42. Bronson

brONSON

All the hairson the back of my neck were standing up on end.

Lake was trying to talk to me and my focus should have been on her and Stormi but something was off, distracting me. I was already worried the stress of the night would impact her pregnancy, but I couldn't get what Huntley said to me out of my head.

Someone had made an anonymous call in about the fire, not leaving their name. But why? As I stood there, I found my gaze searching the crowd of people.

He's watched before, he'll do it again, I found myself thinking.

Lake kissed me, drawing my attention away from the thoughts niggling in the back of my head. She tried asking me something but Dave told her it was time to go so she got into the ambulance.

The feeling of someone's eyes on me had my gaze snapping back toward the group of people. Lake's voice broke through the noise and I answered her question, but I never pulled my stare from the crowd.

And then I saw him.

A man, in all dark clothes, a ball cap pulled down low on his head, staring straight at me and my family. I knew without a doubt who I was looking at. Without hesitation, I took off running in a full out sprint, straight for the asshole that had caused my family so much trauma.

Even in the dark, I saw his eyes widen, and then he turned to flee. But he was no match for me. The man may have been older than me, but that didn't always mean anything. He could have been in better shape. What I had on my side, fueling me, was rage that pumped through my veins and the love for my family fluttering in my heart.

This fucking ends now!

Those were my last thoughts as I tackled the guy from behind, taking him to the ground with a hard thump. I flipped him over, daggers shooting from my eyes as I stared into the dark soul who dared to mess with those who were mine.

Anger pulsed through my body as I fought to control myself from not slamming my fist into the man's face. I was an officer of the law, I needed to do this by the book, but when it came to those I loved it was damn hard to keep myself in check.

Venom slipped from my lips. "You're going down and you won't hurt another person again!"

Other officers were now upon us. I flipped the douchebag back over and asked for a pair of cuffs from the closest policeman. Dragging the guy off the ground after confining him, I started marching him to one of the squad cars. Luckily I knew the other men on duty, so they hadn't questioned me yet.

The man in my grasp started fighting to get free but it was no use. There was no way I was letting him get away. As I reached the marked car, I opened the back door, and pushing on his head, lowered him inside as he started shouting about my bitch of a wife deserving what she'd gone through.

I'd get to the bottom of it, but right now I had somewhere I needed to be.

Slamming the door with him inside, I drowned out any more words he spewed from his evil lips. I turned to my fellow cops and gave them a rundown of what had been happening, told them about the call that had come in about the fire, and told them if they investigated they would find the guy to be guilty.

His last words damned him already.

A small part of me wanted to stay and deal with the bastard, but I had confidence in the others and also my friends I was about to call.

I rushed toward my car, commotion still swirling around me while firemen fought the now dwindling flames that were once a full blaze of fury.

The thought of my family not being okay knocked the air from my lungs and I fought to breathe as I ran and dialed Lyric at the same time. There hadn't been a moment to call anyone when my baby girl and sister-in-law were fighting for their lives. But I not only wanted their help with the man behind the fire and other incidents, but I needed their support.

And I knew my wife and Stormi would both need their friends.

I wrenched my car door open, struggling to find my voice when my friend answered my call for help.

Heart pounding in my chest, my voice thick with emotion, I said, "Stormi and River are on their way to the hospital."

Hot tears slid down my face.

Everyone had to be okay.

I wouldn't accept any other outcome.

My world was nothing without them in it.

Ask and they will come.

Even if I hadn't asked, our friends would have been there for us no matter what. I'd seen it with Capri multiple times and heard stories about their undying support of one another.

But this time they were out there in the waiting room for Stormi, River, Lake and me. And our unborn child too. Concern was etched across every one of their faces when I went out to give them an update.

Both Stormi and River were spending the night in the hospital so they could keep checking on the smoke inhalation issues and my sister-in-law's minor burns.

I scrubbed my hands over my face in frustration and worry. Too many things were shifting through my mind at once. I'd left the guy who caused so much harm and while I knew he was in capable hands with the other officers at the scene, it still felt unsettled. And while they were gaining ground on the fire, it wasn't completely out. Along with all of that, I just found out my wife was pregnant and I hated the stress she was under as our daughter and her sister lay in hospital beds.

Before I headed back to my daughter"s side, I scanned the amazing group of friends who'd rallied around us. "Thank you," I told the whole room. Because let"s face it, our group took up all the available space.

Braxton, who was standing near, clasped my shoulder. "No need for that, we are here for you, whatever you all need. With that said I want you to know some of us made some calls and we have some information for you."

The look on his face and the others as I glanced at all the men who now huddled around me, sent my already frayed nerves into overdrive.

"I hate to tell you this but River's house is gone," Braxton said. "There isn't going to be anything left that is salvageable. Between the fire and the smoke, it's a total loss."

Fuck.I felt like absolute shit hearing that, but I knew it was nothing compared to how River and her kids were going to feel.

Lennon and Breland had been out together eating and taking in a movie, they hadn't had a clue what had happened until they got a shocking phone call. And from Huntley no less. The man had made it his personal mission to watch over River and hadn't left her side, even when the kids had arrived.

When I wandered in to check on the group so I could get Lake an update, Breland couldn't contain her tears, Lennon was shooting daggers at Huntley, River looked uncomfortable but was more worried about soothing her daughter, and the fireman, he had a determined glint in his eyes.

I reported back to Lake and got a thoughtful look in her gaze. Then a small mischievous smile tilted her lips and she said, "Wait until I tell the other ladies."

That's when you knew there was trouble brewing.

Even though the grin on her face was brief before reality sunk back in, it had been nice to see for a second.

