New Beginnings (The Girl and The Fireman Book 1)

by Amy Allen

  New Beginnings

  The Girl and The Fireman Series

  Book 1

  By

  Amy Allen

  Dedication:

  This is dedicated to my very best friend – my mother. Thank you for always being there for me, for encouraging me to believe in myself, for encouraging me to try, and to not give up. I love you.

  Acknowledgments:

  Thank you to my main editor – my mom – for the awesome work. You are the best.

  Thank you to Elizabeth Bank with Selestiele Designs - http://www.selestieledesigns.com – for designing this great cover.

  Sunday

  Up in the parking lot just out of sight of anyone, he stood watching the beach. He was watching her, the little bitch. She thought she could move and hide, even change her looks, to get away from him. It didn’t work. He had a plan, and this time he would destroy her.

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  A petite blonde came up out of the water, surfboard under her arm, laughing at something the man walking with her said. People watched them as they headed in, because of how they looked and their height difference – her at five feet even and him at six feet seven inches – many wondering if they were siblings or a couple. He was actually just her best friend and protector. He was also the best friend of her uncle. Palanaki, called Lana by most of her friends, thought of Craig as another brother. She knew people stared at them and she didn’t care, but she also never thought of what she saw in the mirror. Especially since over the last seven years, people tended to think she was just a tattooed freak, never finding out why she had the markings on the left side of her face, neck, torso, to the elbow on her left arm and to the knee on her left leg.

  She suddenly wondered where her older brother Rob was. Smiling, she spotted him standing next to three other tall men in the distance.

  Seeing where she was looking, Craig stopped and said, “Give it here. I’ll take it to where the towels are.”

  Grinning, she handed him her board and ran up toward Rob. As she got closer, she heard him say to one of the men, “Sorry it didn’t work out with you and Jennifer, Joshua.”

  The man he called Joshua shrugged. “It happens. It was fun while it lasted.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone approaching and turned to look. Seeing a small pretty blonde, he smiled, thinking she looked familiar.

  Smiling in return, she noticed he was about the same height as her brother who stood at six feet five inches. Turning to her brother she said, “Hey, Rob.”

  “Hey, brat. You looked good out there.”

  She grinned. “Mahalo.” Remembering he wasn’t just with the one he called Joshua she glanced at the two other males – one shorter and one taller than her brother. She also noticed there was a woman with them who looked to be her own height, which was probably why she hadn’t spotted her from the beach. “Hi, Detective. It’s good to see you,” she addressed the taller of the men. Since she didn’t recognize the third man or the woman, she only gave them a brief nod in greeting.

  The man nodded to Lana. “Hi, Lana. Good to see you too. You don’t have to call me Detective. Eric is fine.” Noticing the nod Lana gave to the other two with them, Eric smiled and then said, “Lana, Rob, I’ll like you to meet Brandi, Joshua’s and my sister, and her husband John. John, Bree, this is Rob and Lana Tai’igi.”

  Lana smiled. “Thank you, Detective, I mean Eric. I’ll try to remember.” She noticed that when Eric spoke, the woman he introduced as his sister watched his mouth as if she were reading his lips as well as watching Eric’s hands as he made gestures that reminded her of using Hula to tell a story.

  Rob grinned at Eric introducing his sister and brother-in-law, but neglected to introduce Joshua. “Joshua, you’ve never met my little sister. This is, Palanaki, Lana for short. Brat, this is Joshua. A good friend and fellow firefighter.”

  When Rob said her name, Joshua realized why she seemed familiar. He’d seen the two pictures of her in Rob’s locker at the station. One had been taken just after high school when she was in the Miss Guam pageant. The other one was her in a cute dress that Rob said was after her College graduation. He’d asked Rob about the changes between pictures and all Rob said at the time was she’d had an accident. He had wondered at the time, especially since his family always gave the same reason regarding his own sister’s different look and it was how they explained her being deaf, but he hadn’t pushed. Seeing Lana now, he still wondered what had happened. He still thought she was cute, well more like beautiful, even with the markings. After a few centuries worth of experience, he was able to check out a woman without being obvious. The pink bikini suited her with her copper coloring, and even with the, now, white/blonde hair. He also noticed her belly button was pierced, with some kind of charm in it. Without staring, he couldn’t tell what it was. He smiled at her again.

