Playing with Fire (20 page)

He nodded his consent, armed with the
knowledge he would probably have to give up his air supply to get
to Liberty.

“Count of three,” Dylan said.

Dylan and Shane braced themselves on the
opposite wall and prepared to take aim at the locked door. On
Dylan’s count, they ran at the door, four massive muscled thighs
directing steel-toed force at the middle panel. The wood splintered
under the weight and fell into the bedroom with both of them on
top. Smoke from the hallway rushed inside to fill the room, demonic
flames crackled louder outside and made a mad dash for the
oxygen.

Liberty lay unconscious on the floor, wrapped
in a wet blanket with her hair sprawled beside her. Shane rolled
her to her back and removed one glove to feel for a pulse. Relief
swept over him when he felt a weak, thready throb at the base of
her neck. Nodding at Dylan, he slipped his glove back on and
cradled her to lift her from the floor.

“Window,” Dylan said solemnly.

He glanced around the bedroom and spotted an
object on the bureau. “Vase.”

Dylan picked up the vase and hurled it at the
window, only to watch it bounce off and shatter into a million
pieces onto the floor.

Shane cursed and gestured to the clothes bar
in the closet.

Dylan shook his head. “It’s bolted.”

He handed Liberty to Dylan. One way or
another, they would get out of this house. He would not lose anyone
else.

With superhuman strength, he lifted the chair
beside the bed and hurled it through the window. The
breath-stealing smoke swarmed out the window and into the cool
night.

Josh dropped his hose when the glass
shattered, shouldered a ladder and jogged across the yard to brace
it against the house. Shane unhooked his air tank, set it next to
Dylan and laid Liberty gently over his shoulder. His head spun as
he stepped onto the ladder.

Dylan grasped his shoulder. “Let me carry
her.”

He shook his head. “I need to do this.”

He climbed slowly down each rung of the
ladder with his breathing labored and his lips numb. Grateful when
his feet hit solid ground, he lifted Liberty off his shoulder and
back into his arms and smoothed her tousled hair.

“Shane.” Josh gestured to a gurney.

A wave of panic coursed through him as he
laid her gently onto the pale, white sheet. She seemed to fade into
the background, so still, so lifeless.

Fighting the urge to scream like a banshee,
he yanked his helmet free while he followed her to the ambulance.
He braced himself against the heavy, steel doors while the
paramedics prepared her for transport and ignored his body’s demand
for a cigarette.

“How long did you go without air?” Dylan
stacked Shane’s empty tank on the truck beside them.

“Not long.”

Dylan gave him a
bullshit
stare. “Get
checked out at the hospital.”

“After I know she’s okay.”

“Do it, Shane.”

Shane squinted one eye. “Since when did you
get so damn bossy?”

“Since you told me you were gonna kick my
ass.”

“Thanks, Dylan,” he said through his
torment.

Dylan patted Shane on the shoulder before he
left to pull himself together. Propping himself against the ladder
truck, he watched the cleansing water extinguish what was left of
Shane’s nightmare. Damn, he needed a cigarette.

He ran his head through his sweat-dampened
hair.
Why did I ever make that promise
? He reached into the
truck’s side compartment and grabbed his cell phone to dial
Maddie.

“Hi, sweetheart.”

“Dylan! I heard about the fire on the
scanner. Is everybody safe?”

His nerves tightened. “Everybody’s out,
baby.”

“What about Liberty?”

Hell. Did he really promise her he’d stop
smoking?

“Dylan, answer me,” Maddie demanded.

“She’s out, honey, but she’s
unconscious.”

“Where is she?”

“On the way to the hospital.”

“I’m going.”

His mouth fell open. “You’re home alone?”

“Yes, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Maddie, I know Liberty’s been staying with
you.”

“Blabbermouth Shane,” she mumbled.

“Shane didn’t rat you out. I saw her leave
last week.”

“Dylan, I’m sorry. I —”

“It’s okay, angel. It makes me feel better
too. Now, go to the hospital. I’ll see you there.”

Liberty’s eyes fluttered as the suffocating
fog slowly released her. As her brain awoke to take charge, she
rolled her eyes in circles under her eyelids and attempted to lift
her lashes. Scents of alcohol and latex invaded her consciousness
but another unfamiliar smell assaulted her. Smoke? She choked back
a whimper as bits and pieces of a horrible nightmare flashed behind
her eyes.

