Chapter Thirty-Two
Roux
I ’m going to burn to death.
I’ll have to watch Jordy die first.
This is hell. I’m already here.
My throat is hoarse from screaming at him. Over and over. I need for him to wake up. When he grunts, I sob in relief.
“Jordy, baby, wake up. You have to wake up.”
He squints open his good eye, quickly growing aware of our dire situation. The fire is rapidly spreading and the heat from it is burning my naked skin. Jordy crawls my way and starts fumbling with the rope around one of my arms. I scream when a flame licks at my foot. With a grunt, he drags the whole table away from the flames and starts rapidly untying the rope. He frees one hand and rushes to my legs, leaving me to work on the other hand. I get it loosened just enough to wriggle through it. The moment my legs are free, he yanks me into his arms.
“Did they…” He trails off, his voice cracking.
“N-No,” I assure him, choking on a sob. “You w-weren’t out b-but a minute or so. Rex was t-taunting me, asking me who I w-wanted to rape me first, b-but it never got p-past that b-because that guy stabbed him. W-Where’s my dress?”
He jerks his T-shirt off and tosses it over my head. I’ve barely pushed my arms through the holes when he scoops me in his arms.
“The ground is hot and you’re barefoot,” he grunts. “How the fuck do we get out of here?”
Flames have consumed much of the living room. They made sure to block the windows and doors. He backs us into the kitchen. Quickly, he slings open some drawers until he finds some dish towels. He soaks them down and hands them to me.
“Keep your mouth covered,” he barks out.
I hold one to my mouth and then hold the other one over his nose and mouth. He opens the door to the basement and starts running down the steps. It’s cool down here, but it won’t be for long. He carries me to the far end of the basement and sets me to my feet.
“Stay here, baby.”
I tremble as I watch him grab a table. He drags it over to the corner, leaning it up against the cinderblock wall. Black smoke starts to billow down the stairs and the ceiling droops in some places. He soaks down a sheet from the dryer in the utility sink and brings it over to me.
“I’m going to wrap us up in this. There’s no exit in this goddamn basement and no windows. We just have to stay alive long enough for them to get to us.”
I cling to him as he wraps us up in the icy blanket. Together, we crawl under the table, huddling close. Jordy holds me tight against him, kissing my head over and over again.
“How do you know they’re coming?” I croak out.
“We both know they’re coming. It’s just a matter of time.”
I tremble in his arms. Something crashes loudly into the basement followed by a burst of heat.
“Jordy!”
“Shh, Little Hornet. The ceiling is caving in. Just calm down. Keep that wet cloth over your face. Breathe shallow.”
I sob, burying my face against his neck. “I’m scared. I don’t want to die, Jordy. I want to stay alive and live with you. I want to get married and have a family. We’re going to die down here.”
He brings his battered face close to mine. “You think Roan is going to let us die?”
Behind the crackling and crashing, I hear it. Sirens. A lifeline. Roan is coming. I start sobbing harder, allowing hope to sink in.
Another loud crash sends more heat rushing our way. Orange glows from behind our table tent. It’s close.
“I l-love you,” I chatter out. “If we die, at least it was in each other’s arms.”
Jordy is trembling, but his voice is steady as he nuzzles me with his nose. “Is poetry always so damn depressing?”
A hysterical laugh bubbles out of me. “Kinda. Yeah.”
“Maybe you should take up a new hobby. Like knitting.”
Tears rush down my face. Only Jordy would be able to make me smile when my life is minutes from painfully ending.
“I love you too, Roux,” he says in a fierce tone, “but we’re not going to die.”
The heat continues to grow closer and closer. It stings. The smoke hurts my eyes. As much as he wants to believe we’ll survive, I know better. They don’t know we’re down here. They won’t make it in time. Jordy must realize it too, because he curses.
“Fuck, Roux. Fuck.”
