Page 24 of Corrupted Union

“What’s going on?” I asked as I hurried down the last few stairs. “I heard sirens, so I grabbed my things.”

A pair of firemen stood fully decked out in gear across from Stetson.

“There you are. I was just about to come look for you. These guys say a call was put in for the house, but it must have been a mistake. These things happen, you know?”

One of the firemen shrugged. “Mind if we take a quick peek around, though, just to be safe?”

“Of course not. Take your time.” Stetson smiled, totally unbothered. The sight of him so unruffled helped ease some of my worry. If he knew what was stashed on the third floor, he would have at least attempted to dissuade them.

Would they check the house that thoroughly? I had thought it was too dangerous to call the police, but now that the authorities were already here, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. But not in front of Stetson. I needed to get outside and find someone I could tell in private.

The men wandered off on their walk-through, and Stetson stepped closer.

“Where were you? I got out of the shower and couldn’t find you.”

I clutched my stomach and grimaced. “Not sure what happened, but my stomach started to cramp. I wasn’t sure if the den bathroom had been fixed, so I was using the one in the spare bedroom. Guess with the doors closed I didn’t hear you.”

His brow furrowed. “You okay?”

“I think so, but between that and our guests, I think I’m going to head home.”

“I’d offer to take you, but I need to stay here.”

“Yeah, of course,” I assured him.

He leaned down and placed a kiss on my lips. It was just like the hundreds before it, yet somehow different. I had to force myself not to flinch away from him.

What did it mean? If he was innocent of any wrongdoing, would it still change the way I viewed him? Or was this how I’d felt the whole time and never realized?

Ugh, too much uncertainty and confusion. I’d figure it out later. Right now, I needed to get to one of the firemen outside and tell them what was going on.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I flashed a thin smile and slipped out the front door.

The giant red truck still had its lights flashing out front, though the siren no longer wailed. I forced myself to walk calmly to the sidewalk then around to the back of the truck where I couldn’t be seen from inside the house.

“Excuse me!” I called to the back of a fireman. He was in the middle of talking to someone, but I didn’t care. I need help. “There’s a woman—”

I froze midsentence. When the man turned, it was Keir standing opposite him.

He surged forward and grabbed me by the wrist, hauling me away.

“What? Wait. What are you doing?” I cried, confused.

“Getting you the fuck out of here, like you should have been from the beginning. I fucking told you to stay away from that place.”

I didn’t know the man well, but I could tell Keir was furious. It was the first real sign of emotion I’d seen from him. I had a feeling displays like this were a rare occurrence.

Stumbling, I did my best to keep up with his long strides until we reached his car. He opened the door and tried to shove me inside.

I yanked from his grasp. “Wait! Listen for just a second.” I locked my legs straight and refused to be shoved in the car. “I found her,” I hissed, swatting his hands away. “Lawrence Wellingtondoeshave a woman captive in his house. She’s chained to the fucking toilet, Keir. We have to get her out of there.”

His eyes blazed. “Wedon’t have to do a goddamn thing. What the fuck were you thinking?”

“I was thinking about saving a woman’s life.”

“And risking yours while you were at it.”

Then it hit me. I peered over my shoulder at the fire truck. “You did this? You called them here to get me out?” I’d been so caught up in thoughts of the poor girl upstairs, I hadn’t even pondered the coincidence of a surprise visit by the fire department.

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