Chapter Fifteen #3
A paramedic crouched beside me, checked my pulse, and made noises about smoke inhalation.
I took a few more pulls off the oxygen mask he offered but all I cared about was who’d done this and how I was going to pay them back.
I’d brief Knight the second I could talk, and he’d check into the guy I’d pulled out.
My throat felt scraped raw and my chest hurt with every breath I took.
The guy I’d dragged out of the bakery complicated things because Brett could easily blame the fire on the old guy if he had to.
Which was likely why the man was in Juniper’s bakery in the first place.
To serve as Brett’s alibi. He’d probably made sure the man had a key and everything.
Something for Knight to work out because right now, I knew I couldn’t be objective and the last thing I wanted to do was taint the investigation.
It would only hurt Juniper in the long run.
I’d had ample time to talk to Knight and Knuckles while I watched the crews do their best to save the surrounding structures.
I knew Knuckles would use the full weight of Kiss of Death to take care of this fucker.
I knew the bakery was a lost cause from the outset, so I wasn’t expecting much by way of them saving it.
I did, however, need to see the people in the surrounding area.
If Brett was in the area, I wanted to find him.
By the time dawn peeked over the river, I was dead on my feet and my chest ached like a motherfucker with every fucking breath I took.
I found Danner standing next to my bike a short distance from the second engine on the scene.
His jacket hung loose and he had a notebook in hand. Same as the old days.
He saw me and met me as I headed his way. “Wondered if you were here. You the one who dragged out the old man?”
“Yeah. I’m a little out of practice.” My voice was husky and rough from the smoke and I still coughed occasionally.
He snorted. “Bet you’re still better than my best man.”
“Obviously not, since I went inside a fully engulfed building without any gear,” I said dryly before another coughing fit hit me. “That’s askin’ to die, and I’m not too proud to admit I was stupid.” More coughing.
When I finally stopped, Danner handed me a bottle of water. “Well?” he asked when I stopped coughing. “What did you see?”
I shook my head. “I’m too close, man. I’m seeing conspiracies all over the Goddamned place when for all I know it could really be just faulty wiring.”
Danner shook his head. “No. The explosion will make reconstruction difficult, but I have no doubt this is the same as the other fire, only on a larger scale. Whoever did this has definitely done it before.” He paused. “You need me to keep your involvement in that rescue out of my report?”
I shrugged. “I don’t suppose it matters, but I’d really prefer you not mention my name. Last thing I need is my ex coming around, thinking she can bleed me for money.”
Danner snorted. “I hear you, brother.”
“Appreciate that.”
“We always look after our own.” He walked me back to my bike and I slung a leg over, settling on the machine while he stood there. “You want my honest opinion, Jonah?” he said, voice soft, like he didn’t want to say what he was about to.
“Always.”
“If this goes to trial, they’ll never stick a charge. And the only guy smart enough to see through it will have to explain why he’s been looking so close.” He jerked his chin at the shell of the bakery. “But you and I both know who did this.”
“Yeah.” I knew Danner was likely puzzled at my lack of emotion. But, then again, he’d been a close friend in another life. Maybe he knew exactly what I planned.
Danner gave me a look. “You got what you need?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I do.”
He nodded. “Good luck, Jonah.” He said it like he meant it.
Crews were still working to put out hot spots, though there wasn’t much left to continue burning. Yellow tape stretched wide across the street. Juniper stood at the tape not fifty feet from me.
Her gaze locked on mine from across the distance.
The sun was just coming up behind her. Instead of grief or anger, all I saw in her face was…
relief. I got off my bike and moved toward her.
She met me halfway and threw herself into my arms, kissing me several times before wrapping her arms around my neck and holding on tight.
“I was so worried.” Her confession was muffled against my neck.
“It’s all right. I’m so sorry, baby. So sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry!” She looked back and gave me a fierce look. “I heard what you did. You could have been killed pulling that guy out!”
“I know, but I couldn’t live with myself if I hadn’t.”
“I know that,” she snapped. “But, oh, my God, nothing can happen to you!”
“It won’t, baby.”
Tiny came up behind her, addressing me. “I’ll take your bike back to the compound,” he said. “Zero can drive you guys in the Bronco.”
I gave him a grateful look. “Thanks, man.”
“Anytime, brother.”
Tiny was right. He was my brother. Same as the other men from Kiss of Death were my brothers. And their old ladies were my sisters. Their children my nieces and nephews. Juniper was part of that tight circle now. My family. And my family protected each other.
That was when I realized that, no matter what happened here tonight, Brett hadn’t won a Goddamned thing.