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Remi had to admit, though, when Winnie focused on the less than healthy snacks in her cabinets, she considered changing the locks on her house. It came from a good place but when all the snacks in her cabinets had been removed and replaced with fruit in the refrigerator, they’d had to come to an agreement. Remington would work on eating healthier as long as Winnie left her emergency snacks alone. Winnie’s worry was understandable. She’d grieved longer losing their mom and it had fueled her passion for health. Even though a healthier lifestyle wouldn’t have kept their mom from getting breast cancer.
Remington walked back toward the office then paused. A shiver worked up her spine. Something felt off and she never ignored her instincts. She’d already changed into gym clothes. Her gun was locked inside her locker. Although they had a couple of special places in the gym where a spare was concealed, they weren’t close to where she was.
She walked slowly toward the office. She’d check the cameras and see if anything was off. She grabbed the mop near the office, unscrewing the handle from the mop end. It was better than nothing and Winnie could laugh at her when she walked in, and everything would be great. The door to the office was partially open but she couldn’t see in. Stepping closer, she paused, listening. Nothing out of the ordinary. She pushed open the door, walking around to the monitors. Her heart pounded as she rushed to Winnie, lying on the floor, blood spreading out from her head. She checked her pulse, then glanced toward the monitors as something flittered in the corner of her eye and pain exploded from her head. A second blow across her shoulders had her dropping down. She fought to keep her eyes open, but everything darkened.
Chapter Nineteen
War couldn’t wait tosee Remington. He’d never thought he’d be one of those men who couldn’t get a woman out of his head, but he’d changed. Remi wasn’t only in his head, she was in his heart. A week away had convinced him that she was it for him. He’d been biding his time, but he wasn’t waiting any longer. Remington was his. He’d ordered her a property cut and was having one of his altered. His heart was owned by her. She was strong and could handle anything, but her softer side would make her a wonderful mom to their kids. And oh, they were having kids. He couldn’t wait to see her pregnant. She’d mentioned once how she wanted kids but wasn’t sure she’d be able to. He’d never realized the pressure women felt as they aged. Whether she was able to carry their kids, or they adopted, they’d have a family. Holding her in bed, reassuring her whatever their road was, he’d be there had felt like a turning point for them. Her shoulders had relaxed.
Bear hadn’t gone down to Texas with them, so he’d tasked him with fulfilling one of his goals for Remington. Hopefully his task in Dodge City had gone well. He’d authorized him to do whatever it took to allow the girls back in the bar they were banned from. Of course, he’d also offered the incentive of being the only bar in Kansas to serve Bluff Creek Brotherhood’s brew. Their Texas chapter had been growing that part of their business and War wasn’t above using anything at his disposal to make one of Remi’s dreams come true.
They’d crossed over into Kansas and were only about thirty minutes out. Bear had said he’d meet them there and would arrive about the same time if traffic wasn’t bad from Dodge City. As they crested the next hill, smoke covered the sky on the horizon. The last month had been dry, and they’d been under a burn ban. Hopefully, someone hadn’t decided to ignore it. Winds were normal today, around fifteen miles an hour, which was plenty to spread a wildfire.
He’d told Remi he’d be there by the first fight. He loved watching her show off her skills. The way her muscles moved underneath her skin always had him adjusting himself. Everything she did turned him on and had him wanting to be alone with her.
Although smoke on the horizon could look closer than it really was, he was getting worried. If it was a wildfire, the color would have stayed white, but it was turning darker and still building. He had that feeling in the pit of his stomach of something wrong. That feeling had saved him multiple times in the Army and later as an officer. He’d only ignored it once, but he couldn’t think about that. His phone rang and he hit his watch to answer. His Bluetooth headset had been great on the trip.
“Yes?”
He didn’t recognize the number.
“Code Ross at gym. Medical and fire notified. Repeat Code Ross. This message is a recording.”
He floored it until he was pushing his motorcycle as fast as it could go. He had questions and no answers. The fire on the horizon had to be the gym. Was Remi or anyone in there when it caught fire? Who was hurt if they were notifying medical? Maybe everyone was fine, and they were being careful, but he didn’t think so. As far as they were from fire and medical, it could have been done as a precaution.
The last ten miles seemed to stretch. Minutes he spent imagining worst-case scenarios. The biggest question—was Remi already there? He hoped and prayed not. He’d grown up going to church with his mom and dad but hadn’t been in years. He believed in God but had been disillusioned with how good people died and the scum of the earth who hurt the innocent seemed to flourish. But now, he prayed because he couldn’t lose Remi.
“Call Remi,” he directed. The phone rang then went to voicemail.
She’d become a part of the fabric of his life so deeply woven in, being in Texas had been agony. He wasn’t sure how he’d deal with them being apart for weeks at a time when she had a job, but he’d deal. What he couldn’t deal with was losing her forever.
He tried one more time as he and the others took the turn onto the gym road with the same response—no answer. Multiple vehicles were parked near the gym and his worst fears were realized. The structure was engulfed. He set the kickstand, took off his helmet and ran toward the structure. The owner of the diner was standing by his truck, watching the flames with his arm around one of kids he recognized from his first night here.
“What happened?”
“I came to drop off the food and noticed the smoke as I turned onto the road. I thought some fool was ignoring the burn ban. When I got here, it was engulfed. I called the bail bonds company. Nobody answered. It continued to ring. I called 911 then tried each of the girls’ cell phones. No one is answering. The doors were blocked from the outside. I moved stuff and tried to go in, but the flames were too high.”