She’d awoken to a noise downstairs in the
living room. Realizing she’d forgotten to turn off the television,
she climbed out of bed to go turn it off. Only, when she reached
the bottom step, the unit wasn’t on. Instead, a man dressed in
black stood next to the sofa and poured something from a metal can.
As she stood watching, he turned and she screamed in terror.
Lucius. He’d come to kill her.

By the force of pure adrenaline she ran back
upstairs and locked herself in the bedroom. She heard his maniacal
laughter as she picked up the phone and listened for a dial tone.
Nothing. She nearly wept with relief when she remembered her cell
phone tucked beneath her pillow and she jumped to the bed. She
palmed the phone, shaking so hard she fumbled to dial 911. As soon
as she lifted it to her ear, it beeped twice and went silent. Dead
battery.

While the musty smell of smoke penetrated the
bedroom, she lifted the corner window, intent on jumping out.
Instead, angry flames cackled at her absurdity and burnt her
fingertips. With no other choice, she dragged the comforter from
her bed into the adjoining bathroom and soaked it in the
bathtub.

She wrapped herself in the blanket and prayed
that one of the neighbors would call for help. Her last coherent
thought as the smoke overtook her was of Shane. She’d never have
the chance to see him again. To tell him she loved him despite his
shortcomings. She rolled to the floor in her wet cocoon. This was
it. Lucius had made good on his promise.

Sometime later she thought she saw an
angel.

Desperate to escape her fear, Liberty forced
her eyes open and blinked to focus on her surroundings.

“Hey, sweetheart.” Shane’s familiar, tender
voice soothed her aching body.

“I wasn’t dreaming,” she croaked. “You came
in after me.”

The warmth of his hand seeped through hers as
he caressed her skin with his thumb.

“Shane,” she whispered.

“Ssshh.” He touched her trembling lips with
one finger. “Just listen. I love you, Liberty. The thought of
losing you ... it just ... I can’t do it. I can’t live without
you.” His thumbs wiped the skin beneath her eyes. “And I’m going to
convince you of my love if it takes the next fifty years.”

“Fifty years, huh?” Her lips trembled as she
smiled.

“Yeah, fifty years.”

“Does that mean you’ll give up at fifty
one?”

Amusement flickered in his eyes as he laughed
softly. “Marry me.”

“Whoa! I just heard the ‘M’ word.” Noah
stopped just inside the doorway and caused a massive domino effect
of the people behind him.

“Hunter!” Dylan rubbed his chest from
Maddie’s unintended poke. “It’s not contagious.”

“Really?” Maddie pushed past them. “He’s
proposing?”

“I was,” Shane mumbled.

“Sorry, Captain,” Josh said as they all
crowded around Liberty’s bed.

Maddie squeezed her. “Thank God you’re safe.
I’m so sorry about your house.” Tears dampened her eyelids when she
finally released Liberty. “I’m sorry.” She wiped her eyes on
Dylan’s shirt. “I’m so emotional these days.”

Liberty gave her an understanding smile
before she coughed. She pushed herself to sit and Shane handed her
a cup beside the bed. Ice cold liquid soothed her raw throat as she
drank.

“Thanks. I just want to wake up from this
nightmare.”

Jake frowned at Shane. “You didn’t tell
her?”

“Tell me what?” She set the water back on the
table then patted the edge of the bed for Shane to sit next to
her.

“Lucius burnt in the fire. It’s over,
honey.”

Her bottom lip trembled again and this time
she couldn’t stop tears from leaking down her cheeks.

Shane leaned forward and captured the tears
with his lips. “I hope this means you’re happy.”

She gave him a weak smile. “Relieved.”

“Uh-oh.” Maddie covered her mouth and ran for
the bathroom.

“Holy crap,” Dylan groaned. “I don’t know why
it’s called
morning
sickness. It should be
anytime-of-the-day-or-night
sickness.”

Jake cleared his throat. “I’ve got to get
back to work. Glad everybody’s okay.”

“I need to leave too,” Noah mumbled as he and
Josh quickly filed out of the room, leaving only Dylan and Shane
with her.

Dylan frowned. “What’s with them?”

