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numerous slaps on her ass, she gave Joe the signal she was headed out back for a smoke.
She needed a break.
Once she was in the alley, she breathed in the cold air and shivered. How did people
live up here? She should give up on Beau and make her way south, maybe Hawaii. She
and volcanoes would get along just fine.
Hey there, hottie! The maker of the drunken slur smacked her on the ass.
Amber stumbled forward, watching her smokes hit the puddle. She was pissed. She
turned on her heel ready to do some damage.
Sorry about that. The biker nodded toward the puddle. I got some in my pocket
here.
She watched as he patted himself down. There were no smokes. Get away from
me! She dug in her pockets for her lighter. This bastard was going to burn.
No reason to get hostile. He grabbed her arm and yanked her hands up and over
her head. He pressed her back against the wall and began to move his hands over her.
What s this? He pulled out her flame-red lighter with the dragon on it. Nice.
Light it, you mother, she taunted him.
I don t think so.
He continued to rub against her. Perhaps if he wasn t drunk and ugly she might enjoy
it.
You like fire, hot stuff? He licked her neck and twisted her so that she faced the
old brick wall.
Yes. Amber was so killing this asshole.
We ll play with that later. You know what I like?
No.
Blood. Amber noticed a blade glinted in the moonlight. Shit. He began to lower it.
She felt the cool steel resting against her neck and his other hand fumbling behind her.
Then she felt the meat of him against her backside. He d lifted up her skirt and was ready
to move aside her thong.
Let her go. A voice commanded from the dark shadows.
They both turned.
Come into the light, her assailant called out.
A cigarette lit and a wind came up. Amber moved her fingers, rushing the fire toward
her attacker s back. He released her. Amber watched as the flames crawled along his
clothes, and she wrapped the fire around him like a blanket. She let the fire burn hotter
until her tool consumed him. Finally, a wind came up again, and he was reduced to ash.
Red Dragon lay on the ground by her feet.
Amber turned, readying herself for the next threat.
Put the lighter away, Amber. She recognized the voice in the darkness.
Why?
Because, I m not going to hurt you. I need your help. He finally came out of the
shadows.
You! She would ve recognized the fireman anywhere.
Yes.
You re an Elemental! How could she have not sensed it?
Yes, and I need to get rid of a half-breed.
Beau?
He needs to have an accident.
Why?
So I can get the woman I want.
What do I get? She sauntered over to him.
I ll let you live, fire nymph. His tone was serious.
Fine. Amber knew better than to fight an Elemental. Tell me what you want.
Chapter Nine
Beau ran down the hallway. The alarm was loud. The first fire of the tourist season
had finally arrived. He pounded down the hallway in his bare feet heading for the locker
room. He pulled the T-shirt over his head and slid down the pole. Other firemen were
already dressed. Beau put on his fireproof pants, boots, and coat and strapped his hat to
his head.
Come on, boys, let s go! Where the hell is Bridges? Has anyone seen Bridges?
Chief called out.
He was at O Riley s, someone shouted back.
Godammit. Collins, you take point.
Yes, Chief.
The crew loaded onto the truck and drove down to the shipyard. There were multiple
warehouses on fire. Beau let out a sigh of relief. At least there wouldn t be any people
involved. He watched as the largest of the warehouses burned over the water. This was
the largest fire he d seen in all his years in the fire department.
The flames consumed the building, but seemed limited to the outside walls. Even the
dock the building rested on wasn t on fire. If anything, the dock should burn more
readily, given its age versus the age of the building. The pier seemed drier too.
All right, boys, make some space. Judging from the shoreline, looks like the rest of
the services are here. The Chief broke up their semicircle.
Beau turned and saw Jamie getting out of an orange SUV with some of the other
lifeguards. The paramedics were right behind them. Their efforts were almost a waste of
time for any of them. There was no one here to save. Although the fire was a good drill
for all the emergency services.
Look! Jaspers, a newbie, pointed to one of the upper-level windows.
There was a woman pounding on the window. The glass broke, and she let out an
earth-shattering scream. Help! Someone help me! She fainted back toward the flames.
Beau reacted on instinct. He buttoned up his coat and ran into the building.
Collins! Get your ass back here!
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