Break Me (Dmitriyev Bratva #4)

Chapter 1

Halle

“Cap’n O’Leary. We got a problem over here.”

Jeff’s loud voice managed to boom over the sirens. I jumped off the fire engine, struggling into my fire-resistant jacket. Shielding my eyes from the sun, I lifted my head, staring at the roof of the massive warehouse. Smoke billowed from the eaves, but thankfully, there were no visible flames.

However, it was only a matter of time before the upper floor would be engulfed. “What’s the issue?”

“You need to see this.”

Well, fuck. Lately, there always seemed to be some issue after rolling up to a fire. I jogged toward the sound of his voice, noting the look of amusement on his face as he nodded just ahead.

“Motherfucking…” I didn’t finish the sentence. There was a bright blue sports car parked smack in front of the fire hydrant.

“Yep,” Mark chortled, popping the p, which he knew I hated. “Think it might be owned by that guy over there.” He pointed across the street.

I craned my neck and homed in on two men standing in the alcove of another building.

One guy was red faced, his fat cheeks puffed out as he shook his finger in the other guy’s face.

He was screaming his head off while the second man stood calmly.

As if he didn’t have a care in the world.

And with a smile on his ruggedly handsome face.

Even from where I was standing, I could tell the second guy was rich by his ten-thousand-dollar suit and c’est la vie attitude. He was also gorgeous. Thick, dark, wavy hair and a strong angular jaw, tall with broad shoulders and an absolutely buff, insanely handsome body.

However, his good looks didn’t excuse his bad behavior.

“You want me to talk to the guy?” Jeff asked.

“Hell, no. I’ll handle it.”

As I took long strides closer to ensure the two men could hear me over their bickering, the rest of the firefighters whistled their approval. They knew that I was short-tempered. Especially when dealing with anyone who acted as if they were above the law or basic common sense.

“Hey, is this your car?” I pointed toward the sparkly blue car without taking my eyes off the sinfully gorgeous man.

He barely tossed me a glance and definitely didn’t register or care that a building across the street could burn to the freaking ground.

“Hey, buddy. I’m talking to you.”

This time, he threw out his hand, his index finger lifted toward the sky. The man was telling me to wait a minute.

Was he kidding me?

“Oh, shit,” Jeff huffed from several feet away.

One last try and I was finished playing nice.

I snapped my hands on my hips, taking another two steps closer.

Any closer than that and I might allow my true fiery personality out of her cage.

“Hey, buddy. Do you happen to see a fire engine in front of you? Move your fucking car. Now. You’re blocking a fire hydrant. ”

He had the nerve to shoot me a look with fire in his eyes. However, he wasn’t seeing me at all or if he was, he just didn’t care. “I’ll be with you in a minute.”

His rude comment was like a slap in the face. I threw my shoulders back, cracking my neck as I did every time some asshole pissed me off.

Which was frequently.

There was no time left to waste. Spinning around, I stormed toward the other firefighters. They knew exactly what I needed, their abilities to read my mind phenomenal. The moment I threw my arm out as I was about ready to pass by them, the handle of an axe was slapped into my hand.

The anger continued to boil as I closed in on the car.

I threw one last look over my shoulder at the jerk before smashing the driver’s window, shattering the glass.

Then I took long strides to the other side just as Mark was shoving the hose through the wide opening.

Another quick swing and the passenger window was broken.

“Hey!” a deep voice called. “That’s my car.”

“Good for you.”

I headed back to the fire engine to grab my helmet and breathing gear, ignoring the snarling godlike man as he pumped his long legs running toward me.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“Gaining access to the fire hydrant, which you illegally parked in front of.” I grabbed the two-way radio and resisted looking at him. Although I sensed he was foaming at the mouth.

“You can’t go around smashing people’s windows. I could have you arrested.”

He picked the wrong day to piss me off and challenge my authority.

I turned toward him, shoring my shoulders and glaring into his eyes.

“Listen to me, buster. I don’t who you are or who you think you are, but to me, you’re nothing but an arrogant man child who doesn’t care about the possibility there could be victims inside that burning building, a location where I need to get water to so maybe, just maybe we can save lives.

” I threw my arm toward the building again and he didn’t even have the decency of looking in the direction of where I was pointing.

