“Do not move, ma’am. EMS are on the way.”
“Cap wants us to do a sweep,” I told Doom. “Penthouse first.”
“We’ve cleared the top two floors,” he said, then radioed the captain.
The captain replied, “Start where you left off, over.”
“Roger,” Doom responded, then waved his arm. “Come on.”
I followed him up the stairs to the fifth floor and we began to bang on apartment doors, clearing the upper floors relatively quickly. We reached the second floor and I decided I wanted to check on Posey’s old neighbor just to be sure.
“Got your back, brother,” Doom said, and followed me to Sharon’s door.
Smoke was billowing so we had to make this quick. I banged on the door and bellowed, “Savannah Fire Department, call out.”
I banged again, but no answer.
“She must be out,” Doom said.
My skin crawled and I just couldn’t let it go, so I popped her lock. “Sharon? Fire department, call out.”
“Here!” a tiny voice called, then coughing.
Doom and I moved into the small place now engulfed in smoke, finding Sharon on the floor of her apartment. “We’re gonna get you out,” I yelled, and Doom and I lifted her to her feet.
“I twisted my ankle,” she said. “I can’t walk.”
“Okay, sweetheart, I got you,” I said, lifting her and rushing her down the stairs and out to the ambulance.
“Hey, Shadow,” Marney said.
“Hey, Marn. This is Sharon.” I set the elderly woman on a gurney. “She’s done somethin’ to her ankle and may have smoke inhalation.”
“Thank you,” Sharon said, shakily.
I smiled. “Marney’s gonna take good care of you.”
I left Sharon in good hands, then Doom and I cleared the rest of the building.
* * *
Posey
Once Shadow left, I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I prepped for my class that started at nine. It was early and I was exhausted, but it wasn’t like I could drink a glass of wine to relax me.
As I was scrolling through social media, my phone buzzed, and I saw Jane was calling. Rabbit had removed all the spyware from it, made it so Carl would never be able to find it again, along with destroying the GPS tracker on my car. “Hey, lady.”
“Your building’s on fire.”
“What?”
“The Bowery. It’s totally wrecked.”
That must have been where Shadow was rushing. “Oh my god, seriously?”
“Turn on WJCL,” she ordered, and I grabbed my remote, flipping on the television and changing the channel until I got to the local news. My old building was completely consumed by flames.
“I saw your man on the television,” Jane continued.
“You did?”
“Yep. He was carrying an old woman out of the building. Total hero-style.”
“Did they say who the old woman was?”
“No,” Jane said.
“I need to call and check on Sharon,” I said.
“Okay, honey. Do you need me to take over your class this morning?”
“You have a job.”
“I can call out sick,” she offered.
“You’re the best friend in the world, but no. You need to keep your job.”
I didn’t point out her husband was a loser who refused to get one, but I’m pretty sure I was too tired to hide my tone of inference.
She sighed. “If you change your mind, let me know.”
“I will, honey, thanks.”
We rang off and I tried to call Sharon. Her phone was out of service, no surprise there, considering the building was on fire. She didn’t own a cell phone, so I was stuck. I didn’t want to text Shadow because he was obviously in the thick of something really serious, so I tried to distract myself by making coffee, making my bed, cleaning the bathroom, and generally just pacing my little house.
Eight a.m. rolled around, and I couldn’t wait any longer to see if Shadow would walk in. I had to get to the studio, so I locked up and took off. I was forcing myself not to panic as I went through the motions of my class. Luckily, I’d done it often enough, I was able to rely on muscle memory.
I pasted on a smile, did my best not to rush through the instruction, and the whole time worrying myself to death about Sharon and Shadow.
Were they okay? Did Sharon get out? What or who started the fire?
I was driving myself crazy asking all the questions in my head, but I had to get through this class, then I could make a million phone calls and break down. At least until my first massage client in an hour.
I wrapped up the class and ushered my students out, just as Dylan walked in. I frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he said. “Shadow was trying your cell and you weren’t answering, so he texted me to check in on you.”
I rushed back to my office and snagged my phone off my desk.
Shadow: I’m safe. Sharon safe. Text later
Shadow: Got a few minutes, call me.
Shadow: I know you have a class, but call me.
Shadow: Sending search party.
I settled my hand to my chest, then texted him back.
Me: Sorry! All good. Class is done, call me.
My phone buzzed almost immediately.
“Hi,” I breathed out.
“Hey, baby. Only got a few seconds but wanted to hear your voice.”
“You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah. All good. We got Sharon. She hurt her ankle trying to get out.”
“Where is she?”
“They took her to Memorial, but I’m not sure if she’s still there,” he said. “Baby, I gotta go. Dylan’s your shadow today, pun intended.”
I smiled. “Okay, I’ll see you later.”
I hung up and went looking for Dylan. He was chatting up one of my students, so I gave them a little space and called the hospital.
I went through a series of button pressing before getting through to a live person. “Memorial Hospital, how may I direct your call?”
“I’m looking for a patient,” I said. “Sharon Warman?”
“I’ll put you through.”
