Page 16 of Summer Kisses

“I want to be there when you question him.” My rage is overwhelming me right now as I grip the steering wheel.

“I don’t think that is a good idea.” Zane hedges.

“I won’t do anything. I will watch through the two-way mirror.”

“Don’t make me regret this Donnie.” He says.

I speed from the ranch back into town. By the time I get there, Zane has rounded up this Kyle Dennings person.

“How do you know Ms. King?” Zane asks.

“She is in my Economics of Fashion class.” Kyle answers. He looks squirrely. That could just be me thinking that, of course.

“According to several of the members of your study group, you blew up about the news of her recent engagement.”

“How do you know that?”

“We have had a report of the incident.” I look over at Deputy Carnes. He was the undersheriff of Timothy Sunderland. He is the dick who is now married to Jennifer.

“Mrs. Jankowski, the librarian, told me when I canvased the scene. He started screaming at her.”

“The fuck?” I ask.

“He looks good for it.”

“Then where the fuck is she?” I ask him.

Zane continues his line of questioning but ultimately lets him go. His solid alibi of volunteering at the nursing home was all caught on camera. For being an unhinged fucker, he sure is good with older people.

I leave the station, but I don’t go home. I can’t. The memories are going to kill me. Her tinkling little laugh fills all the rooms, not to mention her perfume. Everywhere I fucked her tight little body.

???

Two of the longest days of my life passed slowly.

I’ve slept in my office at the fire station because I couldn’t face Victoria without Verity. She has been with Gage the entire time, but I’ve Facetimed her several times. I left the police scanner on, so I could have heard any updates. There were none.

At midnight, I was driving around town, looking for something. Anything.

I can almost swear that a voice is speaking to me. A divine voice. Telling me to pay attention. The radio in my truck makes the all alert tone. My sense of dread returns with vengeance.

“Fire at an abandoned warehouse. 1236 Fallon Industrial Blvd. All Units Respond.”

I listen in as my guys respond with their call signs.

“1110 responding. On Route.” I say into the radio and fire up the lights. I know she is there. I have to get to her.

Pulling up to the sight, I see that the fire is contained to the second floor for now. I grab my mask and run into the building. I can hear shouting coming from a room above me. The fire is a far enough away that I am unhindered by any debris. I burst into the room. I see my everything unconscious, tied to a chair that has been set on its side. Her face is already showing bruises. Before I can reach the screaming man, the flaming roof falls on him crushing him to the floor. I react, pulling my knife from my pocket, slicing her binds. Lifting her into my arms and sprinting out of the building. The rest of the scene is a blur but ask me if I care that I left that man behind to die.

Once at the hospital, she still hasn't gained consciousness. Ryder and Suzi come up to check on her as well. Matt comes in to give an update.

“Chief. There is no swelling on her brain. She will wake up when the GHB wears off.”

That motherfucker gave my girl a date rape drug, good riddance. If he wasn't already dead, I’d kill him. I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Doc,” I say, shaking his hand.

“Oh, and don't worry your baby is fine as well.”

“Good, thanks.”Wait. What?