Chapter 13
Julian
“Talk to me, Captain Valentine.” I look around to see Lucy Padilla striding toward me through the chaos surrounding the apartment building. “We got reports of an explosion.”
I shake my head and turn my attention back to where my team have already got the blaze mostly under control.
“We’re pretty certain the quake caused a gas leak, and it didn’t take long for something to make it go boom.
There must be a problem with the line, as there have been a couple of other similar incidents around town.
So it’s looking like an accident rather than anything intentional.
The gas and electrical companies have already cut the supplies, so as long as nobody does anything spectacularly dumb like light a cigarette, we shouldn’t have any further trouble. ”
“Good,” Lucy says, sounding genuinely relieved. “After that arsonist a while back, I just get a bit jumpy. Everyone okay?”
“Thankfully, no serious injuries,” I say. “A few concussions, twisted ankles, broken bones—that sort of thing. We’re confident we’ve evacuated everyone, but my lieutenant is leading a door-to-door search to make sure.”
I activate my radio, eager to get them out of there as soon as possible. The building is stable for now, but until we get an official evaluation, we won’t know if there’s a stress fracture waiting to bring the whole place down at any moment. Not to mention if we get a second tremor.
“How’s it looking, Flores?”
“Heading back down now, Cap,” Rico replies.
“It seems all clear. We knew there were several residents who weren’t home, so we didn’t bust down those doors, and we already escorted a few stragglers out.
” He chuckles. “We’ve got a couple of disgruntled cats and a goldfish in a flower vase.
I’m sure their owners are anxious to be reunited with them. ”
“You know it,” I say with a relieved laugh.
It’s always a miracle when we have a big incident like this and there’s no loss of life. Obviously we still have plenty of work to do, but it’s always much easier if there haven’t been any major casualties. I send a silent prayer of gratitude out into the ether.
“Good job, see you shortly.” I close the call and nod at Lucy. “All things considered, it could have been much worse.”
“For sure,” she agrees. “Although, there are plenty of folks still having a terrible day. Aw, man. Will you look at that poor kid? I hope he’s got someone to help him out.”
I glance in the direction she’s looking…and the world drops from under my feet.
It can’t be. Can it?
We might not have spent that much time together, but there’s no mistaking the young man who’s trying not to fall apart twenty feet from us. His hand is covering his face, but his short blond locs are so distinctive and so is that willowy frame.
His shoulders are shaking. It’s obvious he’s sobbing.
My heart shatters instantly, as does the line between my professional and personal lives. To hell with what anything might think.
My boy needs me.
“Romeo?” I yell.
Lucy snaps her attention back my way. “Wait, you know him?”
“Uh, yeah,” I say vaguely as I march over to him. Now is definitely not the time to confess to my good friend that the devastated young man before us was the same one I had a one-night stand with.
Twice.
My heart aches as I approach, seeing what a state he’s in.
He’s crying his eyes out and probably in shock.
I’m not sure he heard me call his name or has even recognized me yet.
“Oh, baby, no,” I utter just as his knees give out.
Before he can fall to the ground, I lunge forward and catch him, wrapping him safely in my arms. “It’s going to be okay, Romeo,” I assure him. “I promise.”
He clings to me as he seems to begin calming down. I’m guessing this must be his apartment building, and I take a second to feel incredulous at the coincidence.
The idea was to give ourselves some space. Yet here he is in my arms less than twenty-four hours later. Well, if the universe is that determined to bring us back together, who am I to fight it?
In fact, I find myself incredibly glad that this has happened. If anyone’s going to comfort him in a crisis, I want that person to be me. Which…doesn’t sound like the voice of a man who’s absolutely certain he’s not capable of being in a relationship right now, but…whatever.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” I assure him, rubbing his arm to try and pull him from his stunned state. Apparently, it works, as he blinks and finally looks up at me through spiky lashes.
God damn it. How is he still so beautiful even when he’s ugly crying?
It’s obvious as recognition slowly dawns on him. I don’t blame him for the initial confusion that flashes across his face. He’s probably less surprised to see me, a firefighter, at a disaster scene. But it’s nonetheless wild that our paths have crossed again so soon.
Then his expression morphs into one of relief, and my heart aches all over again. Whatever higher power put me here right now in his hour of need deserves my prayers.