He lies down, covering my body with his as though he can protect me from the flames. A groan of pain rasps from him at the precise moment I hear sizzling of our sheet. My sobbing is uncontrollable at this point.
We’re going to die.
It’s going to hurt so bad and then we’re going to die.
I won’t ever see my brother again.
Jordy and I won’t have our life together.
And then I hear it.
Yelling. A loud rushing. More yelling.
Roan.
Roan. Roan. Roan.
“Over here!” someone calls out.
The orange glow has lessened around us and I don’t feel like we’re going to burn alive in the next three seconds.
Until the table is flung away from us.
I scream at the top of my lungs when Jordy is pulled off my body. Frantically, I reach for him, but someone is wrapping me in a blanket of sorts. It takes a second for my mind to catch up. Firefighters. They’re here with us.
I squint through the window of the facemask and sob when I realize I know those amber eyes. My brother. My brother came for me. I cling to him, sobbing as he rushes behind the other two firefighters who are helping Jordy along. There are more firefighters pushing a ladder down into the basement.
The next few minutes are a confusing blur as I’m manhandled between firemen. It’s not until the cool, fresh air assaults me that I cry out in relief. Red and blue lights are flashing everywhere. It’s as though the entire damn city of Horn River came down to see to it we got out safely.
“Stay calm,” the firefighter carrying me says. “We’ve got you now.”
I recognize him as Frank, one of Mike and Roan’s friends. As he strides across the lawn, I take in the scene in awe.
Feds are everywhere.
Feds. Local PD. Fire department.
It was all coming to this. Agent Thomas Cravens, or Peeping Tom as I call him, explained it all in detail. How crucial my part was in bringing the bad guys down since I had the best “in” of anyone. Getting back with Kayden so I could keep tabs on Rex. The wires. The secret meetings. All of it.
I can thank Garrett for that. The moment Hollis called him when Rex dropped by that day demanding Jordy to work for him, Garrett not only showed up, but he started getting the right people involved. Hollis’s dad knows people and knows how to make stuff happen.
The Feds were more than happy not only to be alerted to one of the biggest criminals in Oregon, but to bring down every root of his organization. Because of Rex’s special way of punishing people by means of fire, the fire department was also involved. For every fire Jordy was to start, it was already waiting to be contained by all those who were a part of the sting. Rex and his crew were fed false, glorified information regarding the damages of the fires Jordy set. Because of Jordy’s assistance in this huge operation that’s taken months and months to roll out, they’ve promised to reduce his parole.
Frank sets me down on a stretcher just outside a waiting ambulance. My eyes frantically seek out Jordy. He, too, is being placed on a stretcher.
“Jordy,” I croak out, reaching my hand toward him.
He gives me a small wave.
“Let’s get you looked at,” a woman says to me. “Your name’s Roux, sweetie?”
“Is he going to be okay?”
“You both are,” she assures me. “Those hot firemen saved you two just in the nick of time.”
I groan. “One is like a dad and one is my brother. Yuck.”
She laughs and the sound of it makes my heart gallop in my chest. We made it. We made it out. This is all over.
Captain Fitzgerald shows up, grinning at me as the paramedic fusses over me.
“You did it, kid. We got them.”
“All of them?”
He sighs. “Rex Wheelhouse came blazing out of that house with a knife sticking out of his neck and a gun in his hand. He was shot on sight.”
“Kayden?” I rasp out.
His gaze softens. “He’s been arrested along with Jordy’s brother Juno and fourteen other guys. And that’s just here. We had our department stretched thin, making multiple arrests all over the city.”
Relief washes over me.
“I’m tired,” I murmur.
“Rest, little one. Everything’s going to be okay.”
I wake to yelling.
My heart hammers in my chest, forcing me to blink my eyes open. It’s blinding in the room I’m in. Based on the machines I’m hooked to, I’m pretty sure I’m in the hospital.
“You can’t hobble around in your condition,” a woman cries out just outside my door.
