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  Backburn

  Combustible Book 4

  Brandy L Rivers

  Copyright 2017 Brandy L Rivers

  Smashwords Edition

  http://brandylrivers.com

  Cover Design by Brandy L Rivers

  Edited by Emily A. Lawrence

  www.lawrenceediting.com

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Also by Brandy L Rivers

  Box Sets

  Others of Edenton – Series Volume 1

  Others of Edenton – Series Volume 2

  Others of Edenton – Series Volume 3

  Others of Seattle – Series Volume 1

  Others of Seattle – Series Volume 2

  Others of Edenton

  New Beginnings

  In Too Deep

  Shadows Fall

  Shadows of the Past

  Falling Into Place

  Fated Love

  Breaking Free

  Mending Scars

  Labor of Love

  Light in Darkness

  Blissful Agony

  Entangled Darkness

  Deadly Design

  Untitled: Declan’s story (Coming Summer 2017)

  Others of Seattle

  Nights Embrace

  Storm Mistress

  Accepting Fate

  Red Queen

  Seductive Solutions

  Changing Destiny

  Coming Together

  Storm Wrath

  Twisted Bonds (Coming Spring 2017)

  Nights Embrace Spin Off

  Summer Rhythm

  Combustible

  Heart on Fire

  Falling Star

  Sweet Tooth

  Backburn

  Pine Barrens Pack Co-Written with Rebecca Brooke

  Cursed Vengeance

  Vengeance Unraveled (coming 2017)

  To keep up with upcoming releases and news visit me at my

  Website – Facebook - Twitter

  Or join my newsletter or reading group Rivers’ Shenanigans.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Epilogue

  About Brandy L Rivers

  Also by Brandy L Rivers

  Acknowledgments

  Dedication

  To Rebecca, who keeps reminding me I can write contemporary and that I’m pretty damned good at it. Thank you for all the kind words and the support.

  Prologue

  Four years ago…

  Fire raged around Metcalf as he descended the rickety stairs. The rest of his crew searched the first and second floors. Detective McMurphy had finally figured out Guy Reardon was their arsonist and the fire started as soon as the cops pulled up outside his home.

  Metcalf’s truck was the first fire team on the scene. The blaze was too strong downstairs, not upstairs. What the fuck was this guy thinking? Was he trying to kill himself?

  Then again, after eight arsons, he knew he was doing hard time. His girlfriend had just left a few days before. Bastard probably figured this was the best way out.

  “Don’t come closer!” someone screamed.

  Metcalf stepped into the basement and turned the corner.

  A gunshot rang out.

  Pain exploded in his left leg, the bone snapping. He landed on his ass with a grunt. He was too stunned to scream as he focused on breathing through the throbbing.

  Flames danced up Guy’s legs. He screamed out. “I tried to teach her a goddamned lesson. The bitch was going to keep doing it. I tried to stop her!”

  “We need to get you out!” Metcalf shouted, trying to stand.

  “Don’t fucking move. I’m staying. There ain’t nothing left!”

  The idiot poured more paint thinner over himself. The fire burned hotter, his skin bubbling.

  Screaming, Guy dropped to his knees with a curse.

  Metcalf tried to pull himself toward the stairs.

  Guy lifted the pistol, pointing it at him with shaking arms. “Don’t!”

  Pressing both hands on the wound, Metcalf shouted, “Not moving.” At least until the asshole couldn’t see. Before long, he’d be consumed in fire and Dave could get himself up the stairs, hopefully before the flames reached him.

  “What’s going on? Where are you?” Isandro shouted over the radio.

  “Tried to…teach her…didn’t learn,” Guy muttered, rolling to his side as the cabinet fell, pinning Guy’s legs. He cried out.

  Metcalf pressed the radio button and blurted out the pertinent information. “Basement. Shot. Be careful.” He needed to get out of there and wanted to be at least on the stairs, out of Guy’s sight. He scooted back with his good leg and got his hands on the stairs.

  “Stop!” Guy reached for the gun but missed. Something heavy fell on him, tearing another scream out of him.

  Metcalf cried out as he pushed himself up and maneuvered onto the first stair with his good leg.

  Guy’s mumbles, rants, and cries tore at Metcalf’s mind. Watching him cook alive churned his stomach. The horror didn’t stop Metcalf from focusing on scooting up the stairs one at a time. He had to get back to his boy.

  It seemed to take forever to get to the second step. Pain grayed out most of his vision.

  Guy stopped making sounds, but his skin was sizzling, his body twitching.

  Someone caught him under the arms and hauled him up. “Can you walk?”

