Page 29 of Forged By Fire (Danger in Destiny #9)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

T he moment Jacob moved the gun from Leslie’s head and started to wave it at the door, she knew it was now or never. She dropped to the ground at the exact same time a gunshot echoed through the night.

She couldn’t tell where the shot came from until Jacob’s body crumpled to the ground in front of her. His gun hit the pavement and skidded into the grass.

Flames danced as they quickly devoured the kerosene and engulfed the door, side of the house, and the porch railings.

She heard Clint’s voice before she saw him approach. He reached a hand down to help her to her feet. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. We need the fire department. I can’t use a hose on this, not with the kerosene.”

“I’m on it.” He dialed 9-1-1 on his phone and gave the address. “I need an ambulance and a fire truck at my location. We’ve got a residential structure fire with three individuals trapped inside.”

Clint grabbed Jacob’s arm and pulled him away from the blaze, then knelt to put a hand to his neck.

There must have been a pulse because he turned the man over and secured his hands behind his back with a pair of handcuffs.

“He’s alive, but I’m not sure for how long.

” He retrieved Jacob’s gun and put it in his waistband for now.

Leslie pictured her sweet nieces sleeping in their beds, completely unaware of what was going on. And Cindy—the terror of not knowing what was happening to her girls.

“I can’t wait, Clint. I’m going in through the back door to get them out.”

He gave a grim nod. “Let’s go.”

At the back door, Leslie reached for a rock nearby and used it to smash the glass. Carefully, she reached through and unlocked it before pulling the door wide open.

The fire alarms were blaring, although the only smoke visible in the kitchen was a thin layer moving along the ceiling as though it were a living creature slowly stalking its prey.

Immediately, they saw that the pantry doors were blocked by the kitchen table. Normally, Cindy might have been able to push the door hard enough to get out, but not if she’d been tied up like Jacob claimed.

Clint put a hand on her shoulder. “I’ve got Cindy. Go get the girls.”

Without hesitation, Leslie dashed down the hallway to Bree’s bedroom.

Inside, Izzy was trying to lift her little sister into her arms. “Come on! We have to go!”

Bree covered her ears with her hands, her face wet with tears.

Leslie ran up and scooped Bree into her arms. Izzy whirled around, her sweet little face transitioning from terrified to relieved .

“Auntie! I can’t find Mom.”

“Officer Clint is getting her. Let’s go, girls. We need to get to the backyard. You remember how we talked about meeting at the tree there if there’s a fire?”

Izzy nodded. “That way we can find each other.”

“That’s right.” Leslie reached down and took Izzy’s hand firmly.

Together, they ran through the house, which was quickly filling with smoke, and out the back door into the cool night air.

“Mom!” Izzy pulled away from Leslie and ran to her mom, who was sitting on the ground. Clint stood nearby, part of a rope in his hands.

Cindy pulled the little girl into her arms. “Oh, baby. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

He dropped the rope on the ground and strode across the grass to pull both Leslie and Bree into a hug.

“Thank God,” he breathed.

Sirens split the air.

Clint pressed an urgent kiss to her lips. “I need to go out front and deal with Jacob.” He touched her wounded arm where blood had soaked into the sleeve. The stitches had likely been pulled out when Jacob was squeezing her arm earlier.

She nodded. “I’m okay. Go. We’re good.”

He gave her another kiss, then jogged around the edge of the house.

Cindy scrambled to her feet, one arm around Izzy, and stretched her other arm out for Leslie and Bree. Together, they hugged and cried.

Leslie knelt on the cool grass in front of Izzy. “You were such a brave big sister. I have no doubt that, if I hadn’t been here, you would’ve gotten Bree out of the house safely. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, Auntie.” The little girl threw herself into Leslie’s arms and then looked up at her mom, who was smiling down at her daughter with pride.

Clint wasn’t sure whether or not the hospital had a rule about how many people could be crammed into one room, but if it did, no doubt it’d been broken about six people ago.

Danny Bracken’s room was crowded with a bunch of people from the fire department as well as a couple from the police department. Everyone was laughing, swapping stories, and reveling in the relief that the nightmare of the last few days was over.

Had it only been early this morning that Jacob Boulder had been shot and taken into custody?

