CHAPTER ONE

Brighton, Texas – Eight years after Book 1, Gabe

Lee

“The hot spots are finally out,” Captain Gabe Mason announced. “Let’s get these hoses packed up.”

“On it,” Lee said as he removed his helmet and wiped the sweat and soot from his forehead.

His turnout gear was covered in black streaks due to a combination of water, soot, and the char that surrounded him. It’d been a long night fighting the barn fire, the third in as many months, and he was eager to get home to his husband, Frank, and son, Jacob.

Jacob’s first day of third grade was today, and he didn’t want to miss drop-off. Of course, he knew Frank would be there to take him, but Lee had never missed a first day of school since Jacob began kindergarten, and he didn’t plan on starting now.

The weather was warm, and he found it hard to believe that summer vacation was over. The days were moving fast, and he longed for a way to slow everything down. It felt like only yesterday they’d brought Jacob home from the hospital, and now he was a busy eight-year-old with friends, after-school activities, and what felt like an abundant social life compared to either of his boring fathers.

Lee was exhausted. Much the same as every person on the crew, but no one would rest until every last charred timber and scorched bale of straw was checked and rechecked for hot spots. Thankfully, none of the cattle were harmed, and they’d even managed to rescue a family of barn cats from the flames, keeping the tragedy to physical damage with no loss of life.

“The fire marshal’s on his way,” Gabe stated after disconnecting his call.

“I hope your dad can figure this shit out before someone gets hurt,” Lee said as he loaded the relay hose into the side tool compartment of the fire truck.

Chief Roger Mason had taken over as fire marshal for Brighton and surrounding areas almost three years prior, and Gabe was promoted to chief. Lee had thrown a party for his best friend to celebrate the achievement and mark the occasion. He and Frank had rented out the main room at the Haven Center to accommodate the large crowd, which included most of the citizens of Brighton. Haven, Jesse and Royce’s ever-growing project, which started in Brighton and became a model for similar havens across the country, was a safe space for LGBTQ+ young people to find peace and community away from abuse, street life, hostile families, and situations out of their control.

“Agreed. This firebug needs to be stopped,” Gabe stated. “It’s only a matter of time before someone gets caught in one of these fires.”

“This shit is getting out of hand,” Ben said as he joined them. “The asshole setting these is getting on my last nerve.”

Ben Mason, war veteran, Gabe’s cousin, and a fellow firefighter, looked as pissed off as he sounded. His husband, Grady, worked as a police officer in Brighton. Since their jobs often overlapped, they had to’ve been discussing who might be the culprit, and how to stop him.

“We’ll catch whoever is setting these fires and lock their ass up so they can’t harm anyone else,” Gabe said as the fire marshal’s truck pulled up and Roger Mason stepped out shaking his head, bag in hand.

The entire town was on alert. Dante and his Sentinels, a team of former military personnel who lived outside town and ran an investigative protection company, were tracking down leads in order to stop this maniac from setting any more fires.

Suspicions were running wild, and Lee was beginning to worry that a mob would form if things continued on this path. Brighton was a friendly, welcoming small town, but if someone messed with its community, that someone would pay a price higher than they bargained for.

“What do we have?” Roger asked as he joined them.

“Another suspicious fire using accelerant on the far east corner of the barn. Once the old timbers caught, the flames moved straight up to the hay loft, and at that point, it was a matter of getting the livestock out in time. The building couldn’t be saved,” Gabe reported.

“Anything left behind?” Roger asked.

“Nothing. At least nothing noticeable at this time. Perhaps we’ll find something after the scene is completely cooled. I hope it’s not a repeat of the first two where we found nothing,” Gabe answered.

Sometimes they got lucky and found triggers they could trace, and sometimes arsonists left things behind. A calling card of sorts for the authorities to find. Their egos needed to be stroked by taunting the authorities by leaving clues. Some even stuck around to watch the show.

