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Echo gasps beside me before I feel her lean into me even more.Using me as support.In any other situation, I would have been thrilled but this is all so fucked up, I can’t even enjoy this little moment.
“Are you sure?”I ask.
“Positive.”He states emphatically.“The accelerant was poured from the center of the kitchen, all the way through to the outside alley.The lock on the door has also been broken.”
“Oh my God,” Echo gasps.“Who would do something like this?”
“No idea ma’am but the police are on their way to assist us in a formal investigation,” he answers with a nod.“We also need to talk about your actions.”
“What actions?”Echo asks but he doesn’t answer her, instead facing me.
“There will be an inquiry and you’ll probably end up suspended Colton,” he shakes his head in disappointment.“You would have any of your team members asses if they went into a burning building without any gear, any backup.You could both be dead if you weren’t so damn lucky.”
For a moment I am transported back to my days in the academy, being reamed out by one of the instructors.Shaking my head, I drag myself back to the present.
“If you can honestly tell me you wouldn’t have done the same for one of your loved ones, I will stand here and let you give me hell,” I say honestly.“I respect the hell out of you, Dexter.But we both know, had you been in my position, you would have done the exact same thing.”
He shakes his head but doesn’t confirm or deny what I have said as he turns and walks away.Turning toward Echo, I take her in my arms and hold her tight while she sobs quietly into my chest.I let her cry until she stops.I take this time to work through my own thoughts.I can honestly say I have never felt fear like I did tonight when I thought I might be too late to save her.
Echo has always had a special place in my heart and has been part of my life for a long time.Yes, I love her, but I always thought that it was just a familial type of love.And I have always been aware of the crush she had on me.Her sister used to tease her about it incessantly.But maybe it’s more than that.
Tonight has proved just how fleeting life can be.I’m not going to let a chance at happiness slip through my fingers without even trying.I want Echo and I am going to do whatever it takes to make sure she is mine.
Tilting her chin up I stare into her teary eyes.“Let’s get you somewhere you can grab a hot shower and some hot chocolate.”
She nods and lets me take her hand as I lead her to my truck.Opening the door, I help her get in before rounding the front.
“You can drop me off with Sasha,” she says when I get into the truck beside her.
My eyebrows shoot up at her words.“Babe, I’m not just going to drop you off somewhere.And I am definitely not leaving you with Sasha.”
“She’s my sister,” Echo says sadly looking out the window.“And the only person I have left.”
Taking her hand, I squeeze gently.“Echo, look at me.”It takes a moment but when she finally does, the look on her face about damn near breaks my heart.
“It’s all gone.My business.My home.I have nothing left.”
“You have me,” I say while kissing her forehead.“We will work this all out.Don’t you worry about a thing.”
“I can’t expect you to simply take care of me.”
“But I will.”
* * *
Echo
Colton is beyond infuriating.He won’t take no for an answer no matter how many times I try to talk to him about it.By the time we reached his house last night, I was all but passed out in the front seat of his truck.He carried me to the guest bedroom before supplying me with some dry clothes that are miles too big for me and telling me to get some rest.
I didn’t have it in me to argue with him anymore.Everything that had happened was starting to take a toll on me and I just wanted to sleep for a week.So, I stopped arguing, got dressed in what I assume is one of his t-shirts, and fell into bed.I was so damn tired I didn’t even have any nightmares about the fire.
I know that Colton has a shift today, even though he is in trouble, so I lay in bed and listen to him move around the house, waiting for him to finally leave.I don’t know if I can face him right now.
I hear someone banging on the front door and then loud voices.I am on the other end of the house so I can’t exactly make out what they are saying but I do hear my name.
Hopefully, it’s the police with some news on the fire.I jump out of bed only to realize I don’t have any dry clothes to wear.I do slip on my damp panties underneath the shirt for some form of modesty.Not that it matters, the damn t-shirt hangs down to my knees.
I leave the room and walk down the hallway to see what the hell is going on.
