Page 12 of Break Me

“I know that, Jeff. She’s all I think about, but I had to save him.” At that moment, the EMT caring for the unknown man on the gurney headed toward the ambulance. Standing, I moved away, studying him as he was lifted into the back.

While his face was still covered by a mask, his eyes never left mine.

“Come on, Captain O’Leary. Let me take you to the hospital just to ensure that your lungs aren’t scarred. You can ride up front.”

As soon as I started to say no, Jeff was in my face. “It’s protocol, Captain. Just like you’ve told all your firefighters before.”

He was angrier than usual.

Maybe he’d seen the incredible spark with the stranger. Whatever the case, he was right.

“Fine. But I want a full report.”

“Yes, ma’am. Coming right up. Ma’am.” As he turned and took long strides away, I shook my head.

Why did I have a strange feeling karma was playing a joke on me?

CHAPTER 4

Alexsey

This had absolutely been a ‘what the fuck’ kind of day.

As I took several deep breaths, the rubber pieces in my nose began to annoy the hell out of me. Just before I managed to rip the tubes from my nose, Mikhail and Bristol walked in.

“Oh, no, you don’t, mister.” She immediately rushed to my side, giving me her usual admonishing look. As my brother’s wife, she was certainly more than just a pretty face and arm candy for Mikhail. She was his equal and kept him on his toes.

What was I saying? She could do that to the entire family with one crook of her little finger. It didn’t hurt she’d given birth to the cutest kid in the world, making me a happy uncle.

So I gave her slack.

Although at this early in the morning, I was in the mood to beat some ass.

“I’m fine,” I growled.

“You almost died in a fire, bro,” Mikhail threw in.

“Yeah, and I knew exactly who set it. Fucking Papadakis.” Viktor had laughed at me when I’d explained things to him. His answer? A cold day in hell.

I should have known he’d retaliate.

“How are you?” Bristol asked.

“The doctors said I inhaled a lot of smoke, but no permanent damage.”

Mikhail shook his head. “Yeah, well, I heard that was because of the heroic efforts of a firefighter. You’re lucky to be alive.”

My thoughts had been going back and forth from the revenge I’d exact on the entire Papadakis clan to the beautiful woman who’d risked her own life to save mine.

She had indeed been heroic in her efforts, somehow managing to claw her way through the debris to cart my ass out. There’d been an electric connection between us, which was ridiculous given we’d been in the middle of horrific danger, but there was no way of denying the chemistry.

Then she’d looked me in the eyes, recognition destroying the slight tether.

I rubbed my jaw, the visions of her beautiful face still ravaging my mind. “Maybe so. I should thank her since Papadakis meant for me to die inside my own home.”

“You’re certain it was arson?” Bristol asked and poured me some water in a cup, placing the straw inside. “Drink this.” It was better to do as she asked instead of fighting her.

“Trust me. I heard a noise and came downstairs. Then poof, the lights went out and there was a sudden wall of fire. I could smell gasoline.”