Something felt off to Brady. He didn’t know what. Just a sixth sense that he’d developed in the marines. It had kept him alive for two tours in Afghanistan, and he’d learned to trust it. He had to heed the feeling and check on Morgan.
He left behind the research he’d been conducting on Eckert and stepped into the family room. A hint of smoke tainted the air. A fireplace.
Maybe...or... Morgan!
He charged to the top of the stairs. Saw fingers of smoke creeping under Skyler’s front door.
Dear God, no. Not Morgan.
Running, Brady dug out the keys from his pocket, then his phone to call 911. He blurted out the situation and listened as the operator confirmed his call.
“Hurry,” he said, dropping his phone and grabbing the knob. It was hot to the touch. He released it. Inserted the key in the lock.
“Morgan!” he shouted as he felt the edges of the door. Not that it mattered if flames made the door hot enough to burn his hand. He was going in for Morgan. He turned the knob and used his shoulder to press the door partway open. Flames licked around the corner and up the side.
He closed the door, ripped off his shirt and tore it into shreds. He tied strips around his hands and his mouth. After a deep breath, he shouldered the door open again.
The entire room was in flames. Smoke obscured his view of the space.
Morgan. His heart refused to beat.
“Morgan,” he screamed.
“Here,” her weak voice came from the middle of the living room.
He heard the hallway smoke detector go off. Good. Jake would be notified of the fire. Brady didn’t think twice but charged through the flames. Got low, below the smoke. He felt the heat. Inferno hot. Licking at his bare arms. He ignored it. Moved across the polished concrete floor, thankful it wasn’t wood.
“Call out, Morgan,” he shouted. “I can’t see you.”
“Here,” her voice came from close by.
He dug deep for strength. Crossed the distance. Felt around. Found her on the sofa curled into a ball. He grabbed her in a hug. “Hold on, honey. I’ll get you out.”
He lifted her over his shoulder, then reversed course. Hand by hand, inch by inch, he crawled. Flames crackled around him. Smoke choked off his oxygen. Morgan’s, too, as she gasped for breath. The smoke got to him. Dragging him down. He felt like giving in. Collapsing.
No. Stay with it. Get Morgan to safety.
He dug even deeper. Surged forward, his body landing in the hallway. He pulled in a deep breath, but the air was still contaminated, and he coughed so hard he thought he’d heave out a lung. He managed to get to his feet and move down the hallway to cleaner air where he set Morgan down. She was coughing, but dragging in air. He took deep breaths of his own while scanning her from head to toe looking for any injury. She’d tied a scarf over her mouth and nose to hold off the smoke. Soot covered her face, but she hadn’t suffered any burns.
“Your leg,” she screamed.
He looked down surprised to see flames engulfing his jeans. He dropped to the floor. Tried to pat it out. Morgan leaped on top of him, extinguishing the flames with her body.
She was quite a woman. Brave beyond words. He couldn’t believe she’d fallen onto fire for him.
The reality of the event hit him. He could have lost her. Fear coursed through his body, and he pulled her into his arms. Held her as they both worked to get fresh air into their lungs.
They lay there together until firefighters pounded up the steps and insisted they exit the building. Together they stumbled down the stairs and outside. An EMT rig was pulling in, Darcie launching herself out the door before the vehicle stopped. She rushed across the parking lot. Scanned them from head to toe as he’d done with Morgan, but Darcie was looking at both of them with a clinical eye. She grabbed Brady’s hand and dragged him to the back of the rig. Her partner had the door open.
“On the gurney,” she demanded.
“Morgan first.”
“Morgan doesn’t have any burns and Mickey here will see to her breathing.”
Brady let Darcie minister to him. He knew it was hopeless to argue when she was in her mad-mother mode. As he lay there, the rest of the team arrived one by one. Jake nodded at Brady, acknowledging his survival in Jake’s usual terse way, and then he marched to the front door where he met with a firefighter.
Archer and Cash stepped up to the gurney.
“If Cash hadn’t been with us,” Archer said, a snarky smile on his face, “I would’ve wondered if he was cooking again.”
Cash shook his head, then squeezed Brady’s arm. Brady wouldn’t admit it, but tears welled up in his eyes at seeing his friend’s concern.
