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JEREMIAH

‘Miah’

The moment I walked through the automatic doors, the waiting area goes dead silent, which is hard to believe with the number of firefighters and paramedics sitting and standing around. Not seeing a friendly face, I make my way through them, getting shouldered here and there. I don’t take offense, as one of their own was injured in my building.

Taking a seat in the far corner, I pull my phone out to see if Dino sent anything but, nope, nothing. Opening up emails, I start to go through them. When I feel someone sit next to me, at first, I ignore them, but when they lean into me to see what I’m doing, I look up into Lil Man’s deep set, almost black eyes.

“Whatcha doin’, Fat Cat?”

That brings a chuckle from my lips. This guy can grow on you like Southern moss, that’s for damn sure. Guess I make some of these people uncomfortable with my wealth. Oh well, not my problem. I’ve worked mighty hard to get where I’m at and now I don’t answer to anyone but myself.

“Waiting to see how Lourdes is. What are you doing, Lil Man? And how the hell did you get that name, if I can ask?”

He outright laughs, which has heads turning to see what he’s cackling about. He lifts a hand, which must be firehouse language for “it’s all right,” because they all turn and go back to what they were doing.

“Well, Jeremiah, if I told you, then I’d have to kill ya.”

That has me laughing but this time no one turns. Guess I don’t matter, oh well, not the first time I’ve been ignored or undervalued, so I’m used to it.

“No, just sayin’. The way my momma tells it, when I was born the doctors told her they were surprised at how long I was. Yeah, there too, I’ll share that secret with ya.”

I give him a smirk so he goes on.

“Dude, not joking, I was like almost twenty-four inches long. My poor momma after she popped me out, the OB/GYN told her I should have been a Cesarean. That didn’t make my daddy happy. So the story goes that he lifted the little doctor up and threatened him if anything went wrong, he would personally see to making the poor doctor pay dearly. Anyway, I grew into that length for sure. I mean, look at me, I’m six feet six inches tall. You must feel small next to me, huh?”

He ends his comment on a smile, so I wait a few then give it right back.

“Remember, Lil Man, it’s not the size that matters it’s the skill set.”

We both crack up, which I think finally breaks the ice between us, so we share some shit that guys usually do. It’s nice to be able to converse with someone I probably never would have met if this blaze hadn’t happened. Though I’m still wondering who the hell the person was hanging from the rafters. Time goes by and still no one comes out to update on Lourdes’s condition. People come and go until finally Chief and, I think his name is Paco, walk toward us. Chief gives me the stink eye but then goes right to Lil Man.

“No news yet? Damn, they sure are taking their time. Probably because Lourdes doesn’t have any family here. I’ll go have a word with the charge nurse.”

When the chief leaves, Paco takes a seat next to his pal. Leaning in, he starts explaining to Lil Man what was found. I lean in to hear what he has to say.

“Man, that place was doused in enough accelerant to take down a block of buildings. Someone meant business, for sure. Now for the deceased, they were dead before they were strung up over that beam. Coroner isn’t sure, gotta do an autopsy but looks like a broken neck, though there are multiple bruises all over the victim’s body. On both hands all the fingers are broken too. Police are going to need to talk to you, Jeremiah, right? Anyway, they’ll probably reach out tomorrow. Your building is damaged, probably more from us than the fire, but I’d get your contractor over there sooner rather than later. Maybe call a fire restoration company, see what the next steps are. Just a suggestion and if you don’t know a company like that, just ask one of us, we know a few good ones in the area.”

As the conversation turns to just normal dude bullshit, I feel it before the doors swing open. Three doctors come out, one with her hand in front of her for the chief to shake. They speak for a bit then the chief whistles to get everyone’s attention. He nods to the female doctor, who gives him a small smile.

“All right, Chief has explained that when each of you sign on with the fire department, you are required to give your chief permission for personal HIPPA information and that it is up to them if they share. Chief here tells me it’s okay to give you all an update on Lourdes’s condition. So here we go, but let me introduce everyone to you. I’m Deidra Thompson, chief pulmonologist here at General South Hospital. Now to my right is Dr. Sumah, who shares the department with me. And Dr. Jones over there is our only resident neurologist and will be treating Lourdes. Currently, she has first-degree burns on her left shoulder, along with bruised ribs. We had to stitch her head up and she has a mild to moderate concussion so will not be able to be left alone. She’ll need to be woken up every three to four hours. She should make a full recovery, but the next few days to a week she’ll be miserable, and I can say that because I know her personally. So whoever is going to be taking care of her, this is your only warning.”

The doctor takes a breath while everyone else chuckles in the waiting area. Looking around, it seems to be that the only folks in here are firefighters, paramedics, and some cops. Well, besides myself. Doc clears her throat before telling us that Lourdes is going to stay overnight so they can continue running oxygen through her body to eliminate any of the smoke inhalation she’s experienced. Also, she will probably need to do some breathing treatments once she’s released.

