Page 9 of Lion's Legacy of Flame

“So, you’re going to donate one hundred thousand dollars there. That’s the estimated repairs to the building plus some capital. She has fire insurance but you’re donating the money anyway. Your downtown project isn’t going to happen. Every inspector will ensure that every single damned thing you do is done ten times, twenty times. You’ll have more failed inspections than you can even imagine.”

“This is blackmail!”

“Extortion. It would be blackmail if I threatened to tell the world about how you set a beloved charity’s building on fire if you don’t pay me. The building you already bought there, the charity will be happy to buy that. I mean the property right next to Mealtime’s. Mealtime will buy it for twenty-thousand dollars. If you like, you can just reconcile that ahead of time and cut your check for eighty thousand.”

“Who the hell do you think you are?”

“I’m the man who’s likely to kill you, Mr. Steele,” I say. “If you ever threaten the life or livelihood of anyone associated with Mealtime ever again. I don’t mean that metaphorically. I will quite literally kill you.” I say these things in a pleasant voice. I hope that makes them a little bit shocking. I hope that makes the words terrifying.

“Get the hell out of my office. You know how many cops I own? How many politicians?”

“Have a nice day, Mr. Steele,” I say as I stand. Then, I say, “It’s amazing how little it helps to own a cop when you’re alone with a man who will tear your throat out until there’s nothing but a jagged, gaping hole there, and you’ll drown on your blood. The good news is you won’t overcome the shock fast enough to know what’s going on before you die.” I nod and walk to his door.

I’m not afraid of any politicians. You’d have to own the governor to be able to do anything to anyone in Company 417. We know where the shifter bodies are buried, so to speak. As for any corrupt cops, they’re just not a consideration for a firefighter. There’s already a cop/fireman rivalry, so even the slightest hassle will bring too much scrutiny. Oddly, firefighters are almost more untouchable than anyone else.

The whole point of this visit is to scare the man into giving up his harassment of Claire. It isn’t going to work. Something like this never does. The man has far too high an opinion of himself. He thinks he’s untouchable and, more than that, he needs tobelieve that he is. He needs to think nobody can get between him and whatever he wants. A man like him will never stop.

I still must give him a chance.

Of course, it’s also fair to say that part of that whole exchange was to get him to try something. I can’t pretend I didn’t want to… What do they say online? Oh yeah. I got it. I can’t pretend I don’t want to provoke him so he fucks around and finds out. I very much want him to find out. Oh, not in the beginning, but the fact that he reacted to my statements not with denial but with an attitude that he could do whatever he wants to do confirms everything Claire suspects.

I walk out and play a little game with myself about how long it will take the man to call someone to take care of the situation. To take care of me. It doesn’t matter. I’ve got several days off and I’ll be shadowing Claire so I’ll have no trouble protecting her. Some of my Company 417 brothers will take up the slack while I’m working my shift. Realistically, she’ll only be left alone if a fire breaks out that’s so large nobody gets a day off.

That happens a hell of a lot in movies but not a whole lot in real life, especially not in the spring when the grass is damp, there’s plenty of rain, and the temperature is moderate. I head to the station and check in. There’s no reason to at all. It’s just to let Garrett know about the situation. He says to enjoy my time off and let me know if I need more. He doesn’t tell me he’s got my back. He doesn’t have to.

All of the firefighters at Company 417 have my back.

Before shifters announced themselves to the world, some petty rivalries might have made some unreliable. These days most shifters have most shifters’ backs. But when you add to that the brotherhood that firefighters share, there’s nomostinvolved. Every one of the firefighters at Company 417 will lay their lives down for me, and I’ll do the same for them.

I see a few of the others as I make my way back to my car. I wasn’t worried before coming here but now, the idea of worry seems pretty damned silly. I leave the firehouse feeling good, and I head to Claire’s place hoping we’ll have time for a little bit of fun before she has to get to her charity.

No luck.

She’s already gone. The door is open like she said it would be but she’s left. There’s a note telling me where she is complete with a heart at the bottom. Yeah, it’s a silly thing for me to feel so good about that heart but I do. I can’t help myself. She doesn’t know I intend to show up at Mealtime. I’m looking forward to surprising her.

Chapter Eight

Claire

I’ve just got things organized how I want them, and it feels pretty good. “All right,” I whisper to myself. “Now I just need to call everyone and open the floodgates.”

Yeah, I talk to myself a lot.

“You guys can take off now, if you want,” I say a little louder. There are six people here who helped get all the food organized and ready. “Come get your bags from me.” The bags I’m talking about are for them to fill with some of the food they’ve organized so they can take some home. We have a free store. It’s just like a corner grocery store except you come in and get the food you need and don’t pay for it.

No questions asked.

It lets people shop like normal human beings, just for free. They still check out because we scan everything, so we have an inventory. It also makes them feel like they’re doing a normal thing, not receiving charity. It humanizes people who too often feel like they’re less than human. Anyway, I love our free store and anyone who works for me always gets a bag.

When these guys get their bags, they’ll also get their checks for today’s work. We can only afford minimum wage, and it is always day labor. We never have to find the people. The people we help with food are also the people who need day labor jobs, so we’re pretty much always able to get the help we need.

I feel really good.

Good.

We’re operating in a temporary location while I figure out all of the insurance stuff and rebuilding with our other property. It sure feels good to be operating again, though. The relief I’ve seen on some of the faces is pretty profound, too. I feel good about this situation.

I watch as the men fill their bags and throw out some suggestions as well. “You guys, you have to try that spaghetti sauce. It’s a premium brand. Hey, don’t forget the spices. You never find oregano at a place like this. Pick it up!” I love this stuff, like I’m a carnival barker trying to sell to people. I think it helps the clients feel better, too.

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