The door gets flung open and a mummified Jordy, though sort of blurry without my glasses, storms in. He’s bandaged in gauze on his arm and is wearing a hospital gown.
“Jordy!” I cry out.
The nurse follows him in, sighing in exasperation.
“It’s fine,” Garrett booms from behind her. “I’ve already spoken to the Chief of Staff about my family needing to see one another. Feel free to give him a call. I’m a surgeon, so I will make sure they don’t get hurt.”
The nurse, relieved at his authoritative presence, nods before walking away. Jordy hobbles over to me and leans over my bed for a kiss. I kiss him frantically, thankful he’s still alive, when someone clears their throat. I’m embarrassed that Garrett had to see that.
Until I realize it wasn’t Garrett who cleared their throat.
“I’m not going to kill you because you both almost died, but when you’re all healed up, I’m going to fucking kill you both,” Roan says, carrying in a cup of coffee.
Despite his harshly spoken words, he’s relaxed. Tired but relaxed. Jordy pulls away, but doesn’t let go of my hand. Hollis walks in and pushes a chair over to Jordy.
“I expected bloodshed,” Jordy says to Roan.
“Delayed. Bloodshed is coming,” Roan grumbles back.
Hollis laughs. “I decided to let the cat out of the bag when you were on your way to the hospital. Roan here took the news way better than had your lives not been in peril.”
“How did you know anyway?” Roan demands.
“Dude. You’re fucking blind if you can’t see how in love those two are.”
Roan sweeps his concerned stare over the both of us. Whatever he must see reflected back at him makes him smile. “You two look like shit.”
I stick my tongue out at him and Jordy flips him off.
“Children,” Garrett chides. “How are you both feeling? How’s your foot, Roux?”
I blink in confusion.
“Still feeling the effects of the morphine, I see. When they ween you off the good stuff, let me know then,” Garrett says with a smirk. “That was quite a nasty burn on your foot.”
Roan sets his coffee down and walks over to me. He strokes my hair out of my face and places my old glasses on my face since my newer pair probably got destroyed in the fire. All of their faces sharpen into view.
“Is it all really over?” I ask my brother.
He smiles. “Yeah, Roux.”
“When do I get to see my nephew?”
Garrett approaches the bed. “Samantha is working out all the legalities to transfer guardianship. It might be a few days, especially since Roan has been dealing with the Feds and worrying about you two, but Sebban will be home soon.”
“Why are you always helping us?” I ask Garrett.
He frowns at my question. “I lost my family once because I was an asshole. I have much to atone for. My family needs me, and now their family has grown to include Roan and Jordy and you. I’m doing what I can to show them I’m a changed man.”
It’s too late for his ex-wife considering Kelsey loves Mike, but it’s not too late for his children.
“Can you save Charlotte too?” I ask, my bottom lip wobbling.
Garrett’s face darkens. “I’m working on it, sweetheart.”
I won’t let Roan know because he’s not been a Garrett fan the past four years or Hollis because of everything his father did to him, but I like Garrett. I think people can change if they want to. And Garrett reminds me of my own dad. Not always good with words or people, but protective when it counts.
“I’m tired,” I say with a sigh.
“Close your eyes, Little Hornet,” Jordy grunts out. “I’ll be here when you wake up. I’ll always be here when you wake up from here on out.”
Roan doesn’t kill him, which makes my heart soar.
I close my eyes and pass out, knowing the people I love are always watching out for me.
A week later…
Snoring wakes me up and it takes me a second to get used to the sweaty body clinging to me.
Sebban.
A smile tugs at my lips as I rake my fingers through his dark hair. Having a three-and-a-half-year-old living with us has taken some getting used to. To say we’re all on top of each other is an understatement.
For some reason, in this stressful transition for Sebban, he’s chosen me to cling to. Roan seems hurt, but I know it’s because the poor little guy lost his mother. I’m another dark-haired woman, and I think he just gravitates toward me for that reason. As a result, I’ve been sharing my bed with him so he won’t cry at night.