Shane chuckled. “Face it, Carmichael, life as
you know it is about to change. Their major goal will remain
getting laid and you’ll be focused on bottles and diapers.”

Liberty held her laughter when reality
knocked Dylan over the head. His face paled and he reached for the
nearest chair. “I’m going to be a daddy.”

“You just now figured that out?” Shane
laughed.

“I’d say so,” Liberty agreed, “and look at
that lovely shade of green on his face.”

“You don’t think he’s going to get sick, do
you?”

She bit her lip. “I hope not. That bathroom
is very small.”

Maddie returned, wiping her face with a cool,
wet paper towel. “Much better. Now I’m hungry. I need pizza.
Canadian bacon with extra cheese.” She frowned at Dylan. “Are you
okay?” She wiped his face with her towel.

He nodded and pulled her to sit on his
lap.

“Reality just kicked him in the ass,” Shane
drawled.

Liberty’s throat burned as she scolded him.
“Shane!”

Maddie shrugged. “Get used to it, Lib, they
tease each other mercilessly.”

Dylan opened his mouth to speak, only to be
interrupted when a nurse breezed through the door. “Dr. Prescott,
you’re doing so well, you get to go home. I brought you some
scrubs.”

“Thank you.” Liberty took the clothing and
the nurse left the room.

“I made the spare bed for you,” Maddie
insisted.

She couldn’t resist the urge to tease her
best friend. “Uh, thanks Maddie, but I’ve heard what goes on at
your house. I think I’ll pass.”

“Hey, you gave us those cuffs,” Dylan said.
“Didn’t you want us to use them?”

“Of course, but I thought you would keep it
private. I had no idea you’d have group therapy.”

Shane’s gentle laugh rippled the air. “I’ll
take her home with me.”

Maddie lifted her eyebrows and gave her a
look of nonjudgmental support. Dylan shifted Maddie to his other
leg.

Liberty cleared her throat. “Do you feel
guilty?”

He unfolded himself from his chair and
stepped to the side of the bed. The Nordic blue of his eyes flashed
a sheen of purpose as he tucked her hand inside his.

“I love you, Liberty,” he answered without
hesitation. “I want you to come home with me because I love
you.”

Dylan pulled three tissues out of the box for
Maddie.

“I love you, Shane.” Her own tears flowed
freely now.

“Get dressed, Liberty.” Maddie pulled Dylan
from the chair and pushed Shane to the door. “We’ll be right
outside.”

“You need any help?” Shane asked over his
shoulder.

She drew in a slow, steady smile of
happiness. “I think I can manage.”

Once she was alone, she let more happy tears
fall from her eyes. Shane had finally put the past to rest. Now it
was time for the two of them to move forward. Together.

She stood on unsteady legs and pulled the
scrubs over her hips. She’d told him things happened for a reason
and she’d been truthful. In reality, if they hadn’t experienced
this whole sickening ordeal, they may have never found one another.
She wiped her eyes again and slid the scrub top over her head.
Thank God for small miracles.

As she left the hospital room, she and Maddie
exchanged a hug before Shane insisted he take her home to rest.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Maddie promised.

As soon as he closed the front door of his
house behind them, Shane swung her into the circle of his arms. His
mouth covered hers and his lips parted hers in a soul-reaching
massage. She returned his kiss, lingering and savoring every
moment.

“How about a shower?” He lifted his lips long
enough to let her answer.

“Sounds wonderful,” she moaned.

“You first.”

She stepped from his embrace and tossed him a
pouty smile. “You’re not coming with me?”

He smirked as he led her to the bedroom and
tossed her his PFD uniform shirt. “No, not this time. You need to
rest.”

“I’m an official groupie now?”

A mischievous smile creased his lips. “Oh
baby, you are
way
past groupie status.”

She giggled and closed the bathroom door.

Thirty minutes later and fresh from their
showers, she snuggled up next to Shane on the couch. Fred
Flintstone barked from the television.

Shane unbuttoned the top four buttons of her
borrowed clothing. “That’s my new favorite shirt.”

She laughed softly around a yawn and laid her
head on his shoulder. “Sorry, I am so wiped out.”

“Ready for bed?” He fingered her damp
hair.

“No, I don’t think I can sleep right now. I’d
rather just rest here with you.”