Hearts on Fire 3: Tasha(23)
When he abruptly pulled her into his arms against his chest and squeezed her tight, she knew she bought herself a little more time, but this had to end or she would die next.
Chapter 11
“What the fuck? Is that gunfire?” Chief Martelli yelled out as Engine 19 responded to a warehouse fire and what seemed like gunshots going off around them.
“Someone is shooting at us!” Ace yelled and all the men ducked down behind the fire trucks as more police arrived on the scene.
“Call everyone back to the trucks. Their safety is priority,” the chief called into the radio. Ace yelled for Eddie and Lance to pull back.
* * * *
“What the fuck is going on?” Lance asked Eddie.
“They said shots fired,” Eddie yelled to his brother as they dropped the hose just as numerous pinging sounds hit the metal next to them.
“Oh shit, someone is shooting at us,” Lance yelled. Eddie ran alongside his brother. “Fuck!” Lance hollered out and fell to the ground, tripping right before the safety of the truck. Eddie and Bear pulled him to safety. “Are you okay? Is everyone okay?” the chief asked them as more shots echoed around them and the sound of bullets hitting the fire trucks filled the air.
“We’re good, Chief,” Bear responded.
“Not entirely,” Lance said. They turned to look at him taking off his turnout coat. His arm was bleeding. He knew he felt a sharp stinging sensation as they ran. He’d never experienced anything like this before. Someone shot him.
“Oh fuck, you were shot.” Eddie reached for his brother.
“It’s just a flesh wound.” Lance sat down and leaned against the large tire of the truck. More sirens echoed in the distance and the sound of gunshots disappeared entirely.
“What the fuck is going on?” Tyler yelled out in frustration as he looked at his brother.
“I don’t know, but no one is putting out that fire until the vicinity around us has been cleared by police,” the chief said as Sheriff McCurran pulled up onto the scene. He had his cell phone against his ear and he looked angry and panicked.
“Is everyone okay?” Jake asked immediately, noticing Lance. “Fuck, you were shot?”
“I’m all right. It’s just a flesh wound. Can we start putting out the fire?” Lance asked.
“You’re not going anywhere!” the chief yelled at his son.
“Let the deputies clear the scene and make sure it’s safe. When all this is over, the three of you are coming with me,” Jake told them.
Eddie approached Jake. “Jake, what’s going on?”
“I’ll explain everything later. Someone who loves you just saved you, your brothers, and the rest of Engine 19’s lives.”
* * * *
Tasha disconnected the call. She called Jake immediately and then the agents in charge. Jake said that he got to the scene of the fire and it didn’t seem like anyone was hurt but he’d just arrived. Her worry was over—her friends, and of course Tyler, Eddie, and Lance were safe. She got the call that the deputies caught the shooters.
She was grateful that Dash let her go home alone. He received another call just as he was reaching under her skirt while making her press her hand against his crotch. She thought he would force himself on her right there in his office but he didn’t. Carlo came in and something was going on. She shivered just thinking about how close she came to getting raped. He would have forced himself on her right there over his desk. She felt like throwing up. She could still feel his hands on her and smell his cologne. She wanted it to be over. She couldn’t go on anymore and face Dash again. She prayed the feds caught him.
As she walked painfully to her room, her phone rang.
“Hello?” she answered.
“They’re safe. Lance was hit by a stray bullet though.”
“What? Oh God, is he okay? Please tell me he’s okay.” She cried as she collapsed to the floor in her bedroom.
“Just a flesh wound, Tasha. What the fuck is going on? Are you out of this shit now? How the hell did you know about the shooters, the body in the fire?”
“I heard Dash give the orders. I had to make sure that Engine 19 was safe. There’s so much happening right now. The agents moved in to make arrests. Dash and the others are on the run, but the agents are hot on their trail.”
“Tasha, do you know about Melanie?” he asked her and she cried.
“They hurt her badly.”
“She’s in the hospital. They placed her onto the bottom of the driveway at her parents’ house.”
