Page 81 of Playing With My Fire

“First.” I press a finger firmly in his chest. “Don’t insult me with that misogynistic crap. If you want to suss this out, don’t let my pussy stop you because I can guarantee she can take a better beating than your fragile little dick.”

“I thought we already decided it wasn’t little.”

“Yeah, well that was before it shriveled up considering a fight with a woman. Second.” I shove a second finger into his chest. “Caleb and I may have been fuck buddies, but it never meant more than simple physical gratification. He will always be my best friend first and foremost, and now that he has you, he doesn’t need me anymore.”

“And now you have Sakura, so you don’t need him.”

I shake my head. “Don’t get it twisted. I love him to pieces, but I never needed Caleb in my bed. I just wanted to be there for him when that piece of shit left him high and dry like he was worthless.”

His nostrils flare in obvious ire. “What I wouldn’t give to find that son of a bitch…”

I nod. “Me and you both.”

“Whatever happened to him, anyway?”

I think back on those early days when Henry ran that club. “Let’s just say he left a lot of roadkill in his wake before most of us pulled our heads out of our asses and kicked him to the curb.”

“He gives Dom’s the worst kind of name.”

“You’re preaching to the choir. Anywho, after he was alienated, he turned tail and ran away. Last I heard, he was up to his same old tricks in Atlanta.”

“He best stay away, or he’ll get a taste of his own medicine.”

“Can we get back on track?”

He winks, the flirty little shit. “Sorry. I spoke with Blake while you were talking to the doctor. They’re keeping Tiny under surveillance for the next twenty-four hours for smoke inhalation and third degree burns on his hands and forearms. Damn fool is always trying to play the hero…”

“...and it finally came to bite him in the ass,” I finished for him.

He nods as he pulls into the firehouse.

We barely make it through the door when the Fire Chief is on our heels. “Everything checked out alright?”

I hold my arms out and take several deep breaths for good measure. “I’m all good, Chief.”

“Good, come on back to my office.”

Beau and I slowly follow behind, and I mumble to my cohort. “Is it just me, or do you feel like you’ve been called to the principal’s office?”

He bites his lip to contain his smile and nods.

As soon as we’re in his office he barks, “Shut the door and take a seat.”

We both do as we’re told.

Once seated, he begins. “Not an hour ago, I received a call from Deputy Police Chief Denholm. They found three bodies and a witness to boot. It seems there should've been four bodies, but a Mister Miguel Rodriguez escaped. According to him, he’s a low ranking soldier for the Mexican Cartel, and they hadn’t realized this territory was already taken when they decided to start storing their product, first in that barn and then in the motel.”

I sit forward. “The territory as in Piper Falls?”

He shakes his head. “Territory as in the state of Texas.”

I swallow thickly. “And did he say who is believed to own the entire state of Texas?”

The Chief’s eyes move back and forth between Beau and I contemplating. I have no idea what. “The Columbian Cartel.”

“Are you telling us that the fire is due to a goddam drug war between the two biggest cartels in our modest town?”

I glance at Beau, watching the agitation and worry consume him, and I quickly realize it’s due to Caleb. It’s at this moment that I truly believe he cares for my best friend and I have nothing to worry about. Well, other than the two most dangerous illegal factions that have taken up residence in my hometown.

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