  “Nice to finally meet you, Lana. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  Lana first glanced over at her brother, wondering what was said, before returning her attention to Joshua. “Hi, Joshua. Nice to meet you too. All good I hope.” She’d noticed he had checked her out, but she had been checking him out too. He wasn’t just handsome, he was downright hot. She liked the way he was built. He looked as if he spent time working out in some way with his well-defined chest, nice tight abs that looked rock hard, and well-defined arms and legs that you could see the strength in. It was rare she took more than a passing interest in any guy, thanks to Jeremy, but … the thought suddenly left her. Not realizing it, she frowned slightly as she started turning, looking around. Something suddenly felt off.

  Rob had noticed her reaction to Joshua was the same as most women. With her though, it made him start thinking. Starting to grin at the thought, when he saw Joshua, Eric, Brandi and John’s attention on Lana, his brow furrowed. The smile dropped when he realized they saw her suddenly frown and look around. His gaze returned to his sister and as he started to worry, he asked, “Ki? What’s wrong?”

  She shook her head. “Not sure. We’re being watched.”

  That worried him more. He saw Brandi start to say something, but he shook his head. Making sure he was facing Brandi, having been told by Joshua that she couldn’t hear, he said, “It’s hard to explain, but if you are going to say we’re on the beach so people are always watching, it isn’t that. Since her accident, well, even before that some, but more so since the accident, Lana gets visions and can sense something happening out of her sight or something that has yet to happen. It was already there because of dad’s mom who is Haitian and a voodoo priestess. So she gets different abilities from our grandmother.” Looking back at his sister, he asked, “Can you tell from where?” When she shook her head, he then started to ask, “Is it …?” He didn’t have to finish when she turned and looked at him with unmasked fear in her eyes. Though he knew most people wouldn’t notice, she was also shaking slightly. Enough for him to say, “Time to go. I’ll call ya later, Joshua.” From the way Brandi suddenly started signing to Eric, having been told by Joshua that it was the main way she communicated, Rob knew they saw Lana’s fear and shaking. Although it hadn’t been in his plans, Rob knew he would need to explain to Joshua later what had happened and that his friend could give the explanation to the other three.

  Even with still wanting to know why Lana seemed scared, Joshua was starting to nod to Rob when he saw Eric stop Rob and ask, “What’s going on? Why is Lana afraid?”

  Rob looked at his sister before he sighed and said, “Go. Let Craig know we’re leaving. Tell him why and that I’ll be there shortly.” He was glad to see her nod instead of a
rguing about him hanging back for the moment. He watched her head back toward where Craig was.

  Eric’s gaze followed Rob’s. When he saw Lana was far enough away that she wouldn’t hear, he only said, “Rob?”

  Satisfied she was safe, Rob looked at the four. “She’s afraid that she’s been found by an asshole who likes to hurt her. He has been stalking her since she was 9 years old when he first beat and raped her. The last time he did was seven years ago when she was 18. Twice he came close to killing her, that first time, and again seven years ago. We don’t know why, but something with this last one caused her to physically change. Her hair went from jet black like mine to the white blonde it is now, she gained the markings down her left side, and not sure why they only went that far, and her eye color even changed from a grayish silver to a silver blue.”

  He looked at Joshua and gave a partial smile. “That’s why there is a difference between the two pictures of her, and that was the accident I said she’d had. Sorry I didn’t say more. I’m not used to telling anyone about it, even friends. The only person outside the family who knows is Craig and that’s only because he’s been around the family since Jack, Craig, and I were kids. The three of us guys have been friends since we were around 4 or 5 years old – Jack, our uncle, is 35 like I am. Craig has been her protector since she was 9 after Jeremy attacked her then. Up until that point, Jeremy had also been a close family friend.”

