The shrill ring of her mother’s phone cut through the chatter.
“This is the Chief.”
Remi felt Brick tense next to her as a text came in on his.
Tension replaced the relaxed vibe in the room.
“Pick me up on the way,” Darlene said, pushing out of her chair and squeezing her husband’s shoulder.
“What’s wrong? What’s happening?” Remi asked, reaching out to clasp Camille’s hand.
“It’s a fire,” Brick said as he rose, giving her hand one last squeeze. “The Grand Hotel.”
He followed Darlene out of the room.
“I can’t leave her unprotected,” she heard him say to her mother.
“I know. Call Brice. No reason she and White should get any sleep tonight if we’re not.”
Brick swore, and Remi heard him taking the stairs two at a time.
Darlene was on the phone again, and everyone else stepped out onto the porch. The Grand Hotel was around the bend and uphill, but there was an eerie glow in the night sky.
“This has nothing to do with Warren,” Remi reassured Camille. But her friend didn’t look so sure.
“Dad,” Brick, in uniform again, poked his head out of the door.
William stepped inside, leaving the door ajar. Remi waited a beat and followed. They had their heads together in the dining room.
“This is a big ask. She’s the most important thing in the world to me, and I don’t trust the feds. I need you to keep her safe—both of them—until I get back.”
William nodded solemnly. “I’ll do whatever it takes. You and Remi have something real and right. I won’t let anything happen to her. I promise you that.”
Remi’s eyes misted when Brick squeezed his father’s shoulder.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Turk’s here with the car,” Darlene said, opening the front door.
Brick spotted Remi in the hallway.
“I can’t leave until they’re here,” he said.
Her mom gave him the nod. “We’ll see you up there then.”
William followed her back out, leaving Remi alone with Brick.
Both of the island’s fire trucks screamed past the house, followed by the ambulance.
Her heart thumped.
“You have to go,” she told him.
“I can’t leave you.”
“You’re not leaving me alone. There is a house full of people here. You’re needed out there.”
The island fire department was well-equipped but not to battle what could easily become a 4-alarm blaze. Every available hand was needed to save the landmark. The beginning for so many happily ever afters.
Gripping his arm, Remi looked into those worried eyes. “Go.”
“Promise me you won’t take any risks. You’ll stay indoors. You won’t step a foot out the door once I’m gone.”
“I promise you, Brick.”
He cupped her face in his hand, his blue eyes burning. “Promise me you’ll be here when I get back so I can ask you that question.”
She gave him a watery smile. “Yes to tacos.”
He brought his forehead to hers and closed his eyes.
She cupped his face in her hands, reveling at the rough of his beard, the smooth of his skin. This face was so achingly familiar to her. He belonged to her. It had been written so long ago, yet they were just getting started.
“I love you. Be safe. Text when you can.”
He nodded, then lowered his mouth to hers for one hard kiss. “I will. I love you, Remington.”
“Oh, hey. Don’t fuck anything up,” she called as he started to leave.
He paused and stared at her.
She shrugged. “What? I’m not giving you some kind of romantic last words. I’m giving you something terrible to hold you over until you’re home again. Then I’ll say nice things.”
“I’ll love you so fucking much,” he said fiercely.
“I’ll be waiting for you, big guy.”
“Keep your inhaler on you. I don’t know how bad the smoke is going to get.”
She blew him a kiss as he jogged down the porch steps.
His large form melted into the night as he ran toward the fire.
Remi watched him go with an ache in her chest.
Something tickled at the back of her neck. A nagging sensation that had her turning away from the direction of the fire and looking down the dark street. Neighbors were coming out of their houses to see what the excitement was about. Before long, she was sure there would be a crowd of bystanders at the hotel.
But something out there in the dark made her feel like she was the entertainment. Like she was the one being observed.
William herded everyone back inside and bolted the front door. And while a debate raged over hot tea or coffee or more wine, Remi decided to behave herself and rounded up her inhaler and phone. She had a shit-ton of missed calls and texts. Mostly from Rajesh.
The phone rang in her hand.
“What?”
“Dude,” Raj said, “the pics of you and Camille are getting so much play right now. Why didn’t you clue me in? I sounded like an idiot when the calls started coming in.”
Her heart did a lopsided roll in her chest. “What pictures?” she asked, gripping the phone.
“The ones Camille posted to Instagram. They’re freaking everywhere.”
“Those weren’t supposed to go up until tomorrow morning.” Tomorrow morning, when a dozen federal agents and all of the Mackinac Island Police Department were ready to spring the trap.
Ten minutes later, Agents Brice and White showed up. As William shut the door behind them, Remi barreled up.
“Which one of you asshats decided to post the pictures early?” she hissed.
Special Agent Brice frowned and shot her partner a cool look.
Two spots of color appeared on White’s cheeks. “What’s the big deal? He already knew you were here. He probably guessed his wife would run straight to you.”
“The big deal, you stupid, dick-swinging shit, is that the entire police department is on the scene of a fire, and you two are the only federal agents on the fucking island. Why didn’t you roll out a welcome mat?”
“Ms. Ford,” Brice said.
“Don’t fucking ‘Ms. Ford’ me. If this fire has anything to do with Warren Vorhees, if any of my people get hurt, it’s on your head.”
Brice ran her tongue around her teeth. “Stay here and keep an eye on things,” she told White. “I’m going to track down Chief Ford at the fire and find out if there’s any reason to be concerned.”
“You can keep an eye on things outside,” Remi said, opening the front door for them.
Everyone gathered in the living room for popcorn, tea, and a movie. Her father and Kyle both volunteered to spend the night, telling the kids it was the first big family sleepover. Remi kept her phone on her and waited to hear from Brick.
The tightness in her chest a constant companion as the movie played. As Kimber and Kyle carried the kids upstairs to put them to bed. As one by one, everyone wandered off to bed.
Perhaps she wasn’t the only one feeling the tension, she noted.