Braxton went on and I tuned back in on what he was saying. "River and the kids have a place at the condo for as long as they need. And we will help them out with things they need."

I had an inkling that River wasn't going to easily accept the help, but she was getting it anyway. She had family and friends now, she just didn't know what to do with that quite yet.

"Thank you. Is there more?"

I was itching to get back to my girls but from the look on Lyric"s face as he stepped closer I knew he had something.

"I called the captain," he said, letting that hang in the air for a second.

Lyric had been a cop—a damn good one—before he'd given it up to build a life with Ruby and the kids, but he still had a strong relationship with everyone he'd work with so he would easily be in on whatever was going on.

I nodded for him to carry on.

"The man you took into custody isn't even trying to hide what he did. When you left him in that squad car he sang like a canary and just spit all sorts of fucked up information out."

Lyric drew in a deep breath before he said more. It was obvious he was pissed. "It's a good thing you caught him because I have no doubt he would have continued on his spree of what he says is his mission to make Lake pay."

Anger pumped through my body and a shiver ran down my spine thinking about how bad things already were but what could have happened if I hadn't nabbed him.

"Why?" I asked, hoping for an answer even though the reasoning wouldn't take away the feeling I was having about pounding my fist into the guy's face.

"He claims Lake deserved it because she didn't save his wife the night they got into a car accident. If she'd done her job correctly then she wouldn't have died."

My fist clench at Lyric's words.

"That's bullshit!" I yelled. "I've seen her out there." I jabbed my finger toward the doors, pointing outside into the dark night. "She takes her job seriously. To a point it scares me sometimes. But she will do anything to save a life."

The guys moved in closer, showing their support. They all knew about the car accident on the highway that night that the asshole had caused and the great lengths Lake went to, regardless of her own safety, to help the woman trapped in that car.

"You don't have to tell us twice, man, we know," Lyric said. "It's fucked up that Stormi and River are hurt, but he can't hurt you guys anymore. You got the prick and he's going away for a very long time."

Knowing that was something at least, but right then with my daughter scared out of her mind and hurt, along with River, it didn't ease the tension that still had my body wound tight.

"I appreciate you all, but I need to get back to Stormi. You guys should go get some rest and I will keep you posted but they should get to leave tomorrow."

When they all nodded and said their goodbyes, I turned and started toward the hall that would lead me back to my family. A thought struck and I whipped back around.

"River was asking about the puppy. What happened to their dog?"

Gyth smiled. "We got that covered. Huntley's fireman friend took it to the emergency vet and the little girl checked out, she's going to be fine."

His wife walked up and wrapped her arms around the big guy"s waist. "We'll pick her up when we leave here and she can hang with Ash until they're ready for her."

Ash was Summer's dog and she understood the love of an animal like no other. The puppy would be in good hands and well cared for.

Satisfied, I gave them all another wave and said my thanks again. Then I let my heart lead my feet toward the two people who were my whole world.

As quietly as possible,I slipped back into the room.

My wife's head raised from the side of the bed where it rested next to our sleeping daughter, her lips trembling as she worked to hold back tears. She's been trying so hard to be strong in front of Stormi so it didn't upset our daughter more than she already was.

I raised my hand to my chest and rubbed the spot over my heart. It felt like it was splintering into a thousand pieces at seeing the two of them in physical and emotional agony. Lake gave me a weak smile and I moved in closer.

There was so much I needed to tell her but it would wait a bit. Lake had seen me run off so when I arrived at the hospital she'd been overwhelmed with emotion. I'd told her I'd got him and we left it at that while we focused on our child and River.

I moved in behind her where she sat and she leaned her head back against my stomach looking up at me with tired eyes. I brought my hand to her head and stroked her hair, trying to soothe her but to my dismay it sent her tears tumbling down her beautiful face.

"Everything will be okay. I promise. We will all heal and our family is together and whole." Leaning over, I kissed her forehead softly.

Mine and Lake's head snapped toward our daughter when we heard her say, "Mommy's sad." Her voice was raspy and strained, but she spoke.

Lake furiously brushed at her tears and took Stormi's hand in hers. "It's only because I love you so much, baby."

I walked around the other side of the bed and took her other small hand in mine. "We both do, Muffin."

She swallowed, her eyes closing a bit and her face pinching in discomfort.

"Auntie," she whispered.

Stormi already adored River and I had a feeling the bond was going to be even stronger after what they went through together. My chest tightened and tears threatened to fall but I pushed them down.

In a million years I would never forget what River had done.

She saved my little girl.

"Your aunt is going to be okay. You both will be okay, sweetheart," I told her as Lake silently watched the exchange.

Stormi gave a tiny smile as her eyes started to drift shut again. We stayed that way until she was asleep again and then I gently laid her hand back on the bed. Moving back around the other side one more time, I pulled my wife off the chair, sat down in it, and then deposited her onto my lap.

I needed to hold her.

We'd be here all night, taking turns checking on River and being by Stormi's side, but it was time to comfort my wife who'd been through hell and back.

She wrapped her arms around my neck and rested her head on my shoulder. My hands rested on her stomach as I buried my nose in her silky hair, breathing her in.

Rubbing my palm against her stomach, I kissed the top of her head. "I love you so much. You three are everything to me."

Not able to hold it in any longer, the dam broke and the tears she was holding back tumbled down her face. Her sobs tore me up inside but I knew she needed to release them.

"I l-love y-you too," she hiccupped.

We stayed that way for a long time, our love for each other sinking into one another to soothe our hearts and souls.

Together, we could get through anything.