It felt so much longer than that. The bullet Clint fired struck him in the back and had done a fair amount of damage.

The doctor operated, and while Jacob was in critical condition, he was expected to make a full recovery.

Clint crossed the room to where Leslie was standing. Her arm was freshly bandaged after a new round of stitches. This time, hopefully, it would have a chance to heal.

She looked up at him with a smile and reached for his left hand, lacing their fingers together. That brought on a round of whistles and applause from her co-workers. He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand and grinned.

Detective Paris, who was standing on the opposite side of his room, caught Clint’s attention and winked.

Clint reached out and shook Danny’s hand. “Glad you’re doing so well.”

“Me, too. They’re releasing me sometime this afternoon.”

Becca sank onto the bed next to her husband. “Thank goodness. Everyone here has been great, but I’m ready for my own bed and something to eat besides hospital food.” She rested a hand on her expanded belly and laughed.

“I’m sure you are,” Bryce spoke up from the back of the room. “We’ve got a meal train all planned out, with the first delivery tonight for dinner. You shouldn’t have to cook for at least a week.”

Tears sprang to Becca’s eyes. “Thank you. We appreciate you all so much.”

Leslie released Clint’s hand to give the other woman a hug. They spoke for a moment, but the noise of the room drowned out their words.

A nurse pushed her way into the room. “Okay, okay. We’re going to need to break this party up. I’ve got some vitals to take before we start the discharge process.” Even though she spoke in a firm voice, she was all smiles.

“You heard the nice nurse,” Bryce’s deep voice caught everyone’s attention. “Let’s give them some space.”

They filed out of the room and gathered in the hallway as Leslie’s co-workers again told her how glad they were that she was okay.

Chet studied Clint, a serious look on his face. “I heard through the grapevine that you were supposed to have dinner at the station last night.”

“I’d been planning on it.” Clint reached for Leslie’s hand again. “I’m hoping for a rain check.”

Leslie tucked herself against his arm and rested a hand on his chest. “Absolutely. And we’re going to keep the teasing to a minimum, right?”

Chet tried to stay serious but failed miserably. He chuckled. “I’m not going to promise that. But you’re welcome at the station anytime.”

Clint carefully put an arm around Leslie’s shoulders and steered her toward the elevator. “How are Cindy and the girls?”

Early this morning, Leslie had taken all three of them back to her place to stay until the inspection on Cindy’s house was completed and insurance did their thing. Once Clint made sure they were settled, he went back to his house for the rest of the night.

“They’re okay. Cindy has some bruising on her wrists and ankles, but otherwise, none of them were hurt. The girls were still asleep when I left. We’ll need some things, but Cindy and I’ll make a list after I get back.”

The elevator doors opened with a ding. They stepped inside and rode it to the ground floor.

Once they exited and were outside, Clint squeezed her hand.

“So, we interviewed King again. Once he heard that we’d caught Jacob, he suddenly had no problem talking to us.

” The security guard had practically begged for a deal if he shared everything he knew.

“It turns out that Jacob was going to the same rehabilitation center for grief therapy. That’s where he ran into Ortiz.

He also saw King accepting a bribe to turn a blind eye to drugs being sold on the center’s property.

We haven’t had the chance to question Jacob yet, but he must have been planning his revenge for a while.

When he found out Ortiz had trouble with kleptomania and worked for the same fire station where you were, he figured blackmailing Ortiz would be the best way to net him a set of gear. ”

Leslie shook her head, a sad look on her face.

“Losing a loved one is hard enough to navigate. It breaks my heart that he didn’t have the kind of support system he needed.

” She stopped walking. “I know he’s going to serve time, but are there any programs the court can make sure he gets into?

Programs that could help him with his grief? ”

Her kindness, even toward someone who had made her life such a nightmare these last few days, made Clint proud to know her. “I’m sure there are.” He smiled down at her and swept a section of hair behind her ear.

She studied his face, her lips transforming into a smile of her own. “What?”

He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and led her the rest of the way to her car.

Once there, he gently pulled her into his arms. “You’re amazing.

” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’ve always thought so.

I’m kicking myself for not telling you sooner.

I should’ve asked you out a year or two ago. ”

“It’s okay, because we’re here now.” She stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his. “Which is right where we’re supposed to be.”