Instead, his eyes were locked onto mine, piercing in a way that took my breath away. His ice blue eyes were the color of glaciers or a winter sky. Intense. Chilling. Irritating.

All time stopped. All sound slipped into silence. My vision dropped into a vacuum. Thankfully, the angry bitch version of me was right below the surface getting ready to claw her way out.

For a split second, he was speechless. Ah, poor baby.

Then he recoiled, his nostrils flaring. “You’re going to pay for the damage.”

That did it. The spell was broken. I grabbed my breathing tanks and moved away, but not before driving my shoulder against his arm to push him out of the way. “Talk to the captain.”

“I’ll be happy to. Who’s the damn captain?” he called.

“That would be me.” I didn’t bother turning around. I could tell he was gawking at me.

“Woo-hoo, Cap’n,” Camden said as he flanked my side.

I grumbled under my breath. Why were men such assholes? “We’ve got a fire to put out, boys. Let’s roll!”

“Mama!” It didn’t matter the type of day I’d had or how many fires had occurred, even those risking my life and those of the men and women on the squad. When I came home and Emily threw herself into my arms, all the grime and danger of the day faded away.

“My bunchkins! Look at you. I think you grew by what, two inches since I was gone?”

“Three at least, sis.” Kristine laughed as she stood against the doorway leading to the kitchen with her arms folded.

Thank God my sister had the kind of job that allowed her to work from anywhere, including my cramped little house.

Otherwise, there would be no way I could afford daycare or a babysitter.

As it was, I owed her big time. She was lucky that her career as an influencer was just starting to take off, which allowed her more flexibility. Days like today I felt jealous. I was exhausted and even after taking a shower at the firehouse, the stench of a gasoline fire lingered in my nostrils.

“Mommy,” my baby girl huffed as she took a step back. She had her mother’s dramatic flair, rolling her eyes and tossing her long hair behind her shoulders. “You haven’t been gone that long. Duh. I haven’t grown.”

I wrinkled my brow on purpose. “Are you sure? Maybe I should take a look just to be certain.” As I crept forward, her little eyes lit up. When I tickled her tummy, she burst into a fit of laughter.

Kristine shook her head. “She missed you.”

“I missed her too.”

“I colored a picture,” my daughter said with such joy in her little voice, a moment of sadness swept through me. If only her daddy could see her now. “Can I show you?”

“Well, duh,” I said, mimicking her. “Of course. Don’t run!”

She did anyway, her little bright red tennis shoes pounding against the floor as she rushed toward her bedroom. At that point, I slumped against the wall. “She’s going to be the death of me.”

“She’s been okay all day. Stop worrying so much.”

Closing my eyes, I rubbed my temple. “You know I can’t stop worrying.”

“I know. You’re the biggest worrywart I’ve ever known. That bad, huh?” Kristine asked. “You look rode hard and put away wet.”

“Wow. Just the analogy I needed.” At least I could laugh. “Long and arduous. Plus, it was one of those days when one asshole, one single son of a bitch really got to me.”

“Wait. Isn’t that something new and different? I’m shocked.” My sister’s gasp was a little too exaggerated.

I smacked her on the arm. “Very funny. I’m serious this time. He was just so… Irritating.” I clawed my fingers, miming shaking the life out of him.

“Mmmm… If I didn’t know better, I’d say you liked the guy.” She slipped into the kitchen before I could smack her again.

Groaning, I trailed behind her, using as little effort as possible. That’s how exhausted I was. Suddenly, a glass of wine was presented in a big girl glass stem, my sister shifting it back and forth as if a peace offering. “You get to live. Thank you.”

Kristine chuckled. “The moment you pulled into the driveway, I could tell you needed some liquid libation.”

“Your radar is too accurate.”

“Mommy. See? I drew this for you.” As soon as Emily bounded into the room, she coughed and every muscle in my body instantly bristled. I was prepared for an attack.

But it never came.

She was winded but went on jabbering about one stick figure being me, another one Daddy in heaven. She’d drawn plenty of similar pictures over the last few months, but for some reason, another reminder that her daddy and the man I’d been married to was in heaven was almost too much.

Kristine noticed my reaction and crouched down to Emily’s level. “Hey, girlie poo. Remember I promised you an ice cream sandwich if you ate your broccoli. Well, you did!”

Emily gasped and looked up. “I wuv you, Auntie Krissy.”

