Page 57 of Revived
I get comfortable in bed while I wait for Sully to come get me and grab my phone to check my messages. I see a few. One from my Papa, a few from the Lucky Ones, and a couple from Kenz and Addy. Those aren’t the ones that draw my eyes, though. No, that belongs to the unfamiliar number that has texted me. I furrow my brow and open the message.
Unknown: You can break up with him or I can kill him.
What the hell is this? It can’t be.
Elle: You have the wrong number.
Unknown: That’s impossible, little gymnast. You have five days. Don’t make me make good on my promise.
Acid burns the back of my throat. Just as an image pops up of the two of us sleeping in bed last night. Whoever took the picture was standing right beside the bed with a gun in hand, pointing directly at Sully. Tears spring to my eyes as terror grips my chest. He can get in here. He could have killed him last night if he wanted to. I can’t let that happen. I willneverlet that happen. Now I have to break both of us to keep us both alive.
Chapter twenty-six
Sullivan Byrne
The tones startle me awake from the amazing dream that I was just having about my girl straddling me and riding my– “Sul, you up? Structure fire. Let’s go!” Steel shakes my bed frame as he runs past. I hop off the bunk and run through the house to the bay. My body moves of its own accord as my feet hop (literally) into my boots. Grabbing my pants, I pull them up over my shorts and throw my suspender straps on my shoulders. I toss my hood on right before shrugging my jacket on and tossing my SCBA onto my back. I throw myself into the front seat of the truck, and after making sure everyone’s dressed and ready to go, Steel pulls out of the bay.
Grabbing the radio, my hand brings it up to my mouth automatically. “Rescue eight responding. ETA five minutes.”
“Hey, Lieu?” Sadie calls from the back seat. “Isn’t that your address?” She points to the GPS and my eyes dart to the address. Vomit burns the back of my throat, and I can feel the color drain from my face. The address that’s staring back at me isn’t mine, but it is Elena’s. My hands begin to pat my pockets for my phone in a panic, but too slowly I remember that I left it at the firehouse.
Goddamnit!
Okay. It’s going to be okay. She’s at my house. There is no logical reason that she shouldn’t be at my house. Steel turns onto our street, and her entire house is up in flames. There’s no saving that. Now thegoal is to make sure no one is inside and keep it from spreading to Flynn’s house or her neighbor on the other side.
I feel like I can’t breathe deep enough. Her fucking house is on fire. I don’t have any solid proof that she’s safe, and I have to turn it all off and focus on my job.
My first instinct is to go in search of Elle and make sure she’s fine, but Ihaveto turn that part of my brain off. Careless mistakes get men killed. We pull up along with our station's aerial truck, engine, and tanker. My fingers work deftly to make sure everything is strapped and where it’s supposed to be. I slide my hood in place before tossing my helmet and gloves on and pushing out the truck. I’m met with our chief as soon as my feet hit the asphalt.
“Byrne, you’re sitting this one out.” His voice brokering no room for argument.
“That’s my girls’ house, Chief. Respectfully, I can’t sit this one out.”
He must see something in my expression because he nods before telling me, “you can be on the radio. But youwill nottake one step inside of that house. That’s a direct order, Lieutenant.”
I want to argue with him. To tell him I’m a motherfucking Byrne, and I won’t be told what to do when it comes to my woman. I can’t though. So instead I bite my tongue and nod. “Yes, Chief.”
“Sul!” I hear someone yell from behind me. I turn around to see Knox running towards me. The cops on scene try to stop him, but I meet them at the barricade.
“Where’s Elena? Do you have Elle?” My voice cracks with fear. I’ve been holding it together, but in the presence of one of my brothers, my resolve cracks.
“I was just about to ask you the same thing. I went to your house, and she isn’t there.” He rushes out.
Before I can spiral completely out of control, I see her and Flynn run across his yard. She runs straight to me and I engulf her in my arms. Looking over her head, my eyes clash with Flynn’s. He nods silently, like he knows that all I can think about is how grateful I am that they were here before I could be.
“Knox said he went to the house and you weren’t there. You scared the hell out of me, baby girl.” I mumble into her hair while holding on just a little tighter.
“I’m sorry. I knew Flynn was home and when I smelled the smoke and saw the fire, I had to go get him.”
Flynn can handle himself, and if I were a betting man, I’d bet he was already halfway out the door by the time she came running. Still, her heart has always been my favorite part of her. Her need and desire to make sure everyone around her is safe and okay calls to the large part of me who is exactly the same.
The radio at my chest crackles before my Captain’s voice booms down the line, “Byrne! You planning on joining us today, or should I call in a different Lieutenant to handle this?” My head drops to my chest as I step back from Elle and look to Knox and Flynn.
“Make sure she’s taken care of. I’ll be home as soon as I can.” They both voice their agreement, and I turn my attention quickly to Elle. “Go to my house and try to go to sleep, baby girl. We can rebuild the house. I’ll replace everything inside of it. It’s just stuff. As long as you’re safe, I can go do my job.” I kiss her nose gently. “I love you so much, Elena.”
“I love you too. Go save what’s left of my house.” She gives me a sad smile.
Without another word, I turn on my heels and make my way back to my crew. When no one is in danger in these situations, we typically back up whoever needs it. With everyone else helping other crews, Igo in search of Ward to see where he needs me. It’s going to be a long night, and the more hands helping means the quicker we can get out of here.
