Hearts on Fire 8: Saving C.C. (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  She had resources, connections working for Red Cross. The thought made her feel sick. But the detectives consoled her and said he probably hid some form of PTSD from her and that they’d only been dating a couple of months when he took his life. It just didn’t add up.

  She delivered the drinks and tried to get her mind off all of it. It was behind her. She needed to start a new life and stop trying to get answers to questions that could never be answered. That was what her family told her and what the detectives said. But her gut, her heart, didn’t agree. Maybe she should call Chris this week and ask him if there were any updates? Frustrated, she went on working and trying to smile, despite her heavy heart at her somber life. She really needed to look into renting a normal place. A better place. Maybe that would help her to move on and start living again.

  * * * *

  Burt McCurran was standing behind the bar at the Station drying off some glasses. He glanced up as he heard a couple of deep voices and then some laughter. He spotted C.C., the new waitress he’d hired recently. She was talking to a few guys from Engine 20. They had been flirting with her the past several weeks, but she kept turning them down. In fact, she turned a lot of guys down and really kept to herself. He liked her, though, and thought she was a very hard worker and had a way about her that instantly made people like her. There was something in her dark blue eyes that drew him in and made him feel as though she was sad, despite her personality. His instincts were always so dead-on, but he had yet to get any information from her other than the fact she was looking to make money to find a place to rent in town.

  Then he saw the expression on her face change as she stared toward the bar and seemed to be thinking about something. It must have been upsetting because the expression pulled at his heart. He asked if she were okay, and then she smiled wide, gave him the drink order, and he got everything for her. But he still felt something was wrong.

  She didn’t expand on anything they talked about. If she had any family, she just smiled and said she appreciated the fact that he hired her and to let her know if he needed her for more hours. But she already pulled double shifts three times a week. She was a hard worker, but something about her quiet demeanor put his cop instincts on alert. He’d keep working on gaining her trust, and then maybe she would let him know more about her.

  “Hey, what’s wrong, Burt?” Jerome asked him as he came along from the back room.

  “Nothing. What’s going on with you? Did you go over the order again before you called it in?”

  “Yeah, it’s all good.” Jerome smiled at Burt then looked right in the direction Burt had been looking.

  “She’s a hard worker. Still not opening up much about her personal life though.”

  Burt looked at Jerome. “You think something is up with her too?”

  “Hey, last time we had this instinct we were dealing with Michaela and look where that led.”

  Burt chuckled. “Shit, that was pretty damn intense. But she handled herself well. C.C. seems kind of fragile in a lot of ways. You know, like she avoids confrontations. Michaela knocked guys on their asses.”

  Jerome laughed. “Those self-defense lessons were intended to save her life and protect her. Things could have gone differently.”

  “I know, believe me. I just can’t shake this feeling about C.C. I don’t know. Maybe I’m just being nosey?”

  “No, Burt, not nosey, as much as caring. It’s been your way forever. I think if we talk to her more, and make her feel comfortable, then she’ll open up.”

  “I don’t know. I guess only time will tell.”

  Jerome walked away, and then Kyle St. James took a seat at the bar. His brother Mercury, a paramedic, took the next seat. Burt gave them a big smile hello.

  “Hey, Kyle, Mercury, what can I get ya?” Burt asked them.

  “Two Heinekens.”

  Burt grabbed the bottles and had placed them down when C.C. came back over. He caught both Kyle and Mercury checking her out, and she looked a bit surprised to see them and then turned toward Burt.

  “What do you need, doll?” Burt asked.

  “I need a vodka on the rocks, a margarita on the rocks with salt, a bourbon and water on the rocks, and two Bud Lights.”

  “Coming right up.” Burt began making the drinks.

  “Busy night?” Kyle asked C.C.

  “I think just about every night is busy.” She then looked around the place.

  “The place tends to be crowded after any major fire calls or accidents,” Mercury added, watching her.

