Ash: Devil's Crucifix MC (17 page)

However, Remmy’s sources were right. There are signs of someone living in this place, or at least using it as a shelter. There are fresh candy wrappers on the ground next to cigarette butts and ashes. I can see muddy, smeared boot prints along the driveway and the windows actually feel warm to the touch as if there has been heat in the building.

It is enough to make a wild guess, but it isn’t enough. With the home all checked out, I put the gun back in my coat pocket and walk slowly towards the road. I’m about twenty feet from the house when something dawns on me. I never told Remmy about Spark being the suspect for the fires. And why were his sources out here to begin with? I had banned any of my runners and dealers from making transactions in this part of the woods in order to avoid suspicion.

Why does Remmy seem to be five steps ahead of me? Did I just walk myself into a trap set up by my own right hand man? What am I missing here?

I turn to look back at the home one last time when something much bigger and more powerful than my lingering questions and doubts hits me square on. First comes this blast of energy from behind me, the direction of the house, as I feel as if someone has actually took a shovel to my head and back and beaten me with it repeatedly. It’s so strong that I am knocked forward, and I feel my one of my boots fly off as if the wind itself has untied them and thrown them apart from me.

Something is wrong. Something is terribly wrong. I tell myself to run, to get the hell out of there and away from this house of death, but I’m stuck again almost milliseconds later. Another, equally as rough sensation attacks my front this time, and as I thought I was about to fly forward, this new wave tosses me back. It knocks me down straight to the ground with my head landing hard on the surface. I can practically hear the bones crack from the jolt.

Then comes the heat. Searing, relentless heat like I’ve never felt before. It singes my hair and causes my skin to peel from the bone. It’s about a thousand times worse than the fire at Dani’s place where carrying her in my arms exposed me to some open flames against the protection of my leather jacket. Those minor burns don’t compare to the feeling of your body blistering and drying.

Every inch of me cries out as I struggle to reach for the phone in my pocket, but the blast from the house has made everything go from the green and blue of a rainy Washington day to pitch black nothingness. All of my strength is focused on moving my arm just an inch, but I can’t do it. I can’t seem to make myself move any part of my body. Nothing in me feels like it will ever be right again.

My head slumps into the ground of the old couple’s former flowerbeds. Everything fades, and I’m left calling out Dani’s name. The sound of fire trucks wailing in the background break up the otherworldly noises from the crackling of the burning home, the sharp and unceasing ringing in my ear, and the sound of the waves slapping up against the rocks just below the bridge. 

Man. I look like crap.
I can’t help but notice the smeared black mascara that’s running down the side of my face, the lipstick that is only partially sticking to my lips, and the swollen cheeks streaked from crying. I quickly run over to my tiny makeup bag a pick out the makeup remover wipes. I haven’t used these in months. I can’t even remember the last time I really got dressed up.

Just hours ago, I was thrilled to be feeling like a woman again. I had this gorgeous hunter green dress given to me by a man who knew how to take a woman to bed. I am still wearing the lacy bra and panty set Ash had picked out for me, even though the circumstances have changed. He won’t be seeing them on me tonight. Or any night.

I had cried bitter tears in the back seat of that cab as it drove away from Ash and the empty restaurant. As it pulled closer to home, I promised myself these would be the last tears I shed over him. It is over. His lack of respect for me forced it to be done. I want no part of someone who can’t even give me the respect to tell me who tried to kill me.

And what about that whole ‘come live with me’ thing? What was
that
all about? If he really thinks I am in any danger, he is dead wrong. I am fine here in my hotel room. I am fine out there in the field fighting fires. I am totally and completely fine. I don’t need him or his boys or even Jamie fighting my battles for me. I know how to take care of myself.

Yet I find myself looking over my shoulder when I hear footsteps outside on the terrace. It’s probably just a guest walking to his car. But it’s followed by the crisp, banging sound of a door slamming shut and my hands jump in the air as if I’m being shot at. My heart thumps into overdrive, going a million miles a minute, as I will myself to get up and go take a look past the large velvet window drapes and outdoors.

Of course, it’s just as I thought -- completely clear, without so much as a tumbleweed in sight. I don’t even see a trace of Marco, even though I’m pretty sure he’s still supposed to be on shift watching after me. His familiar red and silver bike isn’t sitting outside my door as he watches some show on his cellphone. There aren’t even traces of his cigarettes smoldering in a massive pile -- a horrible habit I’ve been giving him crap about since day one.

