Sizzle and Burn

by Lexie Davis

  * * * *

  “Okay, here’s how it goes. I get the spare bedroom next to Jeff.” Davis grabbed a bowl of bean dip and a bag of chips and plopped down in the recliner.

  “How about you sleep with the dogs?” Autumn smiled and grabbed a chip and some dip.

  “Is that anyway to talk to your favorite brother?”

  Autumn sat on the arm of the chair. “Why are you here, Davis? The clinic is clean. We should be opening for business this coming week. Why are you here and away from work?”

  Jackson grabbed a handful of chips before Davis could hide them and spooned some bean dip onto the top of the container. “Because Davis doesn’t like his new babysitting job.”

  Autumn glanced between the two of them. “What are you two hiding?”

  Her brother smiled. “We’ll take our secrets to the grave.”

  Jackson chomped down on a chip. “Trust me, it’s nothing you want to know about.”

  Autumn narrowed her eyes at her brother. “Tell me anyway.”

  “Okay. See there was this chick back at the base that was semi-cute, nothing much to brag about but not dirt ugly either. Anyway, I bet Jackson he couldn’t get into her panties.”

  “Hold it.” Autumn held up a hand. “Jackson’s not getting into any girl’s panties while he’s with me.”

  Jackson grinned. “Only yours, babe.”

  Davis narrowed his eyes. “That’s not the best part. Turns out the girl was a guy. He’s a prostitute looking to get a little action from Jackson.”

  Autumn snorted. “Is there anyone in this world who doesn’t want to fuck you?”

  Davis held up his hand.

  “You’re an idiot.” Autumn grabbed the chips from him. “And you think telling me that story is going to take my mind off why you are really here, you are highly fooled.”

  “Don’t worry your pretty little head,” Davis said in his best Southern drawl. “Leave the plotting and planning to the big boys.”

  * * * *

  Gallagher’s office was packed wall to wall with people waiting to have their animals checked. Jackson and Davis stepped inside out of the muggy heat and scanned the area.

  “Can I help you?” a lady at the counter asked them.

  “Uh, yes. I’d like to talk with someone about boarding my dog here.” Davis gave the woman a soft smile.

  “What kind of dog do you have?” she asked.

  “A Shih-Tzu,” Jackson replied before Davis responded.

  Davis gave him a look and Jackson smiled. “Uh, yeah. He’s a badass Shih-Tzu, too, so he’ll need supervision around other pets and children.”

  The lady glanced from Davis to Jackson. Her thoughts were displayed plainly across her face, something which only made Jackson’s smile widened. She obviously had the hots for Davis.

  “What my lover doesn’t know is that children wouldn’t be back there, right?” Jackson wrapped an arm around Davis, his fingers hooking inside his back pocket. “Honey, you are just so overprotective.”

  The lady frowned at them. Davis, trying his best to play along instead of ramming his fist into Jackson’s jaw, shifted from one foot to the other, hinting for him to remove his arm. Jackson could honestly say he hadn’t seen Davis squirm this much in all the time he’s known him.

  “Uh, you’ll have to fill out these papers, and then I’ll have someone give you a tour of the rooms.” She handed them a clipboard. Davis accepted it and jerked away from Jackson.

  Once they seated themselves, Davis bent forward and whispered, “I’ll rip your fuckin’ head off if you grab my ass again.”

  “You so deserved it.” Jackson glanced at the papers. “Where do we go from here?”

  “While they give you the tour, I’ll excuse myself to the bathroom and sneak around the place. If I get caught I’ll say I got lost.” He idly filled out the papers. “A Shih-Tzu. You couldn’t say a Boxer or St. Bernard, something a bit more manly and monstrous? You had to go with Shih-Tzu?”

  “It was on the poster behind the lady. Hell, just fill out the paperwork and let’s get this over with.” Jackson glanced over to an elderly lady who eyed them cautiously. Speaking to her, he said, “I still love him, even though he’s bullheaded.”

  Jackson ran a hand along Davis’ thigh. The elderly lady turn her head in disgust. Davis’ hard eyes, tight jaw and red face was priceless. Jackson just grinned.

  After conning their way into Gallagher’s office and having a look, Jackson and Davis arrived separately at the truck, neither one speaking until they climbed in and were on their way back to Autumn’s clinic.

  “Well, the big boy wasn’t at the office today, but it’s definitely him, Jack. He’s got a picture of her on his desk and everything.” Davis turned in his seat. “He’s always considered her the competition.”

  Jackson went into full marine mode. “So he’s an obsessed stalker? The if-I-can’t-have-you-then-I’ll-make-your-life-a-living-hell kind? Is that what you think we’re dealing with?”

  Davis shrugged. “He has some big guns, Jack. He’s got money, his family name, a whole community backing him—”

  “But he doesn’t have Autumn.” Jackson focused his attention on the road. “And as long as I’m around, he’ll never have her.”