  Burt glanced up at the three and saw how in tune the men were to C.C. She, however, seemed shy, not really wanting to talk.

  “I heard about that multiple car accident and fire. Everyone got out safely though? No major injuries?” Burt contributed as he placed the drinks onto C.C.’s tray.

  “Thank goodness. It was a miracle no one was killed or badly burned. But what a mess,” Mercury said.

  “Were they from around here?” she asked them.

  “Yes, one of the families lived a few doors down from our house on Pyngyp,” Kyle told her.

  “Oh God, there were children in the car?” she asked, all upset.

  “They’re fine, just shaken up. The mom was a bit shaken up, too. Her husband just left for another tour with the Marines. She’d been a nervous wreck,” Mercury said to her.

  “That’s scary. I’m glad that they’re okay,” she said, and Burt placed the last few drinks down on her tray.

  “There you go.”

  She smiled. “Thank you.” She walked away.

  Burt couldn’t help but notice Mercury and Kyle watching her. He cleared his throat, and both men looked at him. Kyle chuckled.

  “She’s really sweet.” He took a sip from his beer bottle.

  “She’s freaking hot. You were in a dead stare at her,” Mercury teased.

  “Well, she’s beautiful. People like to look at beautiful things, okay?” Kyle replied.

  Burt chuckled. “She is very attractive and sweet too but quiet.” He looked toward the direction C.C. had gone in.

  “You sound concerned, Burt,” Mercury said to him.

  Burt looked at Mercury. He knew their parents and, of course, their brothers for a long time.

  “That and I guess curious. She’s very polite, shy, and she rides a bike or takes a bus to get here.”

  “Really? Does she live far?” Kyle asked.

  “Her address on the forms for her paycheck have her living in an apartment over the bridge.”

  “Shit, I wish we could have fixed her car for her, but that thing was on its last leg. She’s lucky she broke down around here and not on the highway somewhere,” Kyle added.

  “You worked on her car?” Burt asked.

  Burt was surprised to hear the story about her car breaking down and her pushing it until Kyle and Frank came out to help her. As Kyle explained the story and about sending her to The Station for lunch, Burt got even more intrigued.

  “So I basically owe you a thank you for sending her my way. She showed up just when we heard that Debbi wasn’t coming back. It was a mess, and we’d gone through five other waitresses that couldn’t keep up or were clumsy as damn hell.”

  “I’m glad I did send her this way. I wonder why she hasn’t picked up another car. We have a few at the shop that aren’t too expensive,” Kyle said.

  “She decided to stay in town, Kyle. Probably like most people who find their way to Treasure Town, she fell in love with it,” Mercury added.

  “Maybe so.” Kyle looked for her again.

  Burt had a feeling in his gut, and instantly a smile formed on his face. He wondered if the St. James men would wind up with C.C. They were hard men. They didn’t date, at least as far as he knew, and they had difficult lives, especially Kyle and Frank. But the way they kept their eyes on C.C. made him think it was a possibility. Maybe he could give a little push.

  “You still looking to rent that little house by your place on Pyngyp?” Burt a
sked him.

  “Yeah, why, you know someone?” Kyle asked.

  “I caught C.C. looking at some of the posted apartment for rent signs on the bulletin board in the hallway. Plus, she looks at the paper too when it’s slow here. Maybe she wants out of the place she lives in now?”

  “Well, let her know about the house,” Kyle said. “We’d take a little less just to be sure and rent it. It’s in great condition and has been vacant for a while, plus we’re right next door so, if there’s anything needed fixing, we’re there in a flash.”

  “I like the sound of that. C.C. maybe living right next door?” Mercury added then took a slug from his beer can.

  Burt smiled. “I’ll run it by her later.” Burt then helped another customer with some drink orders.

  * * * *

  “I didn’t realize that you and Frank had met her before and worked on her car or about sending here this way. How did that happen, and why hadn’t you mentioned it before?” Mercury asked Kyle.