  Metcalf grunted, trying to hold himself off his left leg. Dizziness swept over him. “No. Busted leg.”

  Isandro hefted him over his shoulder and started up the stairs. “He alive?”

  “No,” Metcalf answered. “He wanted to die.”

  Isandro carried him to a stretcher, and Metcalf passed out.

  * * * *

  Metcalf woke with a start, jerking up. Pain throbbed through his leg, which was elevated and in some contraption like a brace so they could ensure the gunshot wound was healing well but kept his leg immobile. He flopped back, trying to get his breath under control.

  He was still in the hospital two days later. Was going to be there a while longer to make sure the bullet wound didn�
�t cause more damage, and his bone was healing properly.

  The sooner he was out of the damned place, the better. The constant beeping was getting to him, the machines never stopped. Every two minutes someone came in to check on him. And the damned nightmares he couldn’t shake.

  Ashton wrapped his little hand around his. “Nightmare?”

  A sad smile pulled at his lips and he squeezed back. “Yeah. Sorry, kiddo.” He patted the bed. “Want up here?”

  “Won’t it hurt?” Ashton asked, his blue eyes watery behind his glasses.

  “Nah, you make it better.”

  Well, Ashton made his head better. Metcalf could deal with the pain in his leg.

  Ashton climbed up beside him, and Metcalf put his arm around him. “What do you want to watch, Dad?”

  “You pick.” He closed his eyes and laid his cheek on Ashton’s hair.

  Metcalf’s mom came in. “Hey, you’re awake.”

  Metcalf nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Dad had a nightmare.”

  “That’s going to happen for a while,” she answered.

  “Hey, Ashton?” Metcalf asked.

  “Hmm?”

  “Where’s your mom?”

  Ashton shrugged. “Said she had work.”

  The clock read seven. She was probably with Brett.

  As soon as the divorce papers were finalized, he was ending their farce of a marriage.

  They had been good in the beginning. They got together in high school, stayed together through college, and got married soon after. Then she started complaining about the hours he worked.

  Next thing he knew, she asked for a separation to figure things out. He knew she spent most of her time with Brett, so he let her go and moved on.

  He’d found someone who dimmed what he shared with Jeanette. It was fast, but he wanted more with her. Then Jeanette came crawling back, and Marissa pushed him away and shut him down.

  After six months of Jeanette trying everything in her power to convince him, he gave in and took her back, stopping the divorce procedures. As soon as Ashton was born, he had a paternity test.

  Things got better between them for a few years. He thought they had a chance. Then Ashton came to him with tears in his eyes, asking why Mommy was bouncing on Brett naked.

  That was it. Metcalf was done. He started working harder to become a fire investigator. He would work less hours, be home for Ashton more. They could share custody, but he couldn’t pretend he had a future with Jeanette. Their fragile trust had been shattered in that moment.

  Metcalf’s mother sneered. “If she knew what was good for her, she’d be here with her husband, who needs her more than her job.”

  She wanted someone else. He wanted to let her go. They could work together for Ashton, but he was done pretending. And no one wanted to hear it. Seemed like everyone he knew thought they could work their shit out. It was far too late for that.

  He had one major problem. With his leg a mess, he wasn’t sure what lay in his future. Fear settled in. What if he couldn’t go back? What if he had to change careers? What if everything fell apart and he couldn’t keep Ashton?

  Ashton settled on some cartoon and snuggled in. “How’s your leg, Dad?”

  “It’s fine.” He squeezed Ashton tighter. “Thanks for taking care of me.”

  Ashton smiled up at him. “Love you.”

  There weren’t words to tell his boy how much he loved the little guy. Ashton was his whole world.

  * * * *

  Six weeks later, Jeanette stormed into the office Metcalf had moved into. He was so disgusted by Jeanette’s behavior he couldn’t bring himself to stay in the same room. Besides, with the cast, he had trouble with the stairs.

  She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at him. “You make me sick,” she hissed.

  He closed his eyes and ran his hands through his hair. “What now?”

  “You don’t do shit but sit there on that futon, ignoring the world.”

  “I’m in a full leg cast. I can’t put weight on the damned thing. I’m on paid leave until it’s healed. And you’re leaving anyway, so what does it matter? You’re only home to make sure Ashton’s fed and gets in and out of bed. And I’ve been dealing with that as much as possible so you have time to do whatever you want.”

  “You’re not even willing to fight for me.”

  He threw his hands up. “Why would I? You’ve been sleeping with Brett for months. I’m not an idiot. You want your cake and eat it too. I get it. He doesn’t want to be a father, but you can’t keep your legs closed around him. And I don’t need to be your husband to take care of my son. I told you that before, when you wanted me back and I didn’t want to fight a losing battle.”