  Davis stared at him. “You love her, don’t you?”

  Jackson busied himself with switching lanes. “She’s just the job.”

  “You never fuck the job, Jackson. And don’t deny it. You and my baby sister have slept in the same bed for a few days. Don’t you dare tell me that you haven’t fucked her since you came back and that you won’t fuck her again. I know better.”

  Refusing to say more, Jackson pursed his lips. Sometimes the Callahans could be relentless. And they were relentless every time Autumn was the topic of conversation.

  “You can ignore me all you want, but you’d better listen to me right now. She’s not like the laundry list of other women you bang then leave the next morning. Like it or not, she is my baby sister. Don’t hurt her, Jackson. She’s been hurt bad enough in this life. Don’t tease her with the idea of something coming out of this thing you’ve got going if you know perfectly well nothing will. It’s not fair.”

  Damn it, if Davis wasn’t right. Again.

  * * * *

  Three weeks went by before Jackson and Davis could finally get away to snoop around Gallagher’s place.

  “Pull down that road.” Davis pointed to a narrow, hidden road barely giving Jackson proper time to maneuver the truck. “Our little friend lives back this way, if memory serves me right. Let’s see if he’s at home since it was a long shot at the clinic.”

  Jackson did as Davis instructed, turning down the secluded drive. Trees kept privacy, shielding nothing short of a cabinlike mansion from anyone who cared to pass by. Dogs barked at a distance, some growling with fury.

  “Are you sure we should be here? It says no trespassing.”

  “Where’s your balls?” Davis scoffed. “And to think, you were a Marine.”

  “Shut up. I hear those damn dogs and I’d like to keep my balls, thank you.”

  Davis grinned. “You never were an animal person. Maybe I’ll pay you back now for grabbing my ass and rubbing my thigh at the clinic.”

  “Do and die.”

  Luckily for them, Gallagher wasn’t home. No cars in the massive four-car garage, no sign of recent activity. Wherever Gallagher was, he planned on being there for a while.

  “This is almost too easy.” Davis pointed to the cages of animals.

  Small puppies whimpered in their cages and the closer Jackson and Davis came, the more they realized their intentions. The puppies mothers had thin weak bodies as if they hadn’t been fed in weeks. Their cages hadn’t been cleaned, and the small animals looked as if they suffered a great deal. Jackson glanced at the dogs inside the building next to the puppy cages and found four quarantined pit bulls growling to the point spittle flew from their mouths in strings.

  “Uh, Jack, is this bloo
d?” Davis pointed to the ground.

  Jackson left the quarantined dogs and looked at the ground. “Looks like it. What is he doing with these animals?”

  Davis started walking, leading them both to a caged ring serving only one purpose. Fighting.

  “We need to get out of here, Davis.” Jackson shook his head. “And if this sorry ass doesn’t leave Autumn alone, he’s going to be in some serious trouble.”

  Halfway home Davis’ cell rang. He answered it and hung up shortly afterward. “He’s struck again. Jeff said this time it was bad.”

  “What happened?”

  “He torched the place. And there were about thirty-some animals inside.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “Ma’am, I’m not going to tell you again. Go sit on the sidewalk and stay out of our way.”

  Smoke filled the air around them, fire licking at the walls of the building Autumn valued so much. Thirty animals were inside, helpless creatures that probably wouldn’t make it and it was all because of her. She’d tried several times to go inside, each time a bulky fireman pulled her back. This time though, the fireman simply dared her to disobey.

  She glared at him. “Those animals are hurt and I’m a veterinarian. I need to help them.”

  “Those animals are probably dead.” He shoved her aside. “Now move out of our way.”

  She refused to cry. She had left for lunch with Jeffery and Kristin feeling good about their accomplishments for the day. Dodo was inside, and so was Bear, a beloved family pet of a small child with cancer. Two litters of puppies and several that simply had come in for shots while their owners were working. Autumn’s heart broke at the thought of losing all those beloved pets. She needed to get those animals out safely, no matter what the stupid fireman said.

  “Autumn, why don’t you sit down?” Kristin handed her a bottle of water and ushered her to a vacant bench in front of the clinic, away from everything.

  “I need to get those animals out.” Autumn met Jeffery’s eyes. “Please. Can’t we do something?”

  Her brother pursed his lips and glanced at the building. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Why is he doing this to me?” Tears gathered in her eyes but she refused to let them fall.

  “I don’t know. He’s a sadistic bastard.” Kristin wrapped her arms around Autumn. “It’s not your fault.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  Jackson’s truck pulled into the parking lot. He and Davis burst from the truck and ran over to where they sat. “Are you okay? What happened?”

  “It’s him.” Autumn pulled away from Kristin. “ We went to lunch and came back to the place erupting in flames. He obviously found out he couldn’t get to me by normal means so he decides to torch the place and kill the animals inside.”