Maybe calling off the guard is Ash’s not so subtle way of telling me he was letting go. Maybe I got through to him with the whole “we’re over” screams. I have to admit that I half expected for him to chase me down, especially after how hard he pursued me the first time I told him to stay away. But today’s fiasco was totally different. What had happened between us was a slap in the face and a punch to the gut. I cut him off at the head with no way for him to get back into my good graces.

On the side table next to me, my small handbag begins to vibrate wildly. I walk reluctantly over to it, my stomach falling into a pit as I try to think of what to say if the person’s face on the screen is Ash. But to my complete surprise, I don’t have to tell anyone off or go through another crying session. It’s Jamie.

“Hello?” I ask cautiously, choking back the knot in my throat. The last time I spoke to Jamie, it wasn’t particularly great either. I had essentially drawn a line in the sand that told him, too, that nothing between us would ever come to be. What he is doing calling me when I am off-duty is anyone’s guess.

“Hey, Dani. Um, look. I didn’t want to call you or anything, but it’s the department…” He sounds distant, nervous. It’s as if he thinks he’s dipping his foot into the rivers of hell.

But I’m not keyed into him or whatever he is mumbling. I ask almost too eagerly, “The department? What’s going on? Do they need me to start my shift early?” Any distraction would be more welcome than spending the rest of the evening here alone in my hotel room listening for make believe sounds and letting Ash’s threats about the unidentified boogeyman haunt me into madness.

“Yeah, actually. The crew was called into this massive fire down in Jamesville, and they’re looking for reserves. I told them I’d call the volunteers. I know you’ve got your fireman’s test tomorrow, so I understand if you don’t want to spend all night at the house, but it wou--”

“No! Jamie!” I shout over him, cutting him off before he could get to his apologetic, puppy dog routine. “I’ll come in. I’m dying of, um, boredom here, and I need something to do. Plus, I wouldn’t mind hanging out at the gym for a few extra hours before tomorrow.” I’m already running back to the makeup remover, dabbing it all over my face. I would hate to go back to the department looking like a drowned, depressed rat.

“Oh great! Thank God. I thought the Captain was going to force me to make the call up to Portland and see if they could spare a few guys. Hell if I want to deal with those assholes tonight.”

“Is the fire in Jamesville that bad? I mean, it’s not exactly windy or anything out there. Was it a gas explosion or something over at the fields?” My mind wanders back for a brief second to Ash’s family farm just outside Jamesville and the moments we spent on that dusty blanket. My pulse picks up and my throat goes completely dry as I shake my head back to reality.

“No. Some house fire. They’re saying over the radio that it looks like the same guy who’s been starting all the fires in town. Started on the roof, real professional-looking job.” He pauses as he thinks, “Man, wouldn’t it be awesome if that guy had moved on out of here? Make it some other department’s problem than us up at all hours every night…”

“Yeah,” I mutter reluctantly, “that would be great…” I am trying to tread carefully. By the few details Ash gave and how he talked like this guy was such a major threat, it doesn’t sound like the same guy running out of town or expanding his territory. If he is going after Ash and his motorcycle gang, why some small, hick town almost thirty miles north of here?

“Thanks again for helping out, Dani. I really appreciate it. I mean, I didn’t really want to call you after the shit that went down back at the station, but I knew that if anyone would jump in, it would be you. You’re a real --”

I don’t want to hear all the flattering remarks he is going to throw out at me. This is his regular routine to get back in with me -- lay on the compliments until it would be rude of me to continue to give him the cold shoulder or ignore him. As much as I am thankful for him giving me the opportunity to get the hell out of this hotel, I am not about to treat him any differently. “Yeah. It’s fine.” I reply shortly. “I’ll be at the station in about ten minutes.” I look down at my dress as I add, “I just need to get dressed and grab my bag.”

We hang up as I grab all of my workout gear and a t-shirt and jeans in case the gym is too crowded. I briefly contemplate changing out of the dress and bra and panty set, but I hate to admit that I actually feel sexy in something like this. I could change at the station before hitting the gym. I want to keep this going for just a little bit longer. After all, there’s got to be something good going on in my life today.

With my bag packed, I grab my keys and lock up behind me. It’s just beginning to get dark, that kind of dusk where everything looks like it’s been painted an eerie summer blue. You can still see the lights and cars on the road before you, but it feels different than daytime. It’s dreamy, really, like everything is as it is supposed to be.

