Fahrenheit (The Power of Three Love Series Book 2)

by Leigh Lennon

  Levi, who was behind me, leaned in, and I could feel his breath on my neck. “Yeah, just keep telling yourself that, Doc.”

  He was out the door so fast, I didn’t have a chance to reply.

  29

  Levi

  The suburbs—this could have been my life. All I needed to do was look at the duo on either side of me to understand it was not what I was destined for. Sure, I had loved Cami and Dane so much. Letting them start their life together was the hardest thing I ever did. But they were older than me and ready for the next chapter when I wasn’t.

  I’d known Jack and was happy they’d found love with him. In Dane’s eyes from just a couple of weeks ago, I could see the deep-rooted hurt that still lived in him from Jack’s departure. I was sure to see it in Cami’s eyes, too.

  I happened to be in the middle of Scar and Jordan as we walked up to the front door. Typically, if we were out together, Scar was in the middle of us. But tonight, ever since my words to Jordan, he hadn’t given me space; he’d gotten physically closer.

  When Scar knocked on the door, we heard the screeches of little ones. I had enough nieces and nephews to appreciate the sounds of kids, which I did want one day.

  A girl about four years old, the carbon copy of her father, opened the door. “You Daddy’s old boyfriend?” she asked so matter-of-factly. Yeah, this was Dane’s kid. Down the hall, I saw a little girl toddling behind her sister.

  “Sissy, who dat?” If the little girl who answered the door was her dad, this little one was her mom. Crazy curly black hair stuck up everywhere and large almost gray eyes adorned her face.

  “Yeah, I was your daddy’s boyfriend at one point.” I kneeled to her level. “And what’s your name?”

  She extended her hand, giving me a firm handshake. “I Maggie Lynn Gregory. This Bridget Anne Gregory. You gotta name?” Oh, hell, like one Dane Gregory wasn’t enough for this world, now there were two.

  “I’m Levi, and these are my friends Scarlet and Jordan.” Before I could say more, a voice called down the hall for Maggie.

  “Maggie, honey, stop giving them the third degree.” Cami came around the corner, and shit, she hadn’t changed in eight years. “Levi, oh, Levi.” She came to me and hugged me like her life depended on it. I looked at Scar, and she was as natural as ever, happy for this reunion. But behind me, a hand appeared on my back the second Dane came into play. From the size and the firm grasp, I knew it wasn’t Scar. And fuck, it was intimate in nature. I loved it. When I stepped toward Dane, the touch fell away from me. I made a mental note because we’d be discussing this later.

  “Levi, you handsome bastard.”

  “Daddy said a bad word,” Maggie sassed from below.

  “Yeah, remind me, and I’ll add a quarter to the cursing pot.” Dane held my shoulders, looking me up and down, but all I cared about were the stare and the little pout that came from Jordan’s mouth in my peripheral. Why was the man fighting me? I pushed all of that out of my mind when Dane’s once very familiar arms enveloped me.

  “Hell, look at you!” He turned to his wife. “Our boy is all grown up, Cam.” He laughed and hugged me again. Pulling back, he looked at Scar. “Shit, I’m sorry, Scarlet. I hope I’m not overstepping. But fuck, the way he looks when he talks about you, no one can compete.” Dane pulled Cami tight to his body.

  “Oh, I’m not the jealous type,” Scar teased. “By the way, I’m Scarlet Reeves.” She extended her hand to Cami, but knowing Cam like I did meant they’d be fast friends in less than a minute. And I was wrong because it wasn’t a minute, it was five seconds, Cami had Scarlet in an embrace.

  “Yeah, we’re huggers. No way around it, hon!” While Scar and Cami were in some sort of friendly back and forth banter, Dane looked over at Jordan.

  “Yeah, we’re huggers, but you don’t look like the hugging type.” I wouldn’t want to hug Jordan right now either, and that was coming from the man who seriously wanted to touch every part of his body. His glare locked on Dane, and his jaw was set tight. I would have thought if the man was going to smile or even move his face, it would crack. It was set like stone.