“Momma,” he cries out, jolting awake.
My heart breaks for him. I’m thankful he’s so young and doesn’t fully comprehend his loss yet. The social worker said it was best if we distract him rather than trying to explain what happened.
“Dadda Roan will make pancakes if we ask nicely,” I tell him, tickling his stomach.
He squeals, rolling away. I manage to wrangle him over to me to change him out of his diaper and into new clothes. He’s not potty-trained yet, so it’s something we’ll have to work on with him.
Once I have him dressed, I take his hand and walk him into the living room. All three guys are at the table drinking coffee. Jordy still looks a little worse for the wear, but no matter how beat up he is, he’ll always be handsome to me.
And my savior.
I smile at him and then lift a brow at Roan. “Where are the pancakes?”
“Pancake,” Sebban agrees.
Roan’s smile is so cute as he reaches a hand out to his son. Sometimes, like now, Sebban shies away from him. I know it hurts Roan, but he’s determined.
“Want to help me make them?” Roan asks, squatting in front of Sebban and pushing a lock of hair out of his eyes.
Sebban nods and reaches for him. Roan’s eyes flash with joy as he scoops up Sebban like he weighs nothing. My nephew squeals with laughter. He carries Sebban into the kitchen and sets him on the counter. Patiently, he tells Sebban all about pancake making. Like pouring water into the canister and shaking it is actual rocket science.
“I do it,” Sebban tells him.
Roan hands him the canister and Sebban shakes it up, happy as can be at helping. I peel my gaze from them and sit in Roan’s vacated chair. Hollis has a goofy smile on his face as he watches his husband be a daddy. It really is heartwarming.
Jordy, though, is watching me. His dark eyes probing into the deepest parts of me. He reaches over and takes my hand, winking at me.
“Morning, beautiful.”
“Morning, handsome.”
“Ew,” Hollis jokes. “I think I’m needed in the kitchen.”
As soon as he’s gone, Jordy tugs me into his lap. I curl up against him, nuzzling my nose against the column of his neck.
“Garrett’s gonna rent me the apartment above his office,” he says, running his finger lightly up and down my arm. “I can move in whenever.”
The thought of him moving away from us makes my stomach hollow out.
Another peal of laughter from the kitchen steals our attention. Hollis and Roan are playing with Sebban. They’re ridiculously cute. There’s no doubt in my mind those two will give that little boy the best life. After losing two parents, the kid deserves it. Hollis and Roan are two of the best people in this world, so Sebban is lucky to have them in his life.
“I want you to come with me, baby,” Jordy murmurs.
I jolt up and furrow my brows at him. “Really? You want me to live with you?” The idea of giving Roan more space to raise Sebban makes me feel better, though it’ll be sad to leave them.
“Of course I do,” Jordy says. “Even asked your dickhead brother first to see if it was okay.”
“Still not okay,” Roan hollers out over his shoulder. “But then he reminded me it’s your life, not mine. That you’re a big girl who can make her own decisions.”
I laugh. “I’ve been trying to tell you that for years, Roan.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he playfully grumbles. “You’re always welcome here, Roux. If that dude ever fucks up, you can come home.”
“Fuck!” Sebban yells out, cackling.
Jordy snorts out a laugh. “Nice, man.”
Hollis swats at Roan. “That mouth is going to get you in a lot of trouble.” Then, to Sebban, Hollis says, “That’s a no-no word. Want to go look at ducks after breakfast?”
Sebban starts chanting duck instead of fuck, much to everyone’s relief.
“Yes. I’ll move in with you.” I kiss Jordy’s still bruised cheek. “But once I go, you can’t get rid of me. I’ll always be yours.”
Jordy squeezes my ass. “You’re already mine, Little Hornet. Now it’ll be official.”