Despite that, I can’t get this feeling out of my chest. It’s the feeling of something coming around the corner -- the same vibes I had back in the hotel room where there was some unseen danger lurking after me in places I couldn’t see. My hands practically make imprints in my steering wheel as I try not to let it eat at me. I turn up the radio even louder to sing along with some old rock song I remember my dad playing when I was kid.

It manages to keep my nerves at bay until I get to the fire department, and then all those feelings, the anger, the anxiety, the fear come flooding back. I’m blaming it on my nerves for my test tomorrow. It’s a huge deal. No do-overs. And seeing that red brick building with the enormous doors and windows, I feel as if I’m walking into my own execution.

“Hey!” Jamie pounds the glass of my car as he snaps me out of my own mind. “I am so glad to see you. The boys got a call. We’re just about to head out. They need you to suit up and ride with the seconds. Are you good to go?”

I roll down the window as he repeats the instructions to me. In the background, I watch as the second to last fire truck begins to flash its lights while the crew jumps out to guide it onto the Main treet. Something changes in me when I see those red and white flashes. I’m not Dani the girl who just dumped her somewhat-boyfriend or Dani the girl who may be in danger from a deranged arsonist. I am Dani the firefighter.

I open the door of my car, leaving behind my bag and cellphone in the front seat of the car. I almost stop and grab it as I hear it buzz up against the leather interior, but I ignore it for now and head straight out to the staging area of the station. As I watch Jamie throw on his bucket pants and jacket, I suddenly, I realize I’m not exactly ready for this. Usually, I’m always wearing workout gear or a pair of long pants. But I’m still in this damn hunter green dress with the lace-and-frills panties.

I have no choice. I turn my back towards Jamie as I peel off the dress, letting it slide quickly down the length of my body until it falls in a heap on the cement floor. I can feel Jamie’s eyes on me as he goes quiet. I squat down, certainly giving him quite the show in the thong panties to pick up the suspenders of my pants and throw them over the thin material of my bra.

I quickly turn to face Jamie, my hand slightly covering my exposed nipples. “Can you, uh, hand me my…”

He swallows hard as he struggles to keep his eyes at my nose level before turning towards the storage closet and pulling out my helmet. “Here. Here you go.” But, of course, it’s Jamie, and he has to say something more. He can’t just let it be. “Were you on a date or something? I’ve never seen you in a dress or…or…”

Panties, Jamie,
I think to myself.
You haven’t seen me in my panties before. And you’d better not get used to it, either. These tits and ass belong to no man.” 

But I bite my tongue and answer passively. “Yeah. I’m a girl. I occasionally get dressed up. This time, it was for a date.”

“Well, you look--”

I throw the jacket over my shoulders and turn back to the waiting fire truck starting to ring its siren. “Yeah, I get it, Jamie. But we have to go.” I don’t wait for him to follow. I’m already a fast jog ahead of him, jumping into the back section of the truck. He follows slowly behind to the irritation of everyone working and slips in right next to me, our arms just barely touching. I suddenly feel that spark of anger I did earlier with Ash with him and his “move in with me” assault.

However, when the truck starts pulling out towards the destination and Captain Quinn runs down the calls, my head is far, far away from both Jamie and Ash. With one day until my department test, this could be my chance to prove to the Captain I can be an invaluable part of his team. There are only so many full-time spots open that can go to rookies, and besides Jamie and I, the rest of the crew are still at home getting ready for bed. I need to harness all of my talents, skills, and focus to get the job done as best as possible.

“Moundsville volunteers are already at the scene. We’re headed to an abandoned house just outside Thunder Cliff. The bridge is still intact but the fire’s getting within distance. One person down at the scene, male in his early 30s, with second or third degree burns to the back of hands and arms. They’re saying it was a gas fire or something. It blew the shoes right off the guy. Luckily for him, he wasn’t inside and he managed to be just outside the perimeter of the blast zone.”       

“Jesus…” Jamie utters to himself as the Chief gives a rundown on positions.

“Dani, I want you on the red line, front position. Jamie, you’re backing her up. I know you two haven’t worked the hoses yet on the field, but we need the more experienced guys inside for a body check to confirm.”

“Yes, sir,” I reply confidently. While he’s right that I haven’t been in charge of a hose before during a real fire, I have pretty much aced all my hose tests in practice runs. And being in charge of the nozzle gives me even a better shot of showing my skills off.

When we arrive on scene minutes later, Jamie and I drop the whole act and get to work. He runs for the red hose bundle and begins hooking it to the truck’s water valve. I wait for him at the nozzle of the coil until we’re both in position. Jamie gives me a nod as we both turn and face the blazing home for the first time.