Page 36 of Burning for the Truth

Jake and Michael reach us. “Yeah, why can’t y’all catch the guy? Maybe Briella should stay with me if none of you can protect her better than this. It would seem he must have his sights set on her,” Michael says almost smugly.

I step toward him with my fist clenched and grit my teeth as he stands firm smirking. Jake steps in front of him. “Look, he’s just concerned. He didn’t mean anything bad. He has a past. He lost someone he loved.” Behind Jake, Michael’s jaw clenches. “Is she okay? Is there any chance this is coincidence?” Jake asks with his brow lifted as if hoping I’ll say yes.

I pull him to the side. “When has anything in Greendale Valley ever been a coincidence?” He grimaces. I run a hand down my face. “Look, she probably doesn’t need too many visitors tonight, so let me tell her y’all stopped by and she can call you later.”

Jake nods and so does Brittney even as she swipes at the tears still falling. Michael makes an almost snorting sound and I stare at him. “Did you say something?”

“I didn’t, but I’ll bet you won’t tell her we stopped by,” he says as jealousy flickers through his eyes.

Jake pushes Michael’s chest. “Enough. We’re leaving. He’s right, and yes, he’ll tell her.” He turns to me again. “Watch your back, Dean…all of you.”

I watch as they leave. Brittney looks at me. “You noticed he has a thing for Bree, did you?”

I clench my teeth. “It would certainly seem that way.”

“I’m telling you now, I wouldn’t worry about him. You and Briella…you have something.” She smiles softly. “Please let me know what’s going on.”

“I will,” I promise as she gives me a card with her number on it. I glance past her and see Chief Trudeau and Chief Holden coming down the hall toward me, matching each other’s stride. Sterling comes out and we find an empty conference room to talk. We all share information, which is not much more than we started with.

Chief Trudeau talks about taking Briella off the case, but says he’ll wait to make the final decision after he can talk to her himself in a couple days. Chief Holden stares at me, sheer concern causing the wrinkles around his eyes to deepen. I know what he’s thinking. He’s wondering how this is affecting me after losing Drew.It’s affecting everything.I’m questioning my every thought and every move.

Once everyone leaves, I finally make my way into Bree’s room and see her resting her eyes. She looks so peaceful as her lashes fan out. I grab a chair and bring it over to her bedside and take her hand before bringing it to my lips.

“Dean…” she whispers and lazily opens her eyes to stare at me.

“Shhh. It’s me, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere. Rest and I’ll be right here when you wake up,” I say gently, pushing her hair back.

Her lips tip up in a small smile and I whisper as she drifts to sleep. “Hold on to me, don’t let go.”

The steady beeping of the monitors hooked to Briella remind me she’s breathing…her heart is beating. I’ve spent the last few hours in silence aside from the continuous beeps and the nurse coming in every hour or so to check her vitals and wake her briefly before letting her go back to sleep.

Sleep. It eludes me most of the time since that fateful night in Serena’s burning house, but tonight I’ve hardly shut my eyes. I feel the need to watch her chest rise and fall with each breath she takes and to feel her pulse flutter under my fingertips as I hold her hand. I need reassurance she’s alive and with me. When I have fallen asleep, it’s only for thirty minutes or so before I wake myself from the nightmare of what happened to Drew and what could’ve happened to Bree.I could’ve lost her.

The thoughts play in my head in a loop.What would’ve happened if I’d been a few minutes later? What would’ve happened if Hawk hadn’t been at the gym when I was? If not for him, I wouldn’t have known. He got the call from Sterling, and I heard enough to know something bad happened. What if I hadn’t been in the right place at the right time?

I squeeze my eyes shut. Drew and I were in the wrong place at the wrong time that night, but somehow it wasn’t the case with Briella. My mind whispers…you were meant to save her.While my hearts shouts…she’s meant to be with you!

I believe with one hundred percent certainty I was meant to save her, and in my heart, she’ll always be my girl, but I’m not sure she feels the same. Part of me wants to tell her…I want her to know what she means to me—that I’m in love with her. I’ve always loved her. There’s a large part of me who fears she’ll reject me. Even though I’ve kissed every inch of her body, it doesn’t mean she’s mine. It doesn’t mean I have her heart. And I’m scared to push her too much, too fast. She’s still grieving. What kind of man would lay his feelings out to a woman who lost everything because of that same man saying he loves her? No, as bad as I wish she could know how I feel, I can’t put that on her. Not now and maybe not ever. I don’t deserve her love.

My eyes sting at the thought of letting her slip through my fingers again. When I first moved back home, a hope I hadn’t realized I could have ignited in my chest when I saw her again. But her eyes weren’t for me, and neither was her heart. She chose the better man, and I wish I could take her pain away.

I stare at her sleeping form. Her face is so serene, so beautiful. I told her I wouldn’t let go and I won’t unless she asks me to, but I also won’t ask for more than she can freely give me. I stand and brush her hair back and place a kiss to her forehead.

A quiet knock captures my attention. I glance up to find Chelsea in the doorway. Her eyes squinting in the darkened room, and her brows are furrowed in concern. I walk over to meet her as she shuts the door behind her. “How is she?” she asks barely above a whisper.

I turn and look at Bree before facing Chelsea again. “She’ll be okay. She’s the toughest person I know.” I muster a small smile.

She puts her hand on my arm. “I heard what happened. I’m glad she’s all right. I hope y’all find the person responsible for these fires. How are you holding up? I heard you were the one who went in after her. That was your first fire since…” Her eyes are filled with sympathy.

She gently squeezes my forearm. “I’m fine,” I answer quickly. Maybe too quickly because she narrows her eyes in disbelief.

She cups my face on either side and I wrap my fingers around her wrists to remove her hands. “Don’t be like that, Dean. Don’t push me away.” Her eyes water.

“I don’t want to give you the wrong idea, Chelsea. I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine,” I tell her as nicely as possible. She’s a sweet girl and she’s tried to be a friend, but I know she wants to take that friendship further and I refuse to let her believe it will happen.

“You have no feelings for me at all, do you? It’s because of her, isn’t it?” she asks with her lower lip trembling.

“Chelsea…” I slide my hand over my face hating myself for making her cry.

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