  “I don’t know. I guess I didn’t think it was a big deal.”

  “Bullshit it isn’t. You met her before. You’re always watching her, and when you mention to Frank that you’ve seen C.C., he gets all funny.”

  Kyle squinted and then shook his head. “It’s nothing. It doesn’t matter. She doesn’t talk to anyone longer than to be social.”

  “I have to admit. I have a hard time taking my eyes off of her while she’s working.”

  Kyle looked at Mercury. “Really? You mean like you like her, find her attractive?”

  “Shit, Kyle,” Mercury said. “Look at her. She’s gorgeous, petite, sweet, and friendly. She not skin and bones, and when she’s close, I get this sensation and awareness of her. It’s different than just finding a woman to be attractive. It’s hard to describe. But she doesn’t date and neither do I.”.

  He didn’t date because he had been involved with Felicia and she cheated on him. His brothers had never like Felicia, but he thought she was fun. Then he found out she just wanted to fuck him and his brothers and not have a serious relationship.

  “You’ve had those feelings for women before, Mercury.”

  “No, this is different. Maybe because she doesn’t respond to any man flirting with her I see it as a challenge? I don’t know. I don’t think so. I want to know more about her, and I think you do, too.”

  Kyle swallowed hard and then looked at his brother. Mercury could see the seriousness in Kyle’s eyes as well as the sadness. It seemed his brother never got over his injuries and having to quit the police department and a job he loved. But he could have died, and he lived in New York. Now that he was back home, they could all keep eyes on one another.

  “I’ve got nothing to offer her, to any woman, really,” Kyle said to Mercury.

  Mercury was shocked. “What?” he asked, eyes wide, and then he lowered his voice. “Why would you think that?”

  Kyle shrugged and then took a slug of beer from his beer bottle.

  “I can hardly move my shoulder. I can’t even do much work at the shop with Frank and the other guys. We had to hire another mechanic, and sometimes when the weather is rainy or cold, I tighten up even more.”

  “You’re not the only one with some pain from injuries. You’ve dealt with them fine, just as Frank has.”

  “Mercury, it makes me feel weak, like I’m not man enough in a lot of ways, okay? Just leave it be. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  Mercury placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Hey, I’m your brother. The four of us are super close, even more so now that you’re home and we’re all together. If you’re in pain, or feeling shitty about it, talk to me. I’ll listen and be there for you.”

  “And does that go for you too? The sharing about feelings and trying to move on?”

  Mercury knew Kyle was talking about Felicia.

  He took a deep breath and released it. It had been over a month, but the feelings were still raw. It was hard for him to believe that a woman would cheat on him, especially one he thought about sharing with his brothers if they were interested.

  “It’s hard to admit to feeling pain, feeling used when you’re a man and you’re supposed to be so macho and strong about shit.”

  “But she did hurt you. She was trash, and you were blinded by her lies and manipulating ways.”

  “I was, but it’s over, so it doesn’t matter.”

  “Doesn’t it? I mean seeing what you went through, and knowing what we all want in life and a relationship, does put fear in all of us that we could get hurt, get screwed by some woman.”

  “I guess so. That’s probably why none of us date or take a woman seriously.”

  “That isn’t right either,” Kyle said. “I don’t know. I look around us sometimes, and I see what our friends have and I’m envious and jealous. But then I think about my faults and I feel like shit.”

  “I do the same thing. I don’t know what to say except that we should just live our lives and try to remain positive that something good will happen for all of us.”

  “I guess so. Plus considering that Frank is so anti-social and Jenks is always on an adventure when he’s not working, it would be hard to do anything together.”

  “That’s for sure. In fact, where the hell did he go this weekend?” Mercury asked about their brother Jenks, who was a firefighter.

  “Skydiving or some shit with a few buddies from the academy.”

