Bad Boy's Lust (Firemen in Love Book 1) (30 page)

I had to laugh. “I suppose it does sound nuts.”

“Now, she said you could call it off if you wanted. But then she'll lose the property, and so will you.”

I nodded.

“If you do marry, you're afraid you'll be tied down. And in a way, you will be – but when you're with the woman you love more than anybody else, being tied down isn't such a bad thing.”

“I was prepared to give up my bachelor ways for good, and that's hard enough for a guy like me. But now we're adding a baby to the mix? I don't
do
babies.”

“Sure, they're dirty and loud. They take up all your time and sap your energy. You never really know what they're crying about.” He smiled. “But that's
your
child. A little person you made with her. That changes everything. Makes it all worth it.”

“It sounds like hell.”

“The worst of it only lasts the first year or so. And when that time comes, I bet you'll be so in love with that kid, you'll be begging Elle to give you a second.”

Max came and dragged Carter away to settle a debate between him and Brett. I just sat there, thinking hard.

I imagined a tiny baby growing inside Elle's belly right now. A baby that
I
put there on the first try with her. I'd never forget looking into her eyes as I let go in her. It was special then – I just didn't realize quite how much.

Was the kid a boy or a girl? Was it
healthy?
That's all I cared about. If it was growing big and strong, I'd be satisfied.

And Elle, what about her? She'd been a mess these past several weeks. How had I not put two and two together? Always puking at random odors and craving stuff she never liked before. Even so, the possibility never came to me.

Raising a child would be hard work. A whole lot of commitment. Before, the only thing I committed to was getting wasted and laid as much as a guy could.

But that wasn't me anymore. I wanted to go home to Elle after work, not to the club. What the hell was I doing sitting here, then? I should have been back there, comforting her right now. I was such an idiot.

“Hey, ladies!” Max snapped his fingers and whistled at them like you might call a dog. “Get your sweet asses over here and give us some loving.”

He waved around a wad of cash, and two of the girls were on his lap in seconds. I could barely look at the display without feeling sick anymore.

A couple of the girls came to me, too. At least I hadn't slept with these ones, but they still knew me. I had a serious reputation around here.

“Mr. Sexy Fireman is back,” cooed the blonde. She put her hands on my shoulders. I flinched, but she didn't get the hint.

The brunette purred in my ear. “We'll give you some loving, too, sugar – but we're not as cheap as those amateurs. We're worth it.”

I pulled away from them. “No thanks.”

The ladies uttered cries of disappointment. Max laughed and threw back shot number seven.

“C'mon, man. These are premium dancers. Best that money can buy here. I thought you'd love 'em, seeing as how they have very developed frontal assets.”

They giggled and danced in front of me. I didn't react.

“Don't be a loser. Elle's at home. She'll never know, and besides, might as well sow your wild oats while you can.”

“I'm done.” I reached for my jacket. “And if you can't support that, then piss off.”

Carter grabbed me on the way out. “You did good. I remember a time when you'd be all over those women. Probably taking at least one of 'em home with you, too.”

“Please don't remind me. That's a time of my life I would rather forget.”

“So you've made your decision, then.”

“I have. Doesn't mean I'm not scared shitless, though.”

He gave me a quick hug. “You got any questions about the kid in the middle of the night, you're always welcome to call me.”

“Thanks, man.”

The emergency ringer on my phone went off. After hours, I usually let those calls go to voice mail, so I ignored it.

Except seconds later, there was another call. And then another.

“What the hell?” I pressed the phone to my ear and headed outside to hear better.

“Uh, there's a smoky smell coming from someplace,” said the first caller's message. “I dunno where, but I bet it's the woman in 202. She burns everything she cooks. Can you go tell her to stop?”

Message two. “I'm in 111. Out in the hallway, it looks like there's smoke in the air. Something is definitely burning around here.”

It could have been anything. Someone burning dinner, like they suggested. Or something far worse.

The queasy feeling in my stomach said the latter.

I hopped in my truck and sped off toward Shady Acres while dialing the station. Oliver picked up.

“Jayce, man. Heard you went out with the boys tonight. Lucky jerk.”

“I need you to send a truck to Shady Acres right now. I think there's a fire.”

“You
think?
”

“Just do it!”

I drove thirty miles over the speed limit. Ran red lights and stop signs. If a cop came up behind me and tried to pull me over, I would run from him too.

Elle was in there. I'd left her there – alone, with my baby inside her – and for all I knew, she was trapped in a burning building.

I wasn't there for her. I didn't stay and comfort her when she needed it most.

If anything happened to her, it would be my fault.

In the distance, a fire truck's siren wailed. A second joined its call, then a third.

Oh, no.

I reached the top of the hill. A cloud of gray smoke billowed in the valley below.

“Hold on, Elle. I'm coming –”

Another car came from out of nowhere. Glass shattered and steel crumpled as it collided with the side of my truck. I cursed, spun out, and came to a stop.

“God damn it!”

I wasn't hurt, just shook up – and too worried for Elle to give a shit about my truck.

The driver of the offending vehicle stumbled out of his Lexus. He smelled of booze; obviously drunk. His forehead was bleeding but if he could walk, he was okay.

I was suddenly
very
glad I'd turned down that drink tonight.

“Oh, man. Christ, I'm so sorry.” His words slurred. Yep, smashed. “I – I didn't see you coming. Had no idea there was a light there.”

The firetruck sirens were getting closer. I was only a couple miles away from Shady Acres. But by the time I got there, it might be too late.