  She laughed. “You’re a damned mess, Metcalf. You’re falling apart. You wake up screaming half the damned time. I’m glad you stay down here.”

  His jaw clenched. “Yeah, I have nightmares. I watched a man burn to death after he shot me and the only thing I could think about was getting back to my boy.”

  “Not me.”

  “Why do you think I had papers ready to go the moment you asked for a divorce three weeks ago, Jeanette? Ashton caught you and Brett fucking in my bed. So no, you weren’t real high on the list of people I wanted to see.”

  “If you were here more it wouldn’t be that way.”

  That was utter bullshit. He took a few seconds to reach for a calm tone. “Jeanette, I’m not fighting to fix something you shattered. I knew we wouldn’t make it when you came back to me. You insisted it would be different. It wouldn’t surprise me to find out you’ve been fucking him the whole time.”

  She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. “I tried for a year. It wasn’t the same. You would sleep with me, but your passion dried up.”

  “You left me, Jeanette. For another man. Yeah, I had a hard time giving you everything when I knew I was your second choice. That’s why I’m letting you go, but I’m still Ashton’s father.”

  She snorted. “If you can pull yourself out of this pit of despair. The only time you do anything worthwhile is when Ashton is around. Otherwise you just sit there, drowning in depression.”

  “Why are you even here? I’m done. I don’t want to fight. I don’t want to argue. I just want to heal so I can go back to work and start over.”

  “You’re never going to be that man again.” She turned and slammed the door.

  He slumped back and fought the tears fogging his vision.

  Yeah, he was a damned mess. He stopped counseling as soon as he could because it wasn’t helping. He needed to be at work, doing something good.

  At least Ashton was at school where he wouldn’t see how everything had fallen apart between his parents.

  * * * *

  Jeanette and Ashton moved out two weeks after that. Two months later, after strenuous PT, Metcalf walked back into the firehouse, ready to go back to work.

  He needed to prove he could still fight fires and do his damned job, though the thought of rushing into a burning building gave him pause. But he needed to do it.

  Gavin came around the corner and grinned. “How are you, buddy?”

  They’d gone to school together, but he was a year behind him.

  “Back to normal. How are you?”

  “What about Jeanette?”

  “Done. We’re over. That’s it. I don’t want to talk about her.”

  Gavin lifted his head. “You got it. I’m sorry things didn’t work out between you two.”

  “Yeah, well, as long as I have Ashton, it doesn’t really matter.” He nodded to Ramirez’s office. “I need to give him the paperwork saying I’m fit for duty.”

  “About damned time. I’m tired of Mitch filling in for you. Bastard needs to stay away from our crew before Isandro loses it and knocks him around for whatever stupid shit rolling out of his mouth.”

  Metcalf snorted. “Yeah, well, I’m back.”

  He walked to the office and knocked on the door.


  “Come in.”

  Ramirez smiled when he looked up. “Good to see you, Metcalf. You ready to come back to work?”

  “Yeah, I’m ready.”

  “Good. The crew misses you. Go ahead and clock in. The physical therapist already faxed in your paperwork.”

  “Sounds good.” He ducked out the door and punched in.

  Then his heart dropped when the siren went off. He ran to the truck bay and pulled his gear to hurry into it.

  Isandro slapped him on the back. “Hey, good to have you back. You ready?”

  He nodded, not sure if that was the truth, but there was only one way to find out.

  Mitch tossed him the keys with a smile. “Since you’re back, I’ll let you head out.”

  He dipped his head. “Thanks for taking care of my crew.”

  “Anytime. It’s part of the job.” Mitch headed back into the main room.

  Trent scoffed. “Didn’t expect a pleasant welcome from him.”

  Metcalf shrugged. “He can be an ass, but he’s a good firefighter.”

  “More an ass, though,” Gavin pointed out.

  * * * *

  Six months later, after a shitty day, but a good night with his boy, Metcalf dropped Ashton off at Jeanette’s.

  She sent him up to bed and stepped outside. “We need to talk.”

  “What is it?”

  “We’re moving to New York. I don’t think you’re in a place we can split custody. You’re a mess. You barely function after you get off work.”

  His hands flexed and squeezed tight. “Why move? You both have careers here. I don’t want him to spend half the year with me and half with you. That’s a lot of trouble.”

  “Which is why he’s coming with me.” She snorted. “One look at your current situation and the judge will rule in my favor. He can come visit. But he isn’t staying here. I’m not letting my boy go.”