The phone rang several times before being rerouted back to the main system. My first massage client of the day walked in, so I had to hang up and greet him.
“Hi, Bill,” I said with a smile. “You can head on back.”
“Thanks,” he said, and walked away.
“Do you need me to do anything?” Dylan asked.
“Like…?”
“Anything, Posey. I can clean, run errands, whatever.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I’m here as long as you’re here, so put me to work.”
“I would love it if you would call Memorial and get Sharon Warman’s information. Specifically, which room she’s in so I can swing by after work. And if you wouldn’t mind spraying down the mats and props, then doing a quick mop of the yoga floor, that would be amazing. Everything’s in the cabinet in the back.”
“I can do that.”
I smiled. “Thanks, Dylan. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem.”
I headed into my massage feeling a little lighter than I had all morning and Bill wasn’t his normal chatty self, so I got to decompress, which was rare for me.
I had two more clients after lunch, then I was free for the day. Jane had arrived at three to do some prep work before her evening classes, and I had a feeling she was avoiding her husband, but I kept my opinions to myself as we chatted briefly before my final massage client.
“Who’s the hotty doing domestic shit?” Jane asked, following me into my office.
I faced her with a smile. “That’s Dylan. Shadow asked him to come and help us out.”
“I need to meet this guy.”
I chuckled. “Yes, yes, you do.”
“I want to see your new place as well.”
“Why don’
t you swing by tomorrow after your final class? We can order in.”
“Perfect.” She beamed. “But I’d also like to nail down a girls’ night.”
“Oh, yeah, we’re really lagging on that front,” I said.
“Next weekend?” Jane suggested.
“That sounds perfect,” I said. “Friday?”
She pulled out her phone. “Friday works.”
“It’s a date,” I said. “If I don’t see you before I leave, walk out with someone, okay?”
“Yes, Mom.”
I grinned and headed into my final massage of the day.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Posey
I PACED THE hallway of the hospital waiting for Sharon to come back from radiology… for the second time. Dylan was my ever-faithful companion, and I’d discovered he was exceptionally good at following instructions. He’d made the studio look cleaner and more organized than it had in a while, and it meant I had more time to breathe.
Shadow was still working, so I had no idea when I’d see him tonight, but at least I knew he was safe and no longer dealing with a four-alarm fire.
“You never stop moving, do you?” Dylan said.
I sighed. “Not when I’m worried, no.”
“Take a load off.” He patted the seat next to him. “Sharon’ll be back before you know it.”
Before I could flop down, the elevator doors opened and an orderly wheeled Sharon back to her room.
“What did they say?” I asked.
“Gotta wear a damn boot,” she complained.
“It’s broken?” I asked, following her into the room.
“Hairline fracture.”
The orderly lifted her into bed, and I helped smooth her blankets as I asked, “Are you in a lot of pain?”
“They gave me morphine,” she said.
“A nurse will be in to check on you soon, Ms. Warman.”
“Thanks, Sonny,” Sharon said, and the orderly left the room. “You don’t need to fuss, honey.”
“Yes, I do,” I said. “Can I get you anything?”
“I’m good, Posey.”
“Did the smoke hurt your lungs?”
“They treated me for smoke inhalation, but things are clear now. I’m more concerned about when I can go home.”
“Let me figure that out,” I said.
“Sweetie, I may not have anywhere to go if the apartment’s ruined.”
“As long as I have breath, you will always have a place to go.”
She smiled gently. “I appreciate that, but you aren’t going to want an old lady hangin’ around.”
“Who’s the old lady?” I retorted. Sharon yawned and I patted her hand. “Sleep for now. We’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”
She was already asleep, so I didn’t know how much of that she heard. I peeked into the hall to tell Dylan I was going to be here a while and found him talking to Shadow.
Shadow held his hand out to me, and I walked over to him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
“Hi,” I breathed out.
“Hey, baby. How’s Sharon?”
“She’s got a hairline fracture and she might be homeless. She’s fantastic.”
“Her home is destroyed, honey. She’s definitely homeless. At least, for the moment.”
“Shit,” I breathed out.
He gave me a squeeze. “I might have a temporary housing option for her, but we can talk about that later.”
“I’d rather she had a place to go long-term. I’d hate for her to have to move multiple times.”
“We’ll figure it out, Posey. We’ve got a couple of days.”
“She can stay with me if need be.”
“Where?” he challenged.
“She can take my bed. I’ll take the couch.”
“Let’s not make any rash decisions,” Shadow countered.
I smiled up at him. “You don’t mind sharing the sofa, do you?”
He patted my bottom. “Like I said, let’s not make any rash decisions.”
“She’s asleep, but I’m going to sit with her, okay?”
“Yeah,” he said. “Dylan and I’ll work on finding her a place to go.”
“Thanks, honey.”
He kissed me quickly then I slipped back into Sharon’s room. She slept for another two hours, waking up in a great deal of pain. She pressed the call button but no one answered, so I squeezed her hand.
“I’ll get the doctor,” I said, and walked into the hall.
“You okay?” Shadow asked, pushing up from one of the chairs.
