Amanda's Wolves(106)

“And I can assure you that you know exactly what I’m talking about. So tread carefully. Do not leave this office again today, and don’t move a muscle without telling me first. I suggest you sit down at your desk and think up a better response than what you’ve given me so far.” He righted himself to his full height and lifted a hand into the air. “I’ve had it up to here with your antics.”

Pete stared at the man, fury rising until he thought he might explode. He shot a glance once more at Corbin and wanted to wring the guy’s neck. How dare that disgusting son of a bitch get him in trouble while he fucked two other people and chose a lifestyle that put his entire tribe and pack to shame?

Pete turned and left the room. He headed straight to his desk, wishing he could place a call to Veronica. But he was practically under surveillance. There was no chance of checking in with her anytime soon.

»»•««

Sawyer was dying, figuratively and literally. He was trapped in his gear that seemed far more stifling than normal. And the love of his life was missing.

He continued to clear the strip of land they were working on to create a buffer that would hopefully stop the fire from spreading if it got that close.

A crop duster flew low over his head and dropped the familiar red flame retardant up the mountain from where he worked. It was the third attempt.

“Amanda?” he tried to reach her for the billionth time in the last few hours. Nothing. Every second that ticked by made it less likely they would ever find her. And yet, he had to have faith Fate wouldn’t give her to him and Logan just days ago only to take her away so soon.

He squeezed the hatchet tighter and swung again, not breaking pace. He was no good to her dead. So he threw himself into his work while picturing every possible scenario. Wherever she was, she was undoubtedly unconscious since she wasn’t able to respond. Drugged was also an option. And he couldn’t even bring himself to ponder the third.

“Sawyer,” Logan interrupted his pity party, “concentrate on getting that fire out. Let me worry about Amanda. You will do her no good if you don’t come home alive.”

“Find her, Logan. Find her.”

“I will.”

Sawyer could hardly remember the last few hours of work. Monotonous. He was completely out of his body. He adjusted his gear higher on his back, listened to the instructions from his squad leader, and continued working on the firebreak.

The fire was located in the mountain range above the land his family owned and was picking up speed.