  “I’m Dane Gregory.” He extended his hand, and Jordan looked down, staring at it. Shit, if this wasn’t some sort of show of dominance, I wouldn’t know what was.

  I leaned into his space, and whispered, “Knock it off.”

  My harsh words were all it took for Jordan to extend his hand, though a smile would be the last thing I would get from him.

  “He’s a tough one, this guy here,” Dane teased, finally shaking it.

  “Yep, a bit of a wild card.” I began to cut the tension coming from the good doctor next to me.

  “Um, yeah, and that guy is right here.” Jordan’s little comment only had Dane and I breaking into hysterics.

  “Oh, this’ll be fun.” Dane turned around, his arm around me, and led me to the living room space. Another low growl could be heard from Jordan, but at least I knew he was following us. Yeah, tonight, I’d challenge him. Tonight, he was going to admit what we already knew. He’d fallen for me just as I had fallen for him.

  Cami had not changed. Sure, she was older, but she didn’t look it one bit. And the figure on this woman, after two children, hadn’t changed. I could agree, just as I had back when I was balls deep in both her and Dane, that she was drop-dead gorgeous. But she did nothing for me now. Certainly not with the two people I’d fallen head over heels in love with on either side of me. I found it funny with the odd reaction of Jordan at the front door, he’d stayed close to me.

  “So you’re telling me you were there to take Dane’s sister on a date?” Scar asked while Dane was telling the story of how we met.

  “Well, yeah, his sister was hot,” I countered.

  My comment elicited a laugh from Dane. “Yeah, but apparently not as hot as I was.” Dane winked at me, and I winked back. My body faced away from Jordan, but it didn’t matter. His hand clamped down on my thigh. I tried to ignore it, but then he squeezed tighter. I was not going to let him ruin this. However, I would try like hell to prove my point. With his hand under the table and out of view of everyone, I took my free hand to interlace with his. For a moment, maybe five seconds, he relaxed into my touch, holding my hand, but as soon as I got used to it, it was gone.

  The laughter and memories continued throughout the night, and Jordan barely spoke, even when Cami tried to pull him into the conversation. He was a little more receptive to her but not much. I’d tried to delve into the breakup with Jack, but they both clammed up the second I asked. It wasn’t hard to see that they missed being in a committed triad. Some people were just meant for the number three, and Dane and Cami were certainly two of those people.

  Jordan had close to seven beers by my rough estimate, and Scar and Cam had finished two bottles of wine between them. Regardless, I couldn’t drink since I was on call at the firehouse tonight in case the arsonist struck again.

  Watching everyone enjoy themselves—well, except Jordan—was all I needed. Even in his own way, Jordan was enjoying something, and I’d hoped it was my view since he barely took his gaze off Scar or myself.

  Jordan, however, sulked to his car after giving me his keys as I said my goodbyes to Dane. “Fuck, that boy has it bad for you, Levi.”

  With Dane and me in a deep embrace, I admitted, “Yeah, I know that, you know that, fuck, the whole world knows that, but getting him to admit it to himself is a completely different thing.”

  I clapped him one time on his back. “Yeah, but if anyone is up for the challenge, you are. Levi Arnold, you’re a persuasive guy!” Dane pointed out.

  Nodding in agreement, I broached another subject that needed addressing. “You and Cami need to get out there and find that third that completes you. I see it in the way she watched us tonight that you need it. And if anyone is fucking convincing, it’s you!”

  His eyes were downturned. “Yeah, Jack screwed us up big time, but you’re right. I have a call into Haven Dorn.” Shit, I
hadn’t heard her name in years. She hosted upscale triad events, so if anyone could find Cami and Dane their third, it would be her.

  “Yeah, I can’t imagine what it was like to lose Jack.” I’d only met him a couple of times, but Cami and Dane were deeply in love with him. It had to have split their hearts in two.

  With one last hug, I took Scar’s hand as she tried to tear herself away from their feisty children. They’d instantly fallen in love with Scar as she had with them. We went to meet Jordan in the car, who’d moved to the back seat.

