Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
The next few minutes are a confusing blur as I’m manhandled between firemen. It’s not until the cool, fresh air assaults me that I cry out in relief. Red and blue lights are flashing everywhere. It’s as though the entire damn city of Hood River came down to see to it we got out safely.
“Stay calm,” the firefighter carrying me says. “We’ve got you now.”
I recognize him as Frank, one of Mike and Roan’s friends. As he strides across the lawn, I take in the scene in awe.
Feds are everywhere.
Feds. Local PD. Fire department.
It was all coming to this. Agent Thomas Cravens, or Peeping Tom as I call him, explained it all in detail. How crucial my part was in bringing the bad guys down since I had the best “in” of anyone. Getting back with Kayden so I could keep tabs on Renaldo. The wires. The secret meetings. All of it.
I can thank Garrett for that. The moment Hollis called him when Renaldo dropped by that day demanding Jordy to work for him, Garrett not only showed up, but he started getting the right people involved. Hollis’s dad knows people and knows how to make stuff happen.
The Feds were more than happy not only to be alerted to one of the biggest criminals in Oregon, but to bring down every root of his organization. Because of Renaldo’s special way of punishing people by means of fire, the fire department was also involved. For every fire Jordy was to start, it was already waiting to be contained by all those who were a part of the sting. Renaldo and his crew were fed false, glorified information regarding the damages of the fires Jordy set. Because of Jordy’s assistance in this huge operation that’s taken months and months to roll out, they’ve promised to reduce his parole.
Frank sets me down on a stretcher just outside a waiting ambulance. My eyes frantically seek out Jordy. He, too, is being placed on a stretcher.
“Jordy,” I croak out, reaching my hand toward him.
He gives me a small wave.
“Let’s get you looked at,” a woman says to me. “Your name’s Roux, sweetie?”
“Is he going to be okay?”
“You both are,” she assures me. “Those hot firemen saved you two just in the nick of time.”
I groan. “One is like a dad and one is my brother. Yuck.”
She laughs and the sound of it makes my heart gallop in my chest. We made it. We made it out. This is all over.
Captain Fitzgerald shows up, grinning at me as the paramedic fusses over me.
“You did it, kid. We got them.”
“All of them?”
He sighs. “Renaldo Ramirez came blazing out of that house with a knife sticking out of his neck and a gun in his hand. He was shot on sight.”
“Kayden?” I rasp out.
His gaze softens. “He’s been arrested along with Jordy’s brother Juno and fourteen other guys. And that’s just here. We had our department stretched thin, making multiple arrests all over the city.”
Relief washes over me.
“I’m tired,” I murmur.
“Rest, little one. Everything’s going to be okay.”
I wake to yelling.
My heart hammers in my chest, forcing me to blink my eyes open. It’s blinding in the room I’m in. Based on the machines I’m hooked to, I’m pretty sure I’m in the hospital.
“You can’t hobble around in your condition,” a woman cries out just outside my door.
The door gets flung open and a mummified Jordy, though sort of blurry without my glasses, storms in. He’s bandaged in gauze on his arm and is wearing a hospital gown.
“Jordy!” I cry out.
The nurse follows him in, sighing in exasperation.
“It’s fine,” Garrett booms from behind her. “I’ve already spoken to the Chief of Staff about my family needing to see one another. Feel free to give him a call. I’m a surgeon, so I will make sure they don’t get hurt.”
The nurse, relieved at his authoritative presence, nods before walking away. Jordy hobbles over to me and leans over my bed for a kiss. I kiss him frantically, thankful he’s still alive, when someone clears their throat. I’m embarrassed that Garrett had to see that.
Until I realize it wasn’t Garrett who cleared their throat.
“I’m not going to kill you because you both almost died, but when you’re all healed up, I’m going to fucking kill you both,” Roan says, carrying in a cup of coffee.
Despite his harshly spoken words, he’s relaxed. Tired but relaxed. Jordy pulls away, but doesn’t let go of my hand. Hollis walks in and pushes a chair over to Jordy.
“I expected bloodshed,” Jordy says to Roan.
“Delayed. Bloodshed is coming,” Roan grumbles back.
Hollis laughs. “I decided to let the cat out of the bag when you were on your way to the hospital. Roan here took the news way better than had your lives not been in peril.”