s time we start considering that this could be personal.”
“What makes you say that?” Cap asks, looking more than intrigued by his statement.
“These fires keep happening in our jurisdiction. He could strike anywhere at any time. Yet he chooses our territory. First two I thought was coincidental but after this last one…” He tugs at the back of his neck. “I don’t know, Cap. Something doesn’t feel right. Call it a gut feeling.”