  A small sob escaped her as she started to walk away from the blazing building, Jackson right behind her. “Autumn, come here.”

  She tried to pull away but he was stronger. His arms tucked her against his warmth and strength even though she fought him. She hated crying in front of people. She hated the sympathy.

  “There’s a dog in there that belongs to a cancer patient.” She sniffled. “His name is Bear, and he’s been helping the little girl win her fight with it. And Dodo’s in there. She may seem like a grumpy pit bull, but she’s really sweet and lovable. And there’s two litters if pups with their momma’s—” Her voice broke.

  “Shh.” He kissed her, using one hand to keep her close and the other to comfort. “We’ll get them out. I promise. Davis is already over there with the firemen.

  “It’s all my fault.”

  Jackson kissed her forehead. “You are not to blame, sweetheart. Davis and I need to talk to you and the police about all this.”

  She glanced up at him. If she didn’t know better, he was angry. “Where have the two of you been all day?”

  “Nowhere.”

  She arched an eyebrow.

  “I’ll tell you about it later.”

  He kissed her, holding her to him. She knew he was up to something, with both he and Davis gone for nearly the entire day. When the phone call was made earlier, she’d been frank with Jeff, instructing him to tell Jackson about the fire and that she needed him here. Autumn wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her face against his shoulder, relishing the comfort of his scent and warmth.

  “I love you, Jackson. I don’t expect you to say it back, but I had to tell you. I couldn’t go another minute without saying it to you.”

  It was the truth. With all her heart, Autumn loved the man. And him being here, her in his arms and surrounded by his comfort, only made her acknowledge it more. She felt safe with him. No matter what happened in the world, being wrapped in his arms would keep her safe from harm.

  “Autumn!” Jeffery yelled. “Come here!”

  Autumn jerked away from Jackson, following the direction Jeffery’s finger pointed. Davis was charred with soot, a dog carrier in each hand. Two firemen followed him also carrying animal crates.

  Jackson grabbed her hand and they ran to the animals. Summer jumped in examining the puppies and their mothers while Autumn examined the larger dogs. Dodo and Bear were fine. Bear had minor smoke inhalation and was coughing, but his tail wagged, and his ears were alert. Dodo growled at everyone who looked at her wrong, and Autumn couldn’t help laughing at the stubborn dog.

  “Doc, one of the mothers is hurt. She has a few burns on her back. I think she was protecting her puppies from the fire.”

  Autumn grabbed her bag and began taking care of the animal, assessing and dressing the wound. She checked over the puppies as well, counting them and noting any disturbances.

  After working with the animals for a few minutes, Autumn was satisfied each of them would survive. She doctored the hurt, loved the scared, and petted the contrary. You lose again, Frank. Might as well give up.

  “Well, sis, you’re the miracle worker.” Davis wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pressed a light kiss to her temple. “Again.”

  It wasn’t often that Davis was nice to her, but he always showed he cared. “Thank you for helping.”

  “What was I suppose to do?” He moved away from her and picked up one of the puppies that was whining for attention. “Leave these little guys in there to die. I don’t think so.”

  The bloodhound licked at Davis’s fingers and nibbled on them as he scratched its belly. Autumn pet the dog in his arms and shook her head. “You need one of those.”

  “Yeah. You gonna take care of him while I’m out of the country?”

  “Sure.” She focused her attention on the mother. “I’d rather you have a dog than a kid.”

  Davis chuckled. “You and me both.”

  * * * *

  After fighting the fire most of the night, the crew returned to Autumn’s house. Davis called dibs on the shower first, though all of them felt gritty and were plenty dirty.

  Autumn pointed her finger at him. “If you use all the hot water, I’ll murder you in your sleep.”

  “Kiss my ass.” Davis hit his rear and headed down the hall.

  Kristin grabbed a few towels to throw over the sofa and recliner to keep them from getting dirty and the rest of the crew plopped down, exhausted from the night full of events.

  “Bed sounds really nice,” Jeffery commented, rubbing his eyes. “Did you guys find out anything?”

  Jackson had the loveseat all to himself and stretched out the length of it. “Yep. Gallagher is running a puppy mill for one thing, breeding mostly pit bulls. There were a few other breeds, but they looked mostly hybrid. We also think he’s into dog fighting. He has a ring in his backyard and everything.”

  “What?” Autumn sat up from her spot in the recliner. “You went to Frank’s house today? That’s where you and Davis were all that time?”

  Jackson propped his head up with his hands. “Don’t be pissed, Autumn. We’ve all had a long day. I promise you can yell at me first thing in the morning.”

  S
he stared at him, mouth open, eyes wide. “No. I’ll yell at you now if I damn well please! What do you mean he’s running a puppy mill? Did you report him to the police? You should have stayed until they came and took care of everything. They need to be out of there.”

  Jackson groaned and dropped his head back. “Here we go.”