Page 107 of Ink and Ashes
His face falls at the reminder, but he masks it quickly. Just when he leans down to press his mouth to mine again, we’re interrupted by the sound of the klaxons.
Right on schedule.
My heart sinks into my stomach at the sound, and Colson swallows roughly.
He sighs. “I have to go.”
“I know.” I kiss him one moretime. “I’ll save you a spot next to me. Be safe, Lieutenant.”
He presses his lips to my forehead. “You be safe too, Red.”
CHAPTER 38
Holland
Colson has been gone for a week fighting the worst wildfire they’ve seen yet. It started on day seventeen as we predicted, and it’s only gotten worse since then.
In the past seven days, I’ve received the odd text from him as proof of life, but I know they don’t get good service deep in the forest. I’ve been driving myself up the wall, worrying and wondering how things are going. If everyone’s okay.
I feel useless sitting here. I’ve tried to pour everything into solving the investigation over the past few days, in hopes that maybe this will be the last fire they fight because of the arsonist, but it hasn’t been easy. My mind keeps racing back to Colson and the possibility that he’s not okay. I know he knows what he’s doing, but that doesn’t make it better. First responder spouses truly are some of the strongest people out there, because all we’ve done is kiss and I feel like my heart is out there in the fire with him.
It doesn’t help that I haven’t found much more regarding the arsonist either. I still have no proof that Joseph Welland is alive, and until I figure that out, I’m stuck. Because if itturns out that he faked his death, that changes my entire firefighter theory.
But Joseph being behind this is the thing that seems to be the most plausible to me now, because despite how far-fetched it sounds, the more I learn about the guys at the station, the less I believe one of them is responsible. The problem is, I can’t exactly continue this investigation in any direction without knowing if my top suspect is even alive. And I have no fucking idea how I’m going to figure out if he is.
I’m pulled from my thoughts when a knock sounds from the front door, so I drag myself out of the office to answer it. I rush down the stairs, hoping maybe it’s Colson finally returning home. But when I swing open the door, I’m stunned by the sight of the man standing in front of me.
“Gabriel?” I shake my head, making sure I’m not seeing things. It’s been over two months since I last heard from him and blocked his number. I guess I assumed that he’d give up once he lost contact with me. But when I open my eyes to find him still staring back at me, I know that was wishful thinking. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Well hello to you too, Hol.” His voice is as slimy as I remember it. “I miss you, babe. I told you it was time to come home.” He reaches for me, but I pull away.
“No.” I cross my arms over my chest. “You lost the right to miss me when you cheated on me with your assistant. How the fuck did you even find me?”
A sly grin grows on his face as he pulls his phone out. My brows furrow in confusion as he navigates to whatever it is he’s looking for, then my anger grows when he shows me the tracker app open on his screen.
Fucking hell.I’d thought blocking his number would stop sharing my location with him, but looks like that was wishful thinking too.
“Probably should’ve turned this off if you didn’t want me to find you, Hollis.” Gabriel’s smile grows, and a shiver races up my spine both at the sound of my given name and the slimy look on his face. “Nice house. Whose is it?”
“Mine,” Colson interrupts from behind Gabriel. My heart rate accelerates from the sound of his raspy, exhausted voice alone. I hadn’t even noticed him pull into the driveway, too shocked by my ex standing in front of me. Not that I need him coming to my rescue, but knowing he’s finally home sends relief flooding through me for more reasons than one.
I force myself not to smile at his response to Gabriel’s question. Gabriel spins on his heel, and when he has to tilt his head back to meet Colson’s gaze, my laugh breaks free.
“Who the fuck are you?” Gabriel asks, anger present in his tone.
Colson shifts past him, turning his back to me to stand between us. His six-foot frame towers over Gabriel’s five-foot-nine, and his protectiveness over me sends the butterflies that have taken up residence in my stomach over the edge.
“I think I should be asking you that, seeing as you’re on my property.”
“Just here to collect what belongs to me.” Gabriel scoffs, rolling his eyes.
I can’t see the look on Colson’s face, but I’m betting it doesn’t change. “You’ll have to go through me to get her. She isn’t yours anymore. She’smine.”
There go the butterflies again.
Part of me wants to speak up and explain to these two men that I’m not an item to be owned; that I don’tbelongto either of them. But the truth is, hearing Colson call mehisonly makes me fall for him that much more, even if he is just saying it to get rid of Gabriel.
I would gladly belong to Colson Caldwell.
