Page 58 of Fireline

It wasn’t a dream.

“Easy there.” Henry sat in a ratty old recliner, watching her from across the room. “You blacked out back there, but you’re safe now.”

Nova attempted to sit up. Her body protested every movement. “Where am I?”

“My hideaway.” Henry leaned forward. The metal springs on his chair squeaked. “Needed a quiet place to tend to your injuries and let you get some rest.”

She glanced around the windowless room, a modest space with a worn sofa and a simple kitchen setup. A fire burned in a stone hearth. The chimney had been carved up from the cave wall.

“Thank you for carrying me out of there.” Now she just needed to get to a hospital.

Henry handed her a steaming cup of tea that smelled amazing. “Let’s call it even. Do you remember what you said before you blacked out?”

Heat crept up her neck. Oh, she remembered all right. That little word-vomit episode in the tunnel right before she’d passed out. “I remember.”

Henry’s sharp and weathered eyes flickered with concern. “If what you’re saying is true, we’re all in more danger than you can imagine.”

Nova shifted on the sofa. “Tell me.”

“Earl and Floyd Blackwell are biological brothers, but they’re also a new division of an organization, called The Brothers in northwest Montana. Russian sympathizers, but they want to start a war that will destroy America so Russia can be the world power. Their dad was a Russian spy in the US and was killed by me a few years ago.”

A shiver ran down her spine. Booth had told stories of Crazy Henry killing a Russian spy. “Why are they after Crispin and Booth?”

“If they prove themselves, they’ll get an invite to make the Bratva. They’ve made themselves legitimate players in their world. They believe finding a missing nuke—rumors their dad must’ve told them—will be their ticket. They’re willing to do anything to prove themselves to the Russians.”

Nova’s mind whirred. This was way more than stories. It was a real-life geopolitical game with lives at stake.

“Earl’s dead,” she said. “He died in a wildfire. Floyd probably wants to avenge his brother’s death.”

Henry’s features hardened. “Floyd won’t stop until he gets what he wants. He’ll be even more dangerous. And right now, he’s got a hired group of assassins at his disposal.”

“Assassins?” Nova’s heart pounded at the mention of more men coming after Crispin and Booth. “Are you kidding?”

“I wish I was. I’ve been listening to some radio chatter, intercepting phone conversations. Things are only escalating.”

“We need to warn them, Henry.” She wrapped an arm around her aching ribs. How far could she get in this condition?

Henry’s expression mirrored her concern. “There is no we, Nova. We’re dealing with a different kind of danger here. The moment I step outside, Russian satellites will be snapping pictures faster than the paparazzi. That’s why no one has seen me in years—other than you firefighters the past few weeks.” He shook his head. “Always landing in trouble.”

Her mind raced for a solution. “We can help you. Booth needs to know you’re here. We can’t let Floyd’s hired guns catch him off guard.”

“Just hold on.” He held up a palm. “We need to tread carefully. If what you said is true and Floyd’s closing in on the nuke, Booth might be the key to saving Crispin and stopping Floyd.”

The room seemed smaller. The air thickened, making it hard to breathe. Her eyes bored into Henry’s. “Th-th-the nuke? It’s…here?”

Henry’s gaze held hers for a beat.

She looked around the room. What was she expecting? To see it leaning against a wall? “Okay, forget that. What’s Booth got to do with it? He only found out Crispin was alive a few days ago.”

“I’m the one who sent Booth to live here. He’s been doing some searching of his own, and he knows how to stop The Brothers. I need you to be the one who warns him.”

“Sure, but I lost my radio and phone?—”

Henry shook his head. “This can’t go over any wires. No phones. No email. Tell him in person. Quietly.”

“But how? We’re trapped by the wildfire. Even if we weren’t engulfed by flames, I’m in no condition to hike back up the mountain.”

A small smile tugged at Henry’s lips. “Don’t you worry about that. I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve. There’s a way to navigate around this chaos.”

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