Page 40 of Burning for the Truth

I smile without warmth. “And the guilt for loving Briella after losing him?”

She smiles at me wholeheartedly. “You and I both know you’ve loved her for longer than you’re willing to admit to me. If I had to guess given your history, it was long before Drew ever knew she existed. I think your heart was hers a very long time ago, Dean.”

I don’t confirm or deny because there’s no point, she’s smart enough to know the answer. “I broke her heart once before. Who’s to say I won’t again, no matter how much I swear I’d never do it intentionally?”

“There’s no guarantees in life or in love. You choose what’s worth the risk of crashing and burning even when you’re only trying to spread your wings and fly,” she answers with certainty.

“Have you ever done it?”

She seems confused by my question. “Done what?”

“Took the risk and loved without fear?” I ask her pointedly.

Her face blooms pink. “Some of us aren’t so lucky…or brave. But if you ask me, Briella is worth the risk for you.”

After my session with Leah, I feel slightly more…sorted out.I still question my ability to not break Briella’s heart, but it’s something I’m going to give my all. I only hope she’ll give me the chance. I finally told her I love her. She didn’t say it back, but I’m not going to push her. She’ll tell me one day, if and when she’s ready. And if she never is, I’ll still love her.

I walk into my office at the firehouse to find her squinting at reports spread out over my desk. It would almost be funny if the situation weren’t so dire. She glances up when she sees me in the doorway and smiles even though she’s in her element combing over information.

I cross my arms as I watch her and grin to myself. Having her with me, here at work or home, it’s just…right. Everything about her with me is right. I silently vow in this moment, right here and now to be the man she needs…the one she deserves.

My mind drifts to the letter and box I’m still carrying around from Drew. Another stab of guilt hits my chest. She wasn’t ready to talk about it when we first saw each other after so many months of silence and grief. But I feel like I’m keeping a huge secret.

“Hey, Bree. Can we talk?”

She looks back up again, worry lines creasing her pretty face. “Is everything okay?” she asks as she stands.

“Yeah, but there’s something I need to show you,” I admit as she walks over to me and puts her hand on my arm.

“Whatever it is, can it wait? You just got here, and I was hoping we could go over some of these reports together,” she tells me.

I run my free hand over the back of my neck nervously; a sense of dread settling in my stomach as if my gut is telling me waiting is a bad idea. Slade and Alex walk in about that time. “Yeah, let’s go over some stuff.” I kiss her forehead and move past her to the desk.

Slade and Alex sit in the chairs against my office wall. “We have a theory we think pans out after talking with Sterling and Hart,” Slade admits. Alex glances at him grimly before turning back to us.

“Let’s hear it,” I snap.

“Sorry, brother. You were gone and Briella was combing through the reports again. We didn’t mean to go behind your back.” He pauses. “Either one of you.” He tosses an apologetic smile toward Briella.

She nods in acknowledgement. “Dean’s right. I want to hear your theory.”

Slade stands while Alex appears frazzled. “This had to be some sort of war on police or fireor bothto begin with. It’s what fits so far. But now, everything has shifted to you.” Slade stares pointedly at Bree.

“So…what are you getting at? I’m police. My boyfriend was fire,” she says matter-of-factly. It shouldn’t be a knife to the heart, but it is. The truth is she washisgirlfriend and still would be if he hadn’t been killed. All the guilt I thought I’d pushed away in Leah’s office returns.

Slade continues. “We think our guy is someone you know. Someone we may all know.” The pain I see on Briella’s face at the thought someone she knows, and probably considers a friend, could do something like this leaves me shaken. If I never see her in pain again, it’ll be too soon.

Alex speaks up this time. “Do you know anyone who might have a grudge against either department, or both for any reason?”

Bree shakes her head.

He tries again. “Okay, how about friends…anyone seemoffto you lately?”

Briella shakes her head but stops short as if she realized something as the color drains from her face.

“Do you have any person of interest you’re thinking of, sweetheart?” I ask cautiously.

“No, um…” Her gaze lands on the picture of me and Drew hanging on my wall. Our arms are draped across each other’s shoulders and we’re beaming at the camera standing in front of our truck. Her eyes shimmer with unshed tears.

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