  Joshua shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. There wasn’t a reason to tell me different.” He actually understood better than Rob thought, taking a quick glance at his own sister. Up until two years or so earlier, they had someone who had made Brandi’s life miserable – who had even kidnaped the two of them in the 1770’s.

  Rob nodded. “Anyway, like I said, she has a gift. She can tell when she’s being watched. It is almost certain Jeremy has found her again if Lana’s that scared.”

  “Are you staying at your parents’ house?” Brandi asked Rob. Eric had mentioned to her that he lived next to the parents and sister of a firefighter friend of Joshua’s and that the friend’s dad was a retired, or retiring, JAG Admiral.

  “Yeah. Dad had to go over to Pearl to take care of some things since he’s going to be fully retired this year. Since Mom went with him, they asked me and Craig to stay in the main house so Lana wouldn’t be on the property alone. She has her two wolves as protection too, but it gives them peace of mind if we stay in the main house.”

  Eric looked at his sister and brother-in-law. He knew what Rob and his family were going through after problems his own family had from one that had hated his own sister before the man was killed. Returning his gaze to Rob, Eric asked, “Is there anything we can do to help?”

  Rob shook his head. “Not right now, but thanks.” He looked toward where he knew Lana and Craig were. “I gotta go. Come on by tomorrow evening, Joshua. It’ll just be me and Craig, and Lana’s wolves. She’s working and refuses to let either of us take her.”

  “Where’s she work?” Joshua asked, interested.

  “Old Lahaina Luau as a Hula dancer. At least until she can get established as a Criminal Psychologist. She’s home by nine-thirty but the most she’ll do is let us know she’s home when she gets her wolves.”

  Joshua nodded with a smile. “Sounds good. I’ll see you around five.”

  Giving a nod with a smile, Rob turned and headed to where Lana and Craig waited.

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  When Lana had reached Craig, he’d seen her face and only asked, “Where?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know and I can’t say for certain that’s who, but it feels like I’m being watched. Rob is talking to Detective Stewart, as well as Detective Stewart’s sister and her husband, and his friend Joshua. But he said we’re leaving.”

  Though he wasn’t angry with her, the expression on Craig’s face could have left burn marks. “Damn right we are. Get everything in your bag, and then grab it and your towel. I’ll grab the boards along with Rob’s and my towels. You’re off tonight aren’t you?” Seeing her nod as she did as he requested, Craig said, “Good. Because you aren’t going out. I know you’re going to argue it with me, and I’m sure I’ll lose, but I’d rather you let Rob or I take you to work and pick you up tomorrow night.”

  Her head popped up at his last comment and her eyes seemed to look more silver than blue. “I’ll agree with staying in tonight, watch TV with you two, but I’m taking myself to work tomorrow like I always do. If he’s found me, he’s found me. Nothing we can do about it now. I am always careful when going to and from work.”

  Craig sighed as Rob joined them. “Yeah, I figured you’d say that and I know you will be, Ki.” A frown still on his face, he asked Rob, “Everything ok? “

  Rob nodded. “Yeah. Just explaining to Eric, Brandi, John, and Joshua. And Joshua is coming by tomorrow evening. We ready?”

  Craig nodded. “All set. And sounds good. I like him. He’s a great guy.”

  Looking from Lana to Craig and back again, as they headed to his truck, Rob asked, “What did you figure she’d say, and you know she’ll be what?”

  Stowing the two boards on the rack, Craig grinned. He waited until they were in the truck and leaving Ho’okipa to say, “Usual argument. That she doesn’t want either of us to take her to work tomorrow and that she’ll be careful.”