“Daddy?” he whispers, and for the first time, the name doesn’t rankle me. Actually, I just feel a rush of affection toward him.
But then he jerks as if he’s finally come back to his full senses and stands back to his full height so we’re eye to eye. In fact, in his heeled boots, he’s slightly taller, and I find that incredibly hot.
Not that I should be thinking like that right now.
“Julian?” Romeo splutters, bringing the conversation back on track. “What are you doing here?”
I smile kindly at him. “My job,” I say, glancing down at my turnouts. “Did you set that fire after all?”
For a split second, I worry the joke was in very poor taste.
But then he cracks out a laugh and shakes his head, looking back toward the building.
“This is my place,” he says, sounding like he still can’t believe what’s happened.
I’ve seen it thousands of times. People never think bad stuff will actually happen to them, and there’s always a period of grieving that includes disbelief and usually anger as well.
Romeo points. “Right there. Second along, on the third floor. That’s my apartment. ”
Now he’s no longer trembling and in danger of passing out, I feel it’s probably best to let him go, and step back a fraction. “I’m so sorry,” I tell him sincerely as I do.
“I’m guessing there’s zero chance of me getting back in there any time soon,” Romeo says gloomily, not looking surprised when I shake my head.
“The structure is far too unstable right now.”
“Did the earthquake really cause this?” he asks, turning back to look at me imploringly. Christ, I wish I could snap my fingers and make this nightmare go away for him.
“Sort of,” I explain. “The quake probably ruptured the pipe that caused a gas leak that didn’t take long to find its way to a spark. There was an explosion near the parking garage.”
“Is anyone injured?” he asks with genuine concern, and a fresh wave of affection for him crashes over me. I’m sure he’s worried about his home and all his possessions. But the fact that he’s more anxious about the wellbeing of his neighbors speaks volumes.
That’s just the kind of man he is, though, isn’t it? Always taking care of others first.
Who’s going to take care of him now?
“No serious injuries, no,” I assure him. “We got lucky.”
He nods, looking pensive again. I’m sure he’s got a million concerns on his mind. “Have you called your sister?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “She’s on her way to Florence and there’s no way I’m going to bother her while she’s on her honeymoon.”
I doubt Beatrice would see it that way, but the scowl on Romeo’s face makes me keep the thought to myself.
He probably won’t hear me right now if I try and convince him that he’s worthy of being taken care of.
We’re both fully aware that he’s fresh from an event that highlighted the people absent in his life.
The ones who don’t have the time of day for him.
Screw them. I’m here now.
But what does that mean exactly? All I know is that every cell in my body is screaming at me to take care of this exceptional young man, and not just because I don’t know who else will if I fail to step up. It’s because I want to.
Suddenly, having him in my life doesn’t feel so scary anymore.
“Everything okay, Cap?”
Romeo and I smile sheepishly at each other at the sound of my lieutenant’s voice, like we’ve been caught doing something we shouldn’t. Except I don’t feel guilty. Only like our moment of privacy has been interrupted.
I turn and find Rico watching me with his eyebrows raised.
By his side is Teddy, as they were conducting the door-to-doors together, as well as Lucy, who’s looking like she’s trying to solve a math equation.
I wonder how close she’s been hovering and what she’s overheard.
Not because I’m ashamed. Because she’s a terrible gossip.
“The fire’s all out,” Lochlan reports as he and most of the rest of the team stride up to join us. “What’s next, Cap?” He pauses when he realizes Rico, Teddy and Lucy are all looking at me expectantly after I didn’t answer the previous question.
“Uh, good work,” I tell the guys who were on the hoses. “We can’t do much now until the investigators access the damage. Did you cordon off the area?” Sawyer nods. “Okay, good. And how are we doing on transportation for those that need further treatment?”
“Del and Yara coordinated with the other paramedics and everyone’s on their way to San Clemente General,” Rico informs me.
“Thank you for helping my neighbors,” Romeo says quietly, his voice only trembling slightly.
“Oh, you’re one of the residents?” Anton asks. “Have you been checked out?”
Romeo shakes his head. “I wasn’t here when the quake hit. I came back as soon as I heard. I just…” He clears his throat and gives me a smile that squeezes my heart. “Captain Valentine was explaining that I won’t be able to get into my apartment for a while.”