“Sharon’s in pain,” I said. “You’re still here?”
“If you’re here, I’m here.” He smiled. “You go back in and I’ll find a doctor.”
“Thanks.”
I stepped back into the room and a nurse arrived not long after.
“You’re in pain, huh?” the nurse asked, pulling up Sharon’s chart on her iPad. “I can give you morphine, if you’d like.”
“Yes, please,” Sharon rasped.
“Please hurry,” I begged. I didn’t like seeing my friend in pain.
The nurse injected Sharon’s IV and she relaxed, smiling as her eyes closed again. This made me relax and I sat by her side until Shadow peeked his head into the room and quietly called my name.
I walked out to the hallway and pulled the door closed. “Are you leaving?”
He frowned. “I’m not leaving you here by yourself, Posey.”
“You’re not?”
“No. What kind of man do you think I am?”
“Um… I’m not sure how to answer that,” I admitted. “I wouldn’t think any less of you if you headed home.”
“Well, I would.”
“I signed up to hang out here with Sharon,” I pointed out. “I don’t expect you to blow up your whole schedule as well.”
He reached out and squeezed my chin gently. “I’m not going to dignify that with a response.”
I smiled. “You’re being sweet and I’m too tired to make you stop.”
“Good.” He chuckled, pulling me close and kissing my temple. “I found Sharon a place to go.”
“You did? Where?”
“With you.”
I rolled my eyes. “I already sugg—”
“But in Otter and Shiloh’s house.”
“Huh?”
“Shy’s a nurse, and she agreed Sharon really shouldn’t be left alone, so she offered up their spare bedroom. She’s only working part time, so she’s happy to help look after Sharon until we can find a permanent solution.”
I dropped my head to his chest. “Are you sure she’s okay with that?”
“She offered.”
“She might just be being nice.”
“If she couldn’t or didn’t want to do it, she wouldn’t have offered,” he assured me.
“I’ll move some things around so I can be with her.”
“Whatever you need to do, baby. It’ll be good.”
I nodded, leaning heavily against him as I yawned.
“We should get you home to bed.”
“I don’t want to leave her.”
“I’m gonna leave Dylan here,” Shadow said.
“Dylan is not me,” I argued.
He wrapped his arms around me and gave me a gentle squeeze. “Posey, you’re gonna burn out if you don’t rest.”
I slid my hands under his cut and up his back. “I don’t have any massage clients tomorrow, and my first class doesn’t start until eleven. I’m good.”
He sighed. “If you’re stayin’, I’m gonna hang here as long as you do.”
“Then send Dylan home. There’s no point in him losing sleep, too.”
“Yeah,” he agreed.
“I’m going back in,” I said.
“Okay.”
I kissed him quickly, then walked back into Sharon’s room.
* * *
The next evening, Jane had informed me that she was coming by, but a little early in order to cook for us. I didn’t
argue with her, much, considering Sharon was hanging with me most of the evening, so she’d need some kind of sustenance, and Shadow was doing ‘club shit,’ so he wouldn’t be around.
Plus, Jane could cook like a mofo and she’d already told me she was making her grandmother’s spaghetti and meatballs, so I was in.
After my last client, I headed home and showered, then walked next door to collect Sharon. Shiloh was in her kitchen when I knocked on her slider. She waved me in and I slid open the door, stepping inside.
“Hey, Posey,” she said, drying her hands on a towel.
“Hi. How’s Sharon?”
“She’s good. A little pain, but I gave her some Vicodin about an hour ago, so she should be good for a while.”
“What time does your shift start?”
“Not for another hour,” Shiloh said. “I’m on for twelve hours, so it’s going to be interesting.”
“Wow. I don’t know how y’all do it.”
She grinned. “I love what I do, so it doesn’t feel like work.”
“That’s good.”
“Posey, is that you?”
Sharon scooted her way into the kitchen.
“You shouldn’t be up,” Shiloh admonished.
“I feel like a million bucks,” she countered.
I smiled. “That’s the drugs.”
“Are you my babysitter tonight?”
I chuckled. “I am. Are you going to behave?”
“No promises.”
“Jane’s coming over and cooking for us.”
“I like that girl.”
Sharon had met her twice, but who couldn’t love Jane? She was pretty fantastic.
“I like her too,” I said. “Are you ready?”
“I am,” she said, handing me her pill bottle. “For later.”
“She can have another dose at seven,” Shiloh said.
“Thanks,” I said, and helped Sharon navigate the pool area and scoot into my place. I forced her to sit on my cuddle chair, then put her scooter in the corner of the room so she wouldn’t be tempted to get up.
“I know what you’re doing,” Sharon said, wagging her finger at me.
“Wasn’t trying to hide it,” I retorted. “Can I get you something to drink other than water?”
“Bourbon?”
“Not with those drugs, lady, and you know it.”
She huffed. “I’m seventy-two years old. I think I can handle a finger of bourbon and Vicodin.”
Fanning the Biker's Flame (Dogs of Fire: Savannah Chapter Book 8) Page 12
