Page 18 of Hot Knot Summer
Lightning illuminates the bay as we load the last of the equipment, and for a moment, I catch Levi watching me.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing,” he says mildly. “Just thinking this Omega must have made quite an impression.” He adds, “You know, the universe doesn’t often give second chances. If you meet her again, maybe don’t fuck it up this time.”
“Eight calls,” River announces, dropping into a chair in the station’s common room with exaggerated exhaustion. “Eight fucking calls in seven hours. I’m telling you, Chief, you’re bad luck. We had zero emergencies while you were gone, and now we’re running ourselves ragged.”
It’s well past dark now, nearly eleven, and the storm has intensified to a full-blown deluge. Rain pounds against the windows in waves driven by howling wind, and lightning flashes nearly continuously, turning night to strobing day.
After the rock rescue, which had been harrowing enough with the rain making the cliff face slick as glass, we’d barely caught our breath before the calls started rolling in. A downed power line that had us coordinating with the electric company while keeping sightseers at bay. A tree that fell and crushed someone’s shed. More minor accidents caused by the increasingly hazardous road conditions.
“Might be a record for a rainy evening,” Levi agrees, running a towel over his hair. He’d been the one to climb the tree in the Hendersons’ yard to rescue their cat, which had rewarded him with three deep scratches across his forearm.
I lean against the doorframe, nursing a cup of coffee that’s strong enough to strip paint. The station is quiet now except for the skeleton crew, just the three of us and Kai, who’s monitoring the radios while doing inventory in the supply room.
“Could be worse,” I point out. “At least we’re not dealing with a structure fire in this mess.”
River groans, throwing an empty protein bar wrapper at me. “Don’t jinx it, for fuck’s sake. I want to actually sleep tonight.”
“You’re getting soft in your old age,” I taunt. We’re all exhausted, and I’m still not fully recovered from three days of dealing with my parents’ estate.
“I’m younger than you,” River shoots back. “And prettier.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” I mutter, but I’m fighting a smile.
Levi ignores our bickering, focused on bandaging his scratched arm. “Weather report says the storm should pass in a few hours. Flash flood warnings are in effect for the lower valley. We might need to assist with evacuations if the river overflows.”
I nod, making a mental note to checkthe emergency protocols. The Whispering River can rise dangerously fast during heavy rains, threatening the older cabins built too close to its banks. “We’ll set up cots in the community center if needed.”
River yawns widely, not bothering to cover his mouth. “Well, I’m hitting the shower, then crashing for as long as the universe allows.” He stretches, joints popping audibly, before fixing me with a suddenly serious look. “And tomorrow, we’re revisiting this Omega writer situation. Because if she really is in town for the summer, you need to at least try to apologize for being a creep.”
“I wasn’t—” I start to protest, but he’s already sauntering out of the room, whistling some pop song I don’t recognize.
Levi finishes with his bandage and levels me with one of his assessing gazes. “He’s not wrong, you know.”
“About me being a creep?” I scowl.
“About you needing to try again.” He stands, methodically packing away the first aid kit. “You’ve been off-balance since your ex, Caitlin left you. We all have. The pack needs... something.” He chooses his words carefully, never one to speak without consideration. “Or someone.”
I don’t answer immediately, staring into my coffee as if it might contain solutions to problems I’m not even sure how to articulate. The truth is, our pack does feel incomplete. Has for a long time. Three Alphas makes for a strange dynamic, too much dominance,not enough softness. We make it work because we each fill different roles, but there’s always been a sense that something—or someone—is missing.
“I don’t even know where she’s staying,” I finally say, which isn’t a denial.
“We know all the hotels, motels, cabins, and even the Air BnBs in Whispering Grove,” Levi points out with his usual practicality. “How hard could it be to find her?”
“Stalking. That’s your suggestion?” I raise an eyebrow.
A ghost of a smile passes over his face. “Information gathering. There’s a difference.”
Before I can respond, the radio on my belt crackles to life, and Kai’s voice comes through, tense and urgent. “Chief? We’ve got a call. Residential structure fire at 1247 Pinecrest Lane. Multiple reports coming in. It’s bad.”
Time seems to slow down for a heartbeat, then speeds up double. I’m already moving, Levi right behind me, as I respond. “Copy that. Full response. Wake the volunteers on the roster and get dispatch to send out the alert.”
The alarm blares through the station a moment later, the automated system activating as we hit the bay floor at a run. River emerges from the locker room, hair still wet, but all signs of exhaustion gone from his face.
“Structure fire,” I call out as he jogs over, already reaching for his turnout gear. “Pinecrest Lane.”
“Fuck,” he mutters. We all know what that means. Pinecrest is a winding road that leads up the eastern slope, lined with expensive vacation homes built primarily of wood. But in this storm, the situation might be in our favor, with the rain battling the fire alongside us.