Shadow, Vincent, and Spider, Sentinel members, were in the surrounding bush and fields in case the arsonist stayed behind to watch the destruction. The Sentinels were attempting to hone in on the arsonist, and Lee hoped they, or the PD, would catch him soon.

“Spider has not reported in yet,” Gabe stated.

“Okay, I’ll take over the site and look around.”

“Let’s get this packed up,” Gabe ordered, and the team went to work wrapping things up and preparing to leave.

With any luck, Lee would return home before Frank and Jacob left for school.

***

Frank

“Grab your backpack, buddy, we have to get going,” Frank told Jacob, who was looking expectantly out the front window.

“We can’t go. Dad isn’t here yet.”

“We can’t wait any longer or we’ll be late for school.”

“It’s the first day. Dad always comes to school with us on the first day.”

“I know, Jacob, but your dad’s at a fire. He can’t leave. It’s his duty to put it out to protect the town.”

“Can’t we wait a few more minutes?”

“I’m sorry, buddy, but we’ve already waited as long as possible.”

Jacob huffed as he walked away from the window, grabbed his backpack, and headed for the garage. Frank felt like the bad guy, but what choice did he have? He couldn’t let Jacob be late for his first day of third grade, no matter how much he also wanted to wait for Lee. They were the firefighter’s family and knew how unpredictable his hours were. For the most part, Jacob understood, but when Lee missed special occasions, such as today, all the understanding in the world didn’t make up for an eight-year-old’s disappointment.

The drive to the elementary school took only five minutes, and soon they were standing on the sidewalk outside with other kids who were laughing and playing as parents kissed and hugged them good-bye. It felt like a joyous social occasion until Frank looked down at his son.

He could easily read the look on Jacob’s face, and the dejected slump of his shoulders said it all. Their boy was upset that both his fathers weren’t here with him, as they’d been every year since he’d started school.

Frank placed his hand on Jacob’s shoulder. “Jacob, I’m sor—”

Sirens blared and could be heard coming from down the street. Everyone turned to watch as a fire truck pulled in and stopped in the back of the school’s parking lot. Firefighters poured out from the open doors.

They were covered in soot and looked like they’d been through the wringer, but Frank had never been so happy to see his smiling partner running in their direction. His relieved expression matched several other parents as they saw their spouses and partners arrive. Johnny and Lucy cheered as Gabe hopped out of the truck’s driver’s seat to join the other parents and partners.

“You made it,” Jacob yelled.

“Of course I did.” Lee grinned. “Wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

Jacob ran into Lee’s open arms.

“Careful, kid, you’ll mess up your clean clothes. I’m covered in grime,” Lee said but made no effort to back away, holding on tight to Jacob as he smiled wide.

“I don’t care,” Jacob said, and Frank struggled to control his emotions. This was his family, and as he did every day, he asked himself how had he gotten so lucky.

Their lives had changed in so many ways since Jacob, and both Frank and Lee constantly talked about how they didn’t know there was that much love in their bodies for the little guy who brightened their world.

Many gay couples never got this opportunity, and Frank and Lee never took a single moment of their full lives for granted. It was hard to believe Jacob was beginning grade three when it felt like only yesterday they were bringing him home from the hospital. Life never slowed down, and nowadays, things seemed to be moving at light speed.

The school bell rang.

“Okay, get in there and do us proud,” Lee said. “Love you, kid.”

“And have fun,” Frank called out.

With a final hug for both of them, Jacob grabbed his backpack with renewed vigor and followed the rest of the children into the school. Just before he passed the threshold, he turned and waved. A huge smile had replaced his previous hangdog look, and the sun shone a little brighter.

“Will you ever stop being the hero?” Frank asked as he leaned into Lee’s side.

Lee pulled him into his arms. “Never, baby,” he said before kissing him.

Frank couldn’t help but laugh at his live-life-out-loud husband. After over twenty years of being together, the excitement never faded, and somehow grew even stronger.

“Let’s go home,” he said.

“Lead the way.”