Cash huffed a laugh. “Burn the place down, why don’t you.”
Glad to have the sentimental moment over with, Brady laughed, but started coughing.
Darcie planted her hands on her hips. “All of you back off now. I’ll let you know when these two are ready for visitors.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Cash saluted, and he and Archer went to join Jake.
Darcie might insist he lie on the stupid gurney, but he watched his team hold an impromptu meeting without him. He knew it was futile to try to get up and join them, but honestly, he didn’t need to. The frowns traveling around the group told Brady all he needed to know. The fire had been set intentionally and their stalker had upped the ante in his quest to end Morgan’s life.
* * *
“Dinner,” Archer announced to the team gathered in the family room. “It’s just burgers, but after the fire, we’re lucky we even have a place to cook.”
Brady got up, moving slower than his usual agile speed. Morgan watched him step across the family room. He wore gym shorts, his lower leg bandaged. They’d both been evaluated for smoke inhalation and released, so at least that wasn’t a problem. But he grimaced as he moved. He was in pain and refused medication in order to remain alert in the event of another attack. She hated to see him suffer, but she appreciated his ongoing sacrifice for her.
“Ready.” He held out his hand to help her up.
She took it, and the instant they touched she knew she was facing a losing battle.
He was her hero. Plain and simple. The man who ran through flames to rescue her. The man who kept putting her before himself. How was she going to keep ignoring his fine qualities, ignore the way her heart beat faster around him?
He appraised her. “Everything okay?”
“How’s the leg?” she asked quickly to hide her feelings.
“So minor even Darcie can’t insist on treating it.”
“But I will.” The EMT came up behind him and thumped him on the head. She grinned at him as she stepped past them.
Brady’s lips turned up in an easygoing smile. He looked boyish and carefree. A look Morgan hadn’t seen much of since they’d met. A look that charmed her and made her rush after Darcie so she wouldn’t be alone in the room with him.
In the dining room, Brady pulled out a chair and waited for her to be seated, then dropped onto the chair next to her. He was oblivious to her struggle. Probably thinking about his pain or the fire. She wanted to think about anything but the fire. She’d nearly died and the terror still lingered in her heart. Might always linger there.
“Man, you scared us.” Cash eyed her as he passed a plate of burgers. “I can’t wait to see Skyler’s face when she gets back.”
“Oh, no, Skyler.” Morgan’s apprehension rose. “I hadn’t even thought about that. I destroyed her condo.”
“No.” Jake gave a firm shake of his head. “The person who disabled the smoke detectors and torched the place did.”
The terrifying ordeal came rushing back. “I can’t believe I slept through all of that.”
“I can.” Darcie frowned. “You’ve been through a lot. If I had my way, you’d be resting right now.”
Archer laughed and looked at Morgan. “It’s official. Darcie is mothering you, so you’re now a card-carrying member of the group.”
Morgan glanced at Brady. He was looking at her, his eyes dark with emotion. She blushed at the implications lingering there and stuffed her burger into her mouth. Her throat was still dry and irritated from the smoke, but even if it wasn’t, she’d be hard-pressed to swallow with all eyes on her.
“No need to look so worried, Morgan.” Jake’s mouth turned up in a rare smile. “We’re not a bad group to be affiliated with.”
“Oh, I didn’t,” she said quickly. “I mean, I’m not.” She shot a look at Brady. “It’s just... I...”
“I’m all for this mushy stuff,” Cash teased. “But can we move this along? Krista’s waiting for me at her place.”
Jake rolled his eyes. “What a difference a year makes.”
“I know, right?” Archer said. “We used to be able to count on Cash gagging when things took a turn in this direction but now...”
Cash punched Archer’s shoulder. “Time to move on.”
Morgan wished she could take his advice and move on. Move on from the fire, from the threats, from these feelings for Brady. She looked at him again and she longed to have someone in her life who wanted to protect and cherish her, to stand beside her and share life’s ups and downs. She didn’t want to be alone. She really didn’t.
Trouble was, she didn’t know if she could move on from the huge obstacle that was holding her back from a embracing a relationship with a wonderful man like Brady.