  Rob met Craig’s eyes in the rearview. “You know, I bet if Joshua got to the house earlier, like before she had to leave for work, she’d be fine with him taking her.” He almost laughed when her head turned toward him sharply and she gave him a glare.

  “I don’t need a ride. I always have my cell with me and I know how to dial you, or even 911 if I have a problem. And, because I can, I’m changing the subject. What do you two want for dinner tonight?”

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  He watched them leave in a hurry. As if they knew he was there. But he was careful and they couldn’t have known. Unless that little bitch has some sixth sense. Pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket, he looked at it. Everything he needed to make his own version of a Molotov cocktail. Moving to his car, he got in and drove away. He was planning on getting everything he needed tonight so he could have it ready for tomorrow night. That’s when he would destroy her.

  It didn’t take him long to find everything he would need. When he arrived home, he pulled out three of the glass bottles he’d bought. Grabbing six sandwich bags, he filled three with one liquid before filling the other three with another liquid. He took a bag of each liquid as well as a cloth and put the three items in a bottle. He did the same for the other two bottles before he carefully put each bottle in a duffel bag, with bottle inserts, he’d bought specifically for the purpose. It would prevent the bottles from hitting each other and keep them from shaking so the bags wouldn’t hit each other and accidentally open. He put a bottle stopper next to each bottle. He then put the rest of the items he’d need into the bag.

  After setting the bag by the door, he sat at the table and pulled up the pictures he took on his phone of her little cottage and the main house as well as the house and cottage next door on one side, and the vacant area filled with trees he really didn’t care about on the other side. He was glad there was only a simple fence around her parents’ property though he wished the house next door wasn’t as open. He’d just have to be careful about his car being seen, but hopefully what he was going to do would be enough of a distraction so he wouldn’t be noticed. Setting the phone aside, with the pictures still open, he grabbed a piece of paper and started taking notes – the best time of night for the destruction, where the cottage was compared to the main house, the best way to do the most damage. He already had fireproof gloves so he wouldn’t get burned. He didn’t care if any evidence was found at the scene or if they got his prints. The little bitch would be gone. He suddenly smiled an evil, malicious smile.

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  When Rob, Craig, and Lana got home, Lana headed to her place to clean up after saying, “Think about what you want for dinner. Check the fridge if you need to and see what mom left. I doubt she cooked and froze any dishes knowing I’m around.” Once inside, she headed to her bathroom. She took her time showering, washing the salt water off her body and out of her hair, enjoying the hot water. Stepping out of the shower, she dried off and wrapped the towel around herself before she went to work braiding her hair.

  Looking at herself in the mirror, she sighed. Sometimes she missed the darkness of her hair. Her thoughts turned to Joshua causing a smile to form on her lips. She wondered at her reaction to him since she never gave any man more than a passing look. Even the few times she’d gone out, she hadn’t really given her date much thought and she’d never let them kiss her, yet she found herself wondering what it’d be like to be kissed by Joshua. It surprised her because she still didn’t trust men easily and, with the exception of Craig, her dad, her uncle, and her brother, was wary toward most men. She’d also found it interesting that Joshua hadn’t looked at her differently or made some rude comment when he saw her markings.

  Shaking off the thoughts, she stepped into her bedroom and pulled out shorts and a tank top, dressing quickly. She smiled at her two ‘boys’, her wolves Baal and Ash, and said, “Come on to the main house. I’ll feed you over there.” Her smile grew when they jumped off the bed and barked excitedly. Shaking her head, she headed out of her place.

  Arriving at the main house, she headed to the kitchen, getting the dishes and food for the wolves, placing the dishes in the corner of the kitchen. Not seeing either of the guys, she thought they were still cleaning up. Since she didn’t know if Rob decided on what they wanted for dinner, she looked in the fridge. She started getting ideas when she saw the chicken and then thought of a few things she could cook when she searched further. As she finished she heard Craig’s voice. She guessed he was talking to the wolves as he came down the hall.