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JEREMIAH

‘Miah’

Watching the paramedics wheel Lourdes away makes my stomach clench and my mouth taste sour. Damn, that was way too close. Didn’t think the assholes would try something here but, as usual, I’m wrong. Fuck, I’m the idiot who thought moving here to a small town would make the bastards forget about me, or better yet, act like human beings and remember to keep the innocents out of whatever their fucked-up plan is. I mean, not because this is my business building but there are a few folks who purchased a loft and made their forever homes here. That’s generally what has me feeling guilty inside. Grabbing my phone, I put a call to my right-hand and security man. He doesn’t answer at all, so I wait impatiently to leave a message.

“Dino, where the hell are you? I have you and your firm on twenty-four-seven retainer, which generally means you answer your goddamn phone when I reach out to you, as that means I require your expertise immediately. Need you to call me back as soon as possible. We have a damn situation with those bastards again that you are supposed to keep me aware of.”

Hanging up, I look around until I find the fire chief. Walking toward him, one of the firefighters stops right in front of me, blocking my way. It’s the big guy from before, who was doing his best to protect Lourdes, though they call her Styx for some goddamn reason.

“Yo, rich dick, what’s your intentions with Styx?”

I can’t help it, I chuckle, which doesn’t seem to sit very well with the guy in front of me.

“Not finding anything goddamn funny about my question. She’s like a kid sister to all of us and I ain’t lettin’ no one, especially a rich entitled son of a bitch, take advantage of her. That woman has been through hell and back, literally, dude.”

“We are starting off on the wrong foot. First off, I’m Jeremiah and I truly admire you having Lourdes’s back. Though what happened or happens between us is none of your business and never will be. If she wants to share with you that’s on her. Now, who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?”

For a minute he looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. Now I’m not a small man at all, but I am looking up at this monster of a man who’s scowling at me. Not sure if I could take him, but shit, it’d be one hell of a battle royale for sure.

“Hey, Jeremiah, I’m Lil Man, one of Styx’s fire brothers. Dude, you have no idea what shit you’re getting yourself into. I’m one of the easy ones in our firehouse, so be prepared. For now, I’ll let it go, but if this goes south then there is nothing you’ll be able to do to stop the massive inferno of firefighters looking for your ass.”

I smirk at him and he returns it, though his looks a bit demented. That kind of breaks the air and he starts talking and asking questions, while filling me in on some of the damage to my building. I see an acquaintance, one of the paramedic/ firefighters, Danny, walking toward us covered head to boot in soot. Shit, looking down, I see my suit is stained to the point it’s ruined.

“Yeah, dude, running into a burning building will do that to your clothes. Not sure I want to ask why, but gotta. Jeremiah, care to explain to me why—after you were told not to enter a burning building—you disobeyed that order, taking the chance of getting yourself injured, or worse… killed. There’s a body in there that will be coming out shortly, so now we got either a suicide or murder on top of this fire. The person was hanging off a beam in one of the offices on the east side of the building. Styx surprised someone in that room, that’s why shit went down the way it did when they got in her face. You got any idea why anyone would want to burn down your building? And if it’s determined not to be suicide, why that same individual would kill someone in said building?”

Before I can answer Danny, my phone starts ringing. Knowing the ringtone, I go to grab it, knowing it’s Dino.

“Give me a minute, Danny, got to take this call.”

He nods, then turns to Lil Man and they start discussing the fire and all the what-ifs.

“Dino, hey.”

“Afternoon, Boss, what’s up?”

I explain what’s happened and, more importantly, what I need him to look into immediately. One main item is to go over the extensive camera videos, since the building is covered with them in very discreet places. Hopefully, the assholes didn’t see the cameras and we have something with them on video. He doesn’t say a word until I finish, which I expect with Dino.

“Jeremiah, you want to get involved with this shit again? Come on, brother, let the professionals handle this. Good that you got the chick out, but damn, you could have been injured, or worse, trapped or killed. And you put yourself on their radar if it’s them, which I instructed you not to do.”

We go back and forth for a while. Turning, I see both Danny and Lil Man are watching me, so I shift so they can’t see my face before I continue talking.