  “Great. I hope he comes back in one piece, and if Mom calls, or the Dads, I’m not telling them where he is.”

  Kyle laughed. “Good luck to any of us dodging calls from Mom.”

  Mercury chuckled, and then he caught sight of C.C. as she headed toward the other end of the bar, where Jerome made her some drinks.

  She was very attractive and a bit mysterious. Who was she really, and could he and his brothers ever let their guards down, show some vulnerability, and trust a woman to open up to? Or was that just some fantasy better left for lonely nights in bed than for reality?

  Chapter 2

  The sirens blared and the engines roared as multiple fire apparatus came onto the scene. Detective Chris Factor heard the call go out over the radio. A threat had come into the department in a local sheriff’s office in Upstate New York as a 911 emergency. The caller said that Detective Plank was next to die.

  Chris’s heart was racing. Detective Pierre Plank was one of his good friends and a man working arson investigations along with him and a few others. Plank had just called him late last night saying that he had some lead on a possible suspect in the murder of his friends Banks, C.C.’s brother, and Lionel, her brother-in-law. They were supposed to meet this morning to go over things, and he had evidence. Pierre was checking out another lead in a run-down area near Red Cross headquarters and a hotel that was used to provide temporary housing for people who lost their homes in fires. He knew the neighborhood well.

  As Chris came up to the scene, he felt the tears hit his eyes and the sick feeling punch him in the gut. Plank’s SUV was completely engulfed in flames, windows shattered. Black smoke plumed everywhere, as did the smell of gasoline. Chaos reigned as firefighters tried putting out the fire as well as the additional fire to a local storefront that had caught debris. It was a fucking mess.

  He placed the car in park and got out quickly. He met one of the fire chiefs from Banks’s engine company.

  “Tell me he got out, Chief. Tell me please,” Chris said as the chief covered his shoulder with his hand and squeezed.

  He shook his head, and Chris felt like throwing up. He ran his hand over his mouth.

  “They said a call came into dispatch. He was set up and killed. What the fuck is going on, Chris?” the chief asked.

  “I don’t know, Chief, but I can promise that I’m going to do anything and everything in my power to find out and catch this guy.”

  More sirens blared, and the echo of radio broadcasts spilled through the crowd of firefighters and police. He stood ther
e in complete shock, his mind going blank as he watched the first responders working to put out the flames. What a goddamn mess. Another life taken, destroyed for what? Who was this guy, and what had Pierre discovered that had gotten him killed? Fuck, he prayed Pierre had left evidence someplace safe, or this was going to be hell to try and figure out. But he would do it. Some asshole had declared war on certain cops and firefighters. That wasn’t going to continue.

  * * * *

  He stood alongside the other people in the crowd and watched with pride. He was careful not to show any emotion whatsoever. He didn’t want them to spot him. When he revealed himself it would be on his terms, not theirs. He felt so calm it was arousing. He was good at this. Good at punishing them for what they had done to him. All of them. From Banks and Lionel to fucking Parker. He licked his lip and then thought about the past.

  They weren’t any better at their jobs than he could have been. He was just trying to fit in, find his calling, and live a normal life, despite the voices in his head. They failed him. Said he wasn’t mentally stable. Really? You try being mentally stable after watching firefighters kill your parents and leave them to die in the flames of hell while you lay helplessly on the grass, burns along your belly and legs crying in pain.

  He clenched his fists, tightened them, and then spread his fingers. He couldn’t show emotion, he thought to himself just as a few police officers walked by, scanning the crowd along with some detectives he recognized.

  “Please tell us no one was hurt,” one woman next to him said to the police officer.

  “Yes, it’s so upsetting to watch,” he added, and the officers and the detectives looked at them.

  “There’s nothing to say. The firefighters have it under control,” one officer offered.

  He couldn’t help but to despise them. They were so nonchalant about it. They never told the truth. They belittled anyone who wasn’t a firefighter. They had nothing under control. He did.