The drunk clung to my shirt and started to cry. “Mister, please don't call the cops. I'll go to jail. My wife will leave me. She said if I did this one more time...”

His car was a wreck – front windshield smashed out, fender bent, hood caved in. He wouldn't be going anywhere in that.

“You could have killed someone, but whatever. I got more important things to worry about. Get in the back.”

“Huh?”

“Your car's totaled. I'll give you a ride to where I'm going. Fire department's there. They can help you out.”

He muttered his thanks over and over as he shambled into the bed of my truck. Soon as he was in, I floored it.

Hang in there, Elle. I'm coming for you.

Chapter 23 - Jayce

Firetrucks surrounded Shady Acres. I pulled in next to one and slammed on the brakes. My worst fear had come true.

Flames leaped from the first-floor windows while men worked hard to put them out. One of my friends from the station, Billy, was escorting people out the side door. The main entrance was impassable, full of fire so hot it shattered glass.

I left the passed-out drunk in my truck and ran over to him.

“C'mon, folks. Keep moving and remain calm. You're gonna be all right.”

Tenants flooded out of the building, crying and screaming for help. One woman cradled a poodle to her chest. A guy held the hands of two terrified children.

I grabbed Billy's arm. He looked relieved to see me.

“Man, what's going on here? What happened?”

“No idea yet. Looks like the fire started in the basement or on the first floor, obviously. We just got here minutes before you did.”

I looked over the handful of evacuees huddling together in the nearby park. Elle didn't appear to be among them.

“My girlfriend's in there.” I lunged for the door. “I have to go get her.”

“Whoa, Jayce. Leave it to us. We got a couple guys in there getting everyone out safe. The rest of us will have the blaze contained in no time. It's pretty much sticking to the first floor, and we've already got a good handle on it.”

An explosion thundered inside the building, so loud it made my ears hurt and so strong it shook the sidewalk beneath my feet. Fire spilled from the second-floor windows, and then the third.

“It's spreading,” Billy shouted. “Get those hoses on it, men.”

“We gotta get these people out before it gets worse. Where are Shane and Adam?”

“They're still inside!”

I had to act fast. It wouldn't be long before the fire reached the upper floors. And what about all the other tenants trapped in there?

A woman came to the window of her third-floor room. She waved and screamed for help. Shit! How many people were stuck up there?

Some managed to get out via the fire escape, but only from certain floors. That meant the other floors might be blocked.

“I'm going in there, Billy.” I grabbed an ax and a portable fire extinguisher from the truck. “You got the first floor covered?”

“And the second, but higher than that's a problem.” He grabbed my shoulder. “Be careful, man.”

I offered him a grim smile. Now wasn't the time to be careful. I didn't care what I had to do to save Elle.

I rushed in through the side entrance and jogged up the stairs past a small group of terrified tenants. When I reached floor two, the fire was less, but the halls were full of smoke.

A woman's howling caught my attention. It came from 220 – Angie's apartment. She was still in there!

Angie was a horrible excuse for a human being, but I wasn't just gonna let her die in there. I kicked the door down and found her blubbering on her bed.

“Oh, sweet Jesus, help me!”

“Angie, it's me.” I offered her my hand. “C'mon. You got a clear path to the exit.”

She started bawling. “I'm so scared! Oh... My baby, Elle! You must save her.”

“I'm on my way up there now. Get to the stairs and hurry.”

She stumbled around the room gathering her belongings in her chubby arms. “But I have to get the family photos, and the jewelry... Oh Lord, my wedding gown!”

“There's no time for that. If you don't move it, you might get trapped up here.”

She sobbed and ran for it. Back in the hallway, I found Adam. He was busy helping some people out of the apartment next door.

“There you are. Good to see you're okay.”

He coughed and winced. “Yeah, but not for long. The smoke's getting worse. I don't know what exploded just a minute ago, but I'm worried it's gonna happen again.”

“Then we need to move, double time. I gotta get to the fifth floor. Elle is up there.”

He frowned. “We had some evacuees come from the fifth floor on their own. I don't think the flames have got that far up yet. Shane's working the third floor; says it's worse up there than down here, somehow.”

“Just keep getting these people out of here. I'm heading up.”

I returned to the stairwell and went up one more. There was Shane, leading some people out the fire escape. Flames erupted from one of the units. From the look of things, that had been the source of our explosion.

Up to floor four, then five. No fire here yet, although a lot of the smoke had risen, making it hard to breathe. I imagined poor Elle trapped, scared and alone, and it gave me strength to keep moving.

Mrs. Jackson opened her door and peered out at me. “What the devil is all this noise? What's that god-awful smell?”

“The building's on fire. Get out now. Use the stairs, not the elevator.”

She shrieked and hurried to collect her cat before bolting for the stairs. I sprinted for Elle's place. Knocked on the door. No answer.

“Elle, you in there? Open up, please, I'm begging you.”

Still nothing. We had keys to every unit here, but they were down in the office – which was currently engulfed in a fireball. Looked like I had no choice but to knock the door down.

I felt for the doorknob first to check for excessive heat, which would mean fire on the other side. Nope, still cool. I turned it. Locked.

“I'm coming in!”

I swung the ax. One hefty blow, and the sharp blade cleaved the knob right off the door. It swung open easily, and I hurried in.

Her apartment was full of smoke, and my eyes burned as I struggled to locate her. Not in the living room, that was for sure. Where, then?