Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
“Oh… woah…” I breathed out as Kieran and Kit collapsed on their backs on either side of me.
The warmth of their bodies enveloped me, helping me come down from the high of pure euphoria. What a way to elevate our friendship.
“Yeah,” Kieran agreed.
“Woah,” Kit sighed in bliss.
We all shared a warm smile with each other, but as the minutes ticked on, I couldn’t help but notice a fluttering sensation in my stomach. It wasn’t lust or nervousness. It was something deep and enlightening. Something that could possibly ruin everything if they didn’t feel it too.
Chapter 20
Zoe
After Kit, Kieran, and I called every single person on the fire crew the next morning, we piled into Kieran’s black truck and headed to the local police station. As I sat in the passenger’s seat, I stared at my mom’s folder full of research in my lap, an invisible rubber band winding around my lungs.
I was excited about finally getting to the bottom of all this, but I would’ve been lying if I said I wasn’t scared out of my mind a little. What the hell were we going to find? What was my mom having to sneak around to gather evidence on?
Whatever it was, it was dangerous. She’d risked her life for the information in my lap. I didn’t want any of it to be in vain.
“If the police can figure out who the guys in the photo are, we’ve got a shot at figuring out who is behind all of this,” Kieran said as he turned onto the street that led to the police station.
“None of this ever felt personal,” I stated as I shook my head. “The locations didn’t have a pattern. It didn’t seem like a revenge act.”
“Which leaves what?” Kit asked from the backseat.
I chewed on the inside of my cheek as I stared out of the windshield.
“I guess we’ll see,” I replied as the small police station came into view up ahead.
Police cars were parked out front in their usual spots, but I also spotted familiar cars and trucks that belonged to the other guys. I’d called Matty and Paolo, and it sounded like both broke out into a run to get to their vehicles by the end of our call.
This was what we had all been waiting for.
Once Kieran parked, all three of us hopped out of the truck and met the rest of the crew on the sidewalk. I had to pause for a second, taking a moment to process the fact that everyone was here at the same time. The whole crew.
My heart skipped as my eyes roamed over every single one of them, individual memories playing out in my head. We had all shared so many memories together. Some old, some new. Our experiences and our shared goal to end these fires intertwined us.
When this all ended, would we unravel? Or was there a chance that we could take at least a second and process what was going on between us? Because, at least to me, it wasn’t just lust. We were in sync, physically and emotionally.
We were… a team.
“I know we already gave you a small rundown on the phone, but my mom was investigating the arson cases that happened a few years ago. She died before she could release the proof that she found,” I explained as I held the folder against my chest, afraid to let it out of my sight for even a second. “But it’s all right here. Hopefully, the police can make sense of some of the things that are in here.”
Paolo stepped closer to me, all eyes shifting to him.
“Your mom was a brave woman,” he stated. “Let’s finish what she started.”
Pride swelled in my chest as a determined smile crossed my face. He was right. It was time to finish this.
“Whatever we find out, we’re with you,” Matty spoke up as he nodded to me.
“One hundred percent,” Cohen added as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Their words of encouragement filled my heart with pure happiness, eliminating any restraints. I nodded and led them into the police station, my confidence increasing with each step as I maintained the lead.
“I need to speak with a detective,” I told the secretary, whose eyes widened at the sight of the crew standing behind me.
“What is this pertaining to?” the secretary asked.
“The arson case,” I said. “I really need you to get me a detective.”
The secretary glanced behind me, staring at ten stoic faces. She finally nodded and hurried off, returning a few minutes later with a blazer-clad woman with shoulder length, brown hair and a serious resting face.
“I’m Detective Jennifer Hastings. You said you have information on the arson case?” she questioned me.
I nodded and motioned to the folder.
“My mom was investigating the string of fires that happened a few years ago. It must be the same people doing it now too. The patterns seem the same, and how can there be two different serial arsonists in one small town?” I explained. “She has notes and pictures and even maps that could help us figure out the suspects.”