Page 68 of Betrayed

Chapter Twenty-Two

Logan held AJ as close as possible, every curve of her body fitting against him.

“I was so afraid I’d lost you.”

“I’m here. Finally.”

Her body heaved against him as a sob rocked her. He wrapped his arms a bit tighter around her, and they wept together.

“I’m sorry.” He could barely hear himself say it over the roar of the fire and the hissing of the water meeting the flames. But she heard him.

She melted into him. He never wanted to let go again. How had he been so stupid to let her walk away regardless of what had happened?

“AJ!” Don called.

She slid back from Logan, cupping his face with her hands. “I need to …”

He nodded and reluctantly let go.

Adam helped her slide her jacket back on and set her helmet on her head. Logan went to him and watched AJ do everything with her team to help stop the fire.

She was graceful and determined. Strong and agile.

Adam’s hand rested on his shoulder. “You still love her.” There was no question in his voice, but Logan still nodded.

“I guess I never stopped.”

“I know. Will and Zara are on their way, not knowing if you are alive or not.”

Logan twisted his hands. “Surely there is something we can do to help. The cop in me can’t just stand here and watch my house burn.”

Adam pointed. “There’s a crowd gathering over there, let’s go see if they saw anything.”

Before they even got to the bystanders, Will and Zara drove up in Will’s truck.

Zara ran to Logan, Will a few steps behind. “You’re okay!”

“I’m alive anyway.” He hugged her, then Will.

“Your house …” Will’s voice trailed off.

Logan finally really looked at it. Too much of it was gone. The firefighters seemed to have the fire under control now, but the living room and kitchen area were gone. The bedrooms no doubt had smoke and water damage if not worse. His house was gone.

Other cops on the scene were talking to the bystanders, and Adam had joined them. So Logan stood with his friends, waiting for a clue of what to do next.

Will kept his arm across Logan’s shoulders. “Those teenagers took it too far this time.”

“Yeah, so much for keeping my trash cans away from the house.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, they’re over there.” Logan pointed to the unburnt receptacle.

“Logan!” Miles called from the police line closest to his house.

Logan walked over with Will and Zara.

“Are you okay?” Shock covered Miles’s expression. “What happened?”