Page 40 of Ink and Ashes
My sister’s faith in the woman currently driving me to drink is unsettling, and yet, I can’t help but find myself trying to give Holland the benefit of the doubt more and more with each day that passes.
“You sure about that?” Beau asks, sensing my hesitation.
I blow out a breath. “I don’t fucking know anymore,” I admit. “I definitely won’t miss her once she moves on to her next story, but part of me has started to wonder if she’s onto something.”
Dom grunts. “That’s because she is.”
I signal to Buck, the owner of Wildfire, for another beer and he brings it over. “Yeah,” I mutter through gritted teeth.
Beau levels me with a look. “Why are you being so resistant toward her, even with the proof she’s found?”
I take a moment to think about the question. Truth be told, Idon’t know how to answer it. I wish I could say it’s because of my history with the media or the lie Holland’s been keeping, but I’m not sure it’s either of those.
Sure, at first maybe that was the case. But I can’t say that anymore. I know better than to continue denying the facts that are staring me in the face, and the facts are that something is off about these fires. Holland is the one who uncovered that. She’s only here to help, yet I’ve been continuously standing in her way for the simple fact that I don’t want her to be right.
But just because I don’t want it doesn’t mean it isn’t true.
I open my mouth to respond, but before I have a chance to, we’re interrupted by a herd of firefighters entering the bar. I turn on my stool to find Langley, Adler, Ace, Sharpe, Finn, and Mickey walking through the front doors.
“Aye, look who it is!” Adam “Ace” Chambers chuckles when he trains his eyes on us.
I shoot Beau and Dom a glance that saysLet’s finish this later, and they nod in understanding.
“Hey, Ace,” Beau says before greeting the rest of the crew.
Our fire crew is split into two teams: one led by Beau and one led by me. It’s a rare occurrence for us to actually divide into those teams, but it helps to keep things organized in terms of who the volunteers report to and can be beneficial when we need to split up on a scene.
Liv and half the team of volunteers—Oliver Sharpe, Adam Chambers, Jess Carver, Dean McAllistar, Ray Morgan, and Wade Turner—report to Beau, while Dom and all the others—Ethan Langley, Hayden Adler, Kelsey Monroe, Caleb Newman, Travis Hart, and Brian Finnegan—report to me. Then Robbins and our two volunteer paramedics, Danny Sullivan and Blair Abbott, report to Cass, since she’s the paramedic-in-charge (PIC) at the station.
Adler, Monroe, Newman, and Hart are also trained in EMS. Though I never respond to medical calls unless warranted, I have more experience in it than Beau, so I’ll occasionally act as both PIC and engine lieutenant if Cass isn’t on-shift, which is why they’reon my team. Though if the situation is dire and Cass can’t make it in, I’ll usually delegate those duties to Hart or Robbins.
Cass, Beau, and I all report directly to Chief Whitlock.
The team sidles up next to us at the counter and a few tables nearby, the energy in the quiet bar immediately shifting with the presence of our crew.
Conversation flows steadily as Buck takes orders, putting everyone’s drinks on the station’s tab. Given how often we all come by, it’s easier to keep a running one that we close out weekly than it is to pay at the end of each night.
“Hope we weren’t interrupting anything,” Dean “Mickey” McAllistar teases once Buck walks away, turning to Dom, Beau, and me.
“Nah, not really,” Dom replies, taking a sip of his Coke.
“Whatcha guys talkin’ about?” Langley asks next, a goofy grin on his face.
Beau, Dom, and I share a look. So far, we’ve managed to keep all things related to Holland quiet. Aside from the fact that the whole team now knows she suspects arson, they don’t know anything about what she’s found, that Dom’s been working with her, or even that she’s still here.
“Just work,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. It’s not a total lie.
Langley hums. “Hear anything from that reporter lately?” he adds, and my teeth grind. Iknowhe knows her name, and I can’t tell if he’s referring to her as “that reporter” for my benefit or as a way to piss me off. What I do know, though, is that he’s not asking because he cares what she has to say—he’s asking because he wants to sleep with her.
“Nope. Think she may have finally gotten the clue and given up,” Beau says nonchalantly. The lie rolls off his tongue so easily, and it makes me wonder if he wants her gone as much as I do.
Langley’s gaze narrows, but he brushes it off quickly. “Too bad—she was hot. Definitely thought you would’ve hate-fucked her before she left, Lieutenant,” he states, looking at me.
I nearly spit out my drink. “What?”
Langley smirks, eyes wide. “Or wait, maybe you did. Are you the reason she left?”
No, but I wish I was, I think to myself. Just not in the way he’s implying.