“Not sure if this is those assholes or if Lourdes is having some issues. Her friend from the firehouse mentioned she’s had some troubles. Need you to find out, please. And I don’t care how you do it, just get it done, Dino.”

I can hear the breath Dino pulls in, and I realize he’s trying to keep his cool with all of my demands. Usually, when I give an order he executes it with no thought. When I hear him take in a deeper breath then hold it for a second and let it out, I know he’s ready to give me his thoughts and ideas.

“Jeremiah, you know I’ll always have your back. This broad you saved—no, don’t go ballistic on me—she don’t know you from squat. Or does she? That’s my first question. Second, is why do you think someone would be after her? And if it’s you they’re after, we need to get you somewhere safe, not that Podunk town you’re in right now.”

Dino and I continue to go back and forth. When I turn around, I see Lil Man and Danny are making their way to me. Great, not a good time for them to try and nose into my business. Especially if my enemies or nemeses are back. I’m used to it but doubt either of them have the first clue on how all this bullshit works.

“Dino, don’t know why but my gut is telling me this is something else. I have no real enemies except for them, which you have continued to keep tabs on. All of our businesses are legal and doing great. Why this particular building in this town? And who the hell is that dude hanging off our rafters? Got to get some answers, and we need to figure this out immediately, before whoever is responsible decides to start another blaze and risk another person’s life. Gotta run, got people approaching me. Check those cameras first, Dino, and get back to me.”

Just as I’m pushing my phone into my pocket, Danny and Lil Man end up strolling right into my space. It’s the big man who leads this conversation.

“Jeremiah, any ideas who would want to start your fancy as fuck building up in flames? From what the fire inspector just told our chief, there is no doubt that this is arson. And probably more than one person with the amount of incendiary liquid that was used throughout. My main question now is, who and why. I’m sure both the fire inspector and chief of police will want to have a word with you, so either stick around or at least provide them with some contact information on how they can reach out to you later. Thanks, brother.”

Danny gives me a shove and, after a stink eye look at me, Lil Man puts his hand out to me. I take it and shake. With that he turns and walks toward one of the fire trucks. Danny watches him walk away then turns back to me.

“Any ideas who did this, Jeremiah? Chief ain’t gonna let it go, now that they are certain it’s arson. Even if it’s just an out-there idea, share it with them so they can check it out. Don’t try to solve this on your own, you’ll just get in the way and make it way worse.”

“Yeah, I hear you, Danny, though I got my guy working on it from the tech side. We have hidden cameras throughout the building, including offices and hallways. Once he gets back to me, I’ll share with both chiefs. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to make my way to the hospital to see how Lourdes is doing and if she needs anything.”

I watch as Danny tries not to react. We’ve played poker together and hung out here and there as we both know Nova and his security company, Finnegan’s Quest Sentries. That’s how I met Danny, at one of Nova’s famous poker nights. With all my daydreaming, I don’t see the look on Danny’s face until he speaks.

“Not my business, but gonna make it mine. How do you know Styx and why are you so worried about her? Remember, Jeremiah, she’s one of us, so basically we are all up in each other’s shit. You gonna share or do I need to call Lil Man back here to shake your shit up?”

I chuckle as I try to explain without giving him what he’s asking, as it’s not mine to share. That’s up to Lourdes and, apparently, she hasn’t. So either that weekend didn’t mean as much to her as it did me, or she’s just tightlipped about her “hookups,” though I hate that fucking word ’cause it doesn’t apply to her at all in my eyes. And I don’t want to be another hookup, or even think of her with anyone else.

“Let’s just say we met a few months back and she left an impression. Don’t press it, Danny, please, brother, not mine to give to you.”

With that he lowers his head, running his hands through his hair. When he glances up, the look in his eyes startles me because I can’t read it.

“’Kay, Jeremiah, just so you know, that woman has had enough shit piled on her from the time she was little ’til I met her in the military. Again, not my story to tell. Be careful, but more importantly, be gentle and patient. Her bark is worse than her bite.”

With that, he turns and walks away, leaving me with my mouth hanging open and a million and one questions no one is there to answer.