“Oh God.”
“Are you okay? You sound funny.”
“A lot went down tonight. I need to rest.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“I need to go.”
“Tasha, you need protection, you need your friends. I’m calling Thor now.”
“Please, Jake, I don’t want anyone to see me.”
“That bad? He hurt you that fucking badly?”
“Please, Jake.”
“I’ll call you later.”
She disconnected the call.
Her phone rang again, this time it was Agent Thor. “Tasha, are you okay? Why didn’t you go to the hospital?”
“I don’t need to.”
“My team says otherwise.”
“They killed Riker.”
“I know. That’s why I’m calling. I have men covering your apartment. Dash was not arrested yet, but James was along with Carbenaro and LaCosta. We’re pulling things together now, but we need Melanie’s testimony and your uncle’s. They have security now, too.”
“And my mom?”
“She’s covered. We’ll do our best to find Dash and keep him behind bars, Tasha, but they have good lawyers. We’re up to our ears dealing with them right now.”
“What? Are you fucking kidding me? After everything they’ve done? After what Dash took from me? You have to find him, Thor. If he’s out there then I’m in worse danger than before.”
“We’ll find him and deal with Carbanero and LaCosta. They could post bail and we will ensure that they can’t leave the country. We’ll protect you.”
Her stomach sank. She’d risked everything, and even now Dash, Carbanero, and LaCosta could still get away and be free?
“Whatever. I’m done. It’s over.” She disconnected the call.
* * * *
Tasha showered and tried to clean up after looking over her injuries. She looked awful, but knowing that Dash and the others could get away with everything made her depressed and defeated. She lay in bed sleeping, not caring any longer if she lived or if she died. But she would have to get up soon, to go see her mom, to speak with the agents and see where they were in the case, and to make things right with her friends.
She heard her front door open and her heart hammered in her chest.
“Tasha, it’s Jake.” She swallowed hard, and thought she heard other footsteps.
“I’m fine, Jake. Please go away.” She curled up in a ball on her pillow.
“I’m here, too,” Catalina said, and Tasha felt the tears roll down her cheeks. Tasha was only wearing a tank top and a pair of shorts. When she heard the deep intake of breath and Jake swear, she knew they could see the bruising on her hips and back. Wait until they saw her face.
“Tasha, you need medical treatment,” Catalina said as she placed her hand on Tasha’s arm. Tasha turned to look at her. “Oh Jesus, baby,” Catalina whispered, tears hitting her friend’s eyes.
“I got the ice and the bandages,” Tasha heard Serefina say as she approached from the other side. Serefina stopped short and the tears instantly rolled down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you everything, Serefina. I needed to protect you. To protect everyone I love.”
“Shhh, Jake explained all of it. Let’s get you fixed up before my brothers get here,” Serefina said.
“No, I don’t want them to see me. Please, Serefina, Jake, I hurt them so badly.”
“You were forced to do what you did. I made them understand that,” Jake said as Serefina gently placed the ice over Tasha’s cheek and eye.
“I don’t think you’ll need stitches. Let me check your ribs to see if you need an X-ray,” Catalina said as Tasha slowly rolled to her back.
Catalina gasped. “How are you moving around so well with all these bruises?” She slowly pushed Tasha’s tank top up.
“Those are weeks old,” she whispered, and Catalina cringed.
Serefina placed her hand on Tasha’s arm. “About what I said at Burt’s house during the barbecue. You’re not weak. You hadn’t lost the fight. You were fighting the ultimate battle of your life. I should have known something wasn’t right and just supported you.”
“No, Serefina, you had every right to do that and it gave me the opportunity I needed to help push your brothers and all of you away so Dash and these men couldn’t go after you all next. He’s killed before. He killed my father.”
“We know about everything. The agents explained and so did Jake. Everyone is on board now and ready to help you get through this.”
There was a knock at the door and Jake walked out of the room to answer it.
“This isn’t over yet. None of you should be here. They haven’t found Dash yet,” Tasha whispered.