“And I love you too. Let’s get you settled at the table and I’ll get the treat for you.”

My sister had been a rock after my husband Sean had been killed, picking up the pieces more times than I could count. I didn’t know what I would have done without her.

As I sipped my wine, I leaned against the counter, watching their interaction. Between my sister and Sean’s family every once in a blue moon, my daughter was a lucky little girl who had a decent support system. Although I wished her uncle would pay her more attention.

It was me who felt lonely, still angry about the horrible turn in our lives. Maybe that was selfish of me, but most nights I could barely sleep and my days were constantly long and draining both mentally and physically.

Even if I did love my job.

“There you go, little buttercup,” Kristine cooed as she tousled Emily’s hair before joining me against the counter.

“Did she really eat her broccoli?” The moment she looked away, I allowed a slow growl to slip past my lips. “You and your little white fibs.” My daughter loathed what she called the trees of doom. She’d learned that from her favorite Instagram and TikTok account my sister had introduced her to.

First, adorable Golden Retrievers.

Next? Boy bands.

“Well, she did eat some.”

We both laughed. “You spoil her. Just like you do with me. This wine. I can see fresh bread and bags of cookies over there. The last time I checked, I didn’t have those or any wine in the house.”

“Well, you do now.” Her tone was haughty. “Oh, come on. You deserve a break, Halle. You work constantly. You won’t allow me to give you any money.”

“Because you’re just starting to put the pieces of your life and career together. I’m not taking money from you.”

“A few bags of groceries were the least I can do.”

“What about all the babysitting you do for me? You practically live here. I can’t imagine being forced to work on your laptop. You’ve got an apartment.”

“Oh, please,” she snorted. “That rat trap? There’s never a quiet moment even at three o’clock in the morning. It’s quiet here and you have a lovely backyard with amazing patio furniture where I can edit videos and create. Emily loves her swing set so it’s a perfect setup.”

“Furniture you purchased for me.” And a hand-me-down swing set.

“Stop. You’re my sister.”

“Why don’t you move?” Until recently, my sister had been as poor as a church mouse, finding a tiny little studio apartment smack in the middle of the casino district.

At first, she’d said being so close to vibrant energy was exciting.

She’d soon learned all about the seedier side of Las Vegas.

“You have some money saved now. Use it for yourself.”

“Well, only if we can find a larger house together. Think about it.”

Ordinarily, I would have immediately said no. There were memories here. There was love in every picture and every pillow. Sean’s scent was still here. But I’d learned after all this time that my home was where my daughter was. “Maybe.”

She squealed. “I’ll start looking. I know. Somewhere with a yard. I’m so excited. Now, tell me about this man. Was he hot?”

“He was an asshole.” I slapped my hand over my mouth, but not quickly enough. My daughter lifted and shook her little head.

“It’s not nice to curse, Mommy.”

There was nothing like being chastised by a child.

“You’re right, bunchkins. Don’t you do it.”

“Well, duh,” all three of us said at the same time. My daughter’s favorite expression.

Kristine chuckled under her breath. “So how bad was he and what did he do?”

“He parked his fancy sports car in front of a fire hydrant.”

“Active fire?”

“Yep.” Now I popped the p. That’s how furious I remained. Although I had to admit, every time I thought about the sexy stranger, tiny prickles of heat crisscrossed the back of my neck. Even right now with an image of him floating in my mind, I was almost panting. My reaction was ridiculous.

“Wow. Did you castrate him?”

“Let’s just say he’ll need a couple new windows.”

“Oh, I bet you loved doing that.”

My laugh was low and throaty. “You know me too well. You should have seen the look on his chiseled face. His eyes were mesmerizing, but at the moment could have easily turned me into stone. Even his massive chest was heaving and every word of admonishment out of his mouth accented his deep, baritone voice.”

“So he was handsome.”

“Gorgeous. Hockey star rugged in a slick suit handsome.”

“Hmm…” Kristine cooed and took a sip of her wine.

“What?”

“Well, since Sean’s death, you haven’t mentioned a single thing about any other guy you’ve encountered as being handsome. Not one.”

“So what?”

“Soooo…” she elongated. “You like this guy.”

I hid behind my glass, snarking a little to myself. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll never be forced to see the jerk again.”

“Famous last words.”