  I didn’t have a chance to address his behavior before Scar turned around and began to chastise him. “You know what, Jordan? I’m not a proctologist, but I know an asshole when I see one.” I tried not to laugh. It wouldn’t help the situation, but her comment was fucking funny as hell. With my hand over my mouth, I looked in the rearview mirror.

  He waved her off, but she was getting the last word. “We’re heading to my apartment. And we’re not going to bed, and we’re sure as fuck not going to the lake house until we hash out what the hell is going on in your head.”

  The car remained silent until we reached the city, and my phone started exploding left and right with text alerts. Scar took the phone and read them as I drove.

  “Um, there is some sort of emergency, and you’ve been called in.” Her voice shared the same disappointment I felt. This conversation had to happen, but there was nothing I could do about it.

  “Okay, I’ll drop you two off at your place, Scar, since neither one of you are fit to drive.” It worked out since I was a block from her apartment anyway. “But I won’t be long.” She leaned over to kiss me.

  “Please be careful.” It was something we all were mindful of, especially after what had happened with the arsonist.

  Jordan turned to me, squeezing my shoulder softly. “Be careful, LT.”

  I nodded in a reply, but continued, “Don’t go to bed without me. We aren’t sleeping until we sort this shit out, got it?”

  Jordan’s hard demeanor returned to his face. “Loud and clear.”

  30

  Scarlet

  I didn’t say a single word to him on the entire way to the 37th floor. Opening my door, I walked in and didn’t stop until I was in my room. I heard the television turn on in the living room. The man was obsessed with baseball. He didn’t even change out of his slacks and button-up shirt. I didn’t want to be near him.

  Jordan was giving to a fault. But only those close to him saw it. I knew what he did for Kayla, his sister. As a teacher, she made barely enough to afford housing in Chicago. He paid her rent so she could move to the city to be with her girlfriend.

  On his off time, he volunteered at the homeless shelter. He’d go in at night and treat those who couldn’t afford healthcare. When he couldn’t get donations for the medicine, he had often paid for it out of his pocket.

  He’d been away for a year, volunteering in Ethiopia with Doctors without Borders. Plus, he was a tender lover, always considering my needs first. He’d get up and have something for me anytime we greeted the day together, even if it was just toast with jam and butter, because the man couldn’t cook to save his life. But it was always the thought that counted. And it counted a fuck ton now—especially since I was pissed as hell at him.

  Why couldn’t he allow others to see the wonderfulness within him? With my arms crossed, blocking his precious Cubs, his eyes met mine, and in it, an understanding that we’d hash this out right now.

  “Red, I thought we’d wait until Levi got back.”

  Part of my talking helped take my mind off the fact that Levi could be in danger once again. I tried to push this thought away when I began, “Why did you act like a version of Daimen Torano when he goes all caveman on Elliot? It doesn’t suit you, and I sure as hell can’t ever and won’t ever allow you to treat us that way again.”

  Nodding his head, he began, still sitting. “Okay, so we aren’t waiting until Levi gets home.” It was a snarky statement I ignored.

  “Dammit, Jordan.” I threw myself on the couch, my hand on my face, and started crying. It hit me so fast, out of instinct with memories of being left alone as I had been most of my life. Sure, Daimen and Arden were always there for me, but they were beginning their own life. Same could be said for Andrew as his new man was quite possessive of his time.

  The second his hand tried to offer me comfort, I shot up from the couch. I was not going to allow him to ease my pain when he was the man who caused this heartache in the first place.

  “Red.” His voice had changed, and it was a little less lippy. “Listen, I was a jerk. I get it. I don’t know what came over me.”

  My back was against the wall of my living space as the lights of the Chicago skyline danced against the windows. But right then, I didn’t care about the streets of Chicago. I was worried about protecting my already shattered heart.

  “Yeah, you know what was wrong. I can tell you—you’re fucking jealous. And I have no idea why. Oh, wait, I do. Where I’m secure with Levi around an ex-lover, the difference between you and me—I’ve admitted I’m head over heels in love with him and you keep fucking denying it.”

