Page 85 of Hot Zone

“I hope I’ll see you again, Gator. I really did enjoy meeting you.”

“Oh, you’ll see me again. I’m planning on coming back and doing holiday shopping. My sister would love some of the stuff you have in here.”

I got Kismet all situated in her carrier. Then I sent Samuel a text telling him I was headed home and would see him there. But before I could leave, I needed to do one more thing. I walked over and flipped over the last card. The Four of Wands. Happiness and safety.

I let out my breath and smiled. I should’ve just turned over the card. I picked up Kismet’s carrier and walked out to my car to go home and wait.

My brain was still spinning a million miles an hour, but what mattered was Samuel was okay, and he would be home soon.

I couldn’t believe this guy actually showed up at the fire station planning to blow everyone to kingdom come. I’d known Samuel was worried, but I really hadn’t been. It didn’t make sense to me that the guy would stick around town with everyone looking for him, but obviously, Samuel had been right.

When I got home, I went to work. I dug through the boxes in the garage until I found the candles I’d ordered from one of my favorite shops. I pulled out the one that was made to help with relaxation and carried it into the house.

I set it on the coffee table in the living room and lit the candle. It was a lavender, frankincense—a ylang-ylang blend and had a very calming effect. Next, I closed the curtains and lowered the lights before searching through my phone to find one of my favorite playlists, simply titledcalm.

I plugged it into the speaker and pressed play. Then I sat down on the floor and got into my meditation pose. I wouldn’t be any use to Samuel if I was a nervous wreck when he arrived, so I needed a few minutes to center myself before he got home.

Samuel

It felt like it took forever before the police were done with me and let me go home. Before I’d even had a chance to call Mars, he’d sent me a text telling me he was at home waiting for me. I let out a sigh of relief when I saw it. There was no place on earth I wanted to be right now besides at home with him.

I’d also received texts from both Steven and Danni letting me know that Mars had called and let them know I was okay.

On the drive home, I couldn’t help but think about how different today could have gone. So many people that I cared about could’ve died today. Hell, I could’ve died today.

But I didn’t. And now I was heading home, and Mars was there waiting for me. I smiled to myself. My boy, my kitten, was at the house waiting for me.

I pulled into the driveway and went in the side door. The lights were dimmed, and I almost instinctively reached for the switch, but then I saw the candle on the coffee table. I stepped further into the house and spied Mars sitting on the floor, eyes closed, and fuck if I didn’t want to come home to this every day.

I watched him for a minute, but the need to hold him was stronger than the urge to let him finish what he was doing.

“Hey, Kitten,” I said loud enough for him to hear, but hopefully not so loud it would startle him.

His eyes flew open, and he hopped up, not in his normal graceful way, but with much more urgency.

“Daddy! You’re home.”

“I am.”

He flew across the room and crashed into me. I wrapped my arms around him and held on tight. This right here was what I needed.

He let go and took a step back, looking me over frantically. “He could have killed you.”

His eyes were glistening with unshed tears, and I reached up and brushed a stray one off his cheek.

“He could have. But he didn’t. I’m fine.”

A sound somewhere between a chuckle and a sob escaped his throat. “I was meditating and getting everything ready to comfort you after such a scary experience, and now here you are, comforting me instead.”

“How about we comfort each other?”

He sniffed. “That sounds good to me. But it was really him. It’s over?”

“Yeah, Kitten. It’s over. But there’s something I need to tell you, so let’s go sit down.”

I led him over to the couch and sat down, pulling him into my lap simply because I wasn’t ready to let him go. I wanted him close so I could touch him.

He snuggled in close and let out a content sigh. Looked like I wasn’t the only one who needed this right now. “I can’t believe he was going to blow up the station and himself with it.”

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