When the doctors are done, the room starts to empty as firefighter after firefighter leaves, probably going home, back to their station, or to grab a beer now they know Lourdes is generally okay and will recover. Meanwhile, Chief is talking to Paco and Lil Man. Knowing they won’t appreciate me intruding, that’s exactly what I do, and I hear the chief trying to figure out a plan on who would be taking care of Lourdes. Well, I can fix the dilemma right now.

“Chief, no worries. I’ll take Lourdes to my house when she’s released. Give her a chance to rest and recover. I have plenty of room and a housekeeper and maid, who can keep an eye on her if I’m gone. I’ll make sure I leave my address so anyone from the firehouse can stop by and visit.”

All three men are looking at me, mouths open and eyes wide. What is their problem? I know they don’t have a clue about Lourdes and my weekend together, but shit, I’m not a criminal or anything, for Christ’s sake. Before I can continue, the guys from Lourdes’s firehouse all start talking—no, screaming—at the same time. Well, until Danny puts his fingers in his mouth and, fuck, whistles ’til my ears start ringing. Then before anyone else can say a word, he starts.

“Hey, guys, calm the fuck down. This is Lourdes’s decision and hers alone. For now, she’s staying overnight, so we don’t have to kill each other yet. Maybe we should just talk to her and see what she wants. Let’s sit down like adults and draw up a plan. I called Claire and she, along with our kids, is picking up some pizzas and heading over here, knowing no one is going to leave until they see and talk to Lourdes. She’s also bringing some things that she thinks will work for Lourdes since she’s staying overnight. Now, Jeremiah, what makes you think that she would want to even stay with you? Lourdes has never spoken about you to me or, from the looks and sounds of it, to anyone in the firehouse. I get you might feel guilty and would want to put her up in a hotel, but in your house? Doesn’t make sense now, does it? Besides that, something doesn’t feel right, so sit down and let’s figure it out. What’s that saying, it’s better to have multiple sets of eyes on a problem than just one set? Let’s see if that statement is correct.”

So we all push chairs together while Paco goes to the nurses’ station. I watch him pour on the charm, and before long he struts back with a huge smile on his face.

“Well, Nurse Sandy said we can use the conference room down the hall to eat and discuss our plans. Unfortunately, for the good of Lourdes, I’m gonna have to drop out of having her at my place tomorrow because Nurse Sandy gets off her shift in the morning. She’s going to come over to my place to make breakfast for the two of us. What happens next, don’t know, but pretty sure Lourdes doesn’t need to hear the kind of sounds that will definitely be coming from my bedroom. So I’m tapping out, sadly, of course.”

He turns and glares at me for a second then winks my way. What the ever-lovin’ fuck is that? Before I can say a word, Danny’s phone goes off and he answers it. After a few moments he looks around and then scream-asks what everyone wants on their pizza. And it turns into a clusterfuck, for sure. Worse than little kids. Danny whistles again and gives them four choices. Once everyone makes their choice, then he looks my way, waiting for what I want. Figure now’s the time to fuck with these men a bit, so I do.

“Danny, can I get an all cheese pizza with broccoli, mushrooms, peppers, olives, tomatoes, onions, and pineapple on a gluten free crust?”

I feel it first, but when I look around, they are all staring my way, most mouths open while the others look shell-shocked and a few look totally disgusted. I wait a few minutes then burst out laughing. Danny gets it first then Lil Man and their chief. When everyone is busting a gut, I tell Danny I’ll eat anything. Then Lil Man cracks me across the back, literally knocking me off of my chair, and being unprepared—I slam down heavy onto my tailbone and then my ass. Then I hear Lil Man chuckling loudly before a huge paw is in front of my face.

“Damn, man, thought you could handle a small tap on the back. Fuck, if I really hit ya, might break you in two, for God’s sake. Guess when you’re rich, don’t need to worry about self-preservation. Come on, grab my hand.”

Knowing it is stupid, but fuck—no one ever said I was smart—I grab his hand and on the way up, I leverage my body toward the table. When I am just about standing, I jerk my arm, rotating my shoulder hard. Lil Man loses his balance until I reach over with my other hand and grab the skin under his arm and pinch hard as I can. He lets out a high-pitched whine that has everyone covering their ears. When I release him, I can see the bruise already forming and realize I might have taken it too far. Usually, I can keep myself under control but, damn, with Lourdes and the fire, my shit is going around in circles.

“Goddamn, Lil Man, that’s gonna leave a bruise. Sorry, got a bit carried away.”

The big guy lifts his arm, taking a look at the damage, then his dark midnight-blue fucking eyes come back to me, staring intently until a slow smile appears on his face that freaks me the fuck out. The last thing I’d do if someone did that to me is smile like a lunatic.

“Just remember, Fat Cat, paybacks are a royal bitch.”

Before I can reply, he turns and heads down to what I assume are the restrooms. Everyone else is staring at me, surprise on their faces. This is when I see a woman with two little ones walking toward us. I’m assuming it’s Claire and the twins because she is carrying a couple of pizzas, no wait, there is a guard behind her carrying another couple. When my eyes shift to the two little guys, each has a brown paper bag wrapped tightly in their arms, holding it to their chests. Well at least there’s food to eat while we wait.