Page 11 of Blood and Embers
Pike checked the time, and it was just past noon. He wondered if and when Scott would call. He’d sent a text after he arrived at the station, but Pike hadn’t heard from him since.
“Pining over your lover?" Hugh teased as he fell into step beside him. They were covering the north section of the city, along with others, looking for Bagwell properties or members and taking them out. It was broad daylight, so it had to be handled delicately. They didn’t want more cops in their lives. They’d destroyed a lowlife bar and ended the Bagwell members on the premises, but that was all they'd found so far.
The other teams were having better luck and had found several flop houses that the Pack had been using, and wiped them out. "Bagwell will have to react pretty soon or his reputation as an Alpha Wolf will be compromised and his leadership will be finished," Hugh mentioned as they headed up Logan Street to the strip district. Word was that Bagwell operated a couple of clubs there, nothing major, just cheap, back-alley strip joints.
“He’ll do something he’s too stupid to back off and regroup.”
“Thinking things through is not his strong point," Hugh stated.
“Whatever it is, it will probably be something big and showy but will lack planning.” Pike was confident that Bagwell would react, but determining when and where was difficult. The insane were hard to clock. He then snuck another look at his phone and then stuck it back in his pocket.
Hugh chuckled. "He'll call, don't worry."
“Waiting is such a bitch.”
Bagwell had his men set a massive fire in an abandoned building not far from the firefighters' station. His name is Scott Jones, and he is beloved by one of Master Rose’s men. The order was to take him alive if possible, but dead was okay too. They just needed to use him to get the Rose Coven to back down. Once they backed down, their standing would decline, and Bagwell could enlist other packs to join him in their total takedown.
Tank had big plans, and the human fireman was the first piece in his takeover of not just a piece of Master Rose's territory, but all of it. The vampire leader would bow to him, and then Tank would rip out his throat. He felt giddy at the thought of seeing Master Conall Rose on his knees.
"The alarm has sounded, they're heading to the scene." His Beta is informed.
“Are the jackals in position?” Tank was breathless with excitement.
"Yes, fortunately, the firefighters have their names on the back of their jackets, so finding Jones will be easy enough. Although it might be necessary to kill the others," The Beta raised an eyebrow, wondering if Tank had any qualms with killing the firefighters.
"I don't care what they have to do, just bring me that human." The Beta turned and left the room.
CHAPTER SIX
They were heading to a known Bagwell Pack hangout near the rail yard when Pike’s phone went off. The caller was Adras Morrigan, a colleague of Nox Samara, their primary interrogator. He and Nox were sifting through the minds of the Bagwell wolves that had been captured. Reasons for his call, none of them positive, raced through Pike's mind.
“Hello.”
“Your beloved is in danger." Were Adras's first words, and Pike's heart froze. “The prisoner had information regarding a plot to lure him and his crew to a fire they set. They plan to capture him and use him to blackmail the Rose Coven. Bagwell knows that Scott Jones is a beloved.” He closed the call and started running back to where they’d parked their car.
"What is it?" Hugh asked while he ran beside him.
“Bagwell is after Scott.” He said and quickly explained the situation.
“Fuck!” Hugh shouted. “Do you know where he is?”
“I know his station, and we should be able to follow him from there.” Pike was frantic beyond imagination, but he maintained his nerve and composure. He had to think clearlyand keep his wits about him. Scott's well-being depended upon it. He tore through the streets toward the fire station and tried to reach out to Scott to gauge his reaction.
He could feel him focused and working, but there was no fear, no panic, just that he was focused on his job. He was on a call. "He's not at the station." Pike pulled to the side of the road. "I reached out to him, and he's working. He's on a call."
“They set a decoy fire to trap him.” Hugh voiced Pike’s own thoughts. “Can you track him?”
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden text. Adras had texted him the address of the fire. "I love you, Adras, my God, I love you."
"I wouldn't let Scott hear you say that," Hugh interjected. Pike showed him the text as he pulled away from the curb.
"I love you, Adras, my God, I love you too." Hugh agreed wholeheartedly with the sentiment.
Scott made his way to the top floor, clearing the way and ensuring no one was inside. The crew was targeting the blaze, and two were venting the roof. The fire was concentrated on the first, second, and third floors, with the largest blaze on the first, where it had been clearly set. The arsonists were a little outside their usual area, but still, it had the markings of the same person. The accelerant used was gasoline, just like all the club and bar fires.
He cleared the top floor and was heading down when he heard something from behind him on the stairs. He called out and went back up, but he found no one. He was certain that someone was there. Scott reported to the Captain that he was going to check the top floor one more time before coming down.The smoke was getting thick, and it was difficult to see. He continued to search and call out for anyone there.
Suddenly, someone darted across in front of him, knocking backward onto the floor. He quickly scrambled back to his feet and adjusted his equipment. The air was so thick that he couldn't see where they had gone. He called out again, warning them of the danger and advising them to leave with him. “I’ll guide you down and share my oxygen. You need to get out of here before the floor collapses.”