  He was still, his eyes fixating on a picture of Arden, Daimen, and me in front of the Sydney Opera house. He watched the picture as if it was pertinent for the conversation I was trying to have with him.

  “So are you going to stare at that picture all day, or are we going to talk?” I questioned.

  He stood quickly and charged at me. I was not scared or worried. He was emotional, sure, but I’d never worried for my safety around Jordan Peters.

  He was in front of me, holding my hands, his fingers interlacing with mine. “What do you want from me, Red?” His eyes pleaded for me not to push him.

  “I want you to be happy. I want all of us to be happy, and I want this—what you, Levi, and I have—to never go away. If we’re not honest, I’m going to lose you both. At this point, I could never choose. If you and Levi don’t come to some sort of understanding, I’d have to walk away from you both, and fuck, the idea sends me back to when I was seven—the day I found out my parents died.”

  His hand made gentle contact with my cheek. “Fuck, Red. I forget sometimes. Shit, of course you’re worried, but I’m not going to let anything happen to the three of us.”

  A tear fell from my eye, and he caught it. Still gazing at me, I simply replied, “You can’t promise me anything, not when you can’t be honest with yourself.”

  31

  Levi

  “What’s so important it can’t wait until after my vacation is over?” I asked, entering the chief’s office with all the higher brass waiting for me. My chief and I had always had an open-door policy. It would have been nice to know everyone in my chain of command was present at ten at night before I barged in. Shit, this was bad—very bad.

  In my view, Garner Blakely was present in the meeting. Shit, all I wanted to do was get home to my two forevers. Jordan was so close to admitting what I already knew, but this was going to be a while.

  “Lieutenant,” the fire commissioner began, “I’m sorry to bring you in so late tonight.” They pointed at my outfit. Sure, it might just be a pair of jeans and a nice button-up top, but I looked like I had plans that were ruined. And I sure as hell had.

  “I can’t say I’m getting a warm and fuzzy being dragged in on a Saturday evening with all of you here. What’s going on?”

  Garner stepped forward. Hell, he looked so much like his brother except his hair was a little darker. “I hate to bring you away from your girl, but something was delivered here this evening.”

  I looked at my chief and the other ten men in the room, and they all had their jaws locked hard wearing a grimace on their faces.

  “Listen, it’s a little disturbing, to say the least. But just know, we’ve got this. I’m putting my whole unit on the case.” Garner extended a manila envelope my way. “We’ve already processed this and have everything we need.”

&nb
sp; I hesitated as though a snake would pop out from it. Pulling the note out slowly, I saw those stupid magazine letters taped to a white piece of copy paper. I’d only seen this in the movies, but it was somehow creepier and more eerie in real life.

  “What the fuck?” I asked, my eyes glued to the paper.

  I didn’t read it out loud, though I was aware everyone had seen this.

  It simply read:

  YOU ARE NEXT, LT ARNOLD

  It was to the point and fucking sent chills down my spine. I was the target, me. And just like clockwork, an alarm sounded. The overhead speaker flooded the chief’s office. “Three alarm fire, an abandoned warehouse.” When the address was given, Garner’s and my eyes met, silently understanding this was not a coincidence. It was three blocks from the last three fires.

  I walked to the door. Shirley was on duty, but they’d have a ride along with them today. “Um, Arnold, where are you going?” It was my chief.

  “I’m a fireman, first and foremost. If he wants me, then he can come fucking get me.” I’d expected him to order me to stand down, but when he didn’t, I looked at Garner. “Care to come along, Detective?”

  “Yeah, I’ll follow you and have my team meet us there.”

  The factory was almost engulfed by the time we got to the fire. Shirley ordered his men down because the building would collapse soon. And as he promised, Garner’s crew surrounded the warehouse, ready to pounce on the clown who was messing with my life and, more importantly, the life of my men.

  “Detective.” One of his officers called him over as we stood watching the blaze; making sure it wouldn’t spread.

  I didn’t think much about it until he’d summoned me. With Shirley on point, I walked to the other side of the street, near a phone pole.