Page 63 of Slow Burn
Instead, I am freezing. My chest feels tight; and weirdly enough it burns, my throat is on fire, my legs feel like they've been set ablaze, but I am absolutely frozen. I blink my eyes open, expecting to see fire and destruction all around. Instead of heat and ash, I see bright white everywhere I can move my eyes. Which, let me tell you, is a fucking task for some reason.
I try to speak to the shadowy figures I see just a few feet away. I try to move. To lift my head, but I can't. I panic, trying to wiggle my toes and fingers. This sends pain rocketing through me, but shit, at least I can move them. Feel them. I try to cough to clear the scratching burn in my throat, and I gag.
“Oh shit!” Finn's unmistakable booming growl makes my eyes pop back open.
“Whe-re.... Brynn. Get....get my girl.” I somehow manage beyond the choking pain as I gag again.
“Calm down. Nurse! Hey, yo', Nurse!” Those shadows break apart and Finn steps into my line of vision.
I'm able to focus for just a few seconds. I see he's got a bandage around his left arm and he's covered in soot. I try to look to my other side, where I see another shadow take form. I squint, thinking I see the someone who looks like Cage; only, he's pale as hell and his always smiling eyes are dark and stormy. I briefly wonder where the fuck Hunter is. Before I can ask, I'm pulled back under the smoke and flames and freezing cold.
It's dark in the room when I wake next. I'm still fucking cold, my nose feels like I just walked my miserable ass through Chicago. My chest feels like it’s going to explode and the moment I open my eyes, they burn, and my vision blurs as they water. I don't gag this time. I realize I am thirsty as shit. It hurts to move but I lift my head, looking. Searching.
Hoping to find to find fiery red hair and bright jade eyes.
“Get my girl. Get my girl. Where's my girls?” I look around in panic, unable to focus on the shadowy figures just a few feet away.
“Hey, bro,” Cage answers this time and I feel like he somehow manages to calm me that easily, “Calm down. My wife is getting your girls. What can we do? What do you need? You in pain? Remember anything?” Cage looks almost normal now as he comes to my left side and I shake my head.
“No. I fell. I fell...where's.... where’s Hunter? What...am I okay? Where the fuck are my girls?” I realize I'm crying like an idiot when I finish my questions, but I don't care and I don't think Cage would judge me anyway.
“Hunter is down the hall. He is okay. You are okay. Broke your left leg this time, idiot. Tell me what you remember.” I shake my head, closing my eyes and trying to grasp at the pieces to fit together a memory.
“Can't remember shit. Kicking a door in. Hearing a baby. A baby! Did we get her out?” I push at the bed, trying to sit up as I wonder how bad I fucked up.
“We got everyone out Levi. You saved two lives today, man. They were cornered in a back room. A baby and her mother. No one else heard them crying. Not even Hunter. He went after you but...like an idiot you fell through the fucking floor.” Cage laughs a little but it dies fast and he looks sad again.
“My fucking...my stupid fucking respirator. I didn't suit up right. I lost my focus. Again. Jesus, I could have gotten Hunter killed. How is he? Is he really okay?” Each word scrapes out of my throat, but they're less painful the more we talk.
“He's fine, Levi. He got some smoke inhalation; wouldn't leave till he cleared the apartment and you got taken out. Few second degree burns from blowback when he kept kicking doors in. He's a big beast of a man, he's fine.” My eyes close with a nod because I've seen Hunter take some scrapes, but never because of me.
“So fucking stupid. I wasn't focused. Where is my girl?” I ask again, wondering why the hell she isn't here, if she maybe won't come at all.
“Charli is coming with her soon. Brynn was...” Cage sighs and breaks off, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Cage...what? What the fuck?” I hear the door open but I don't look away as panic crashes over me, making me nauseous.
“Brynn was almost hysterical. Gigi got to her first, Lola was already on her way here, for Hunter. The girls...none of them like to get that call, you know? They didn't know how bad it was. I think...we think she thought the worst. Brynn kind of lost her shit; Charli had to go do what Charli does best.” I wince, tipping my head back as hot, remorseful tears burn my eyes.
“We fought. Right before...right before I left we fought. Over that fucking....” I hear the heels click on the tile and somehow, I know...I just know it's her.
“Over little ole' me, I'm guessing?” Isabel's voice holds snark and triumph and if I could lift my limbs from the Goddamn bed, she'd be the next one needing a hospital bed.
“What. The. Fuck. Are you doing here?” The words tear out of my chest, vibrating with rage and hate.
“Oh, baby. They called your wife.” Isabel comes to the opposite side of the bed, a smirk on her cherry red painted lips.
“You need to go. Like now. If you are here when his girl gets here, it won't just be her you need to worry about, Isabel.” Cage is a mild-mannered guy, for the most part. I am shocked at the level of rage rattling through his words as he leans over the bed to spit the threat in her face.
“Are you threatening me, handsome?” I see her hand come out, the red tipped nails heading for his face and I cringe.
“Do one handed whores give quality hand jobs, Isabel? Touch my husband, think we might find out.” Isabel's hand drops in midway between them as her head whips towards the door.
I want to laugh; it bubbles in my chest but that shit hurts too. Charli is sweet as pie, but we have all learned better than to cross her. However, those who are not in the know provide grade-a entertainment when they put a toe over her line. I can feel the room shift as the three women enter it. I can sense the anger, the resentment, the absolute rage. But, I can also sense her.
Brynn is there and I don't need to see her to feel her presence.
“Jesus, the mouth on you girls.” Isabel laughs but I hear it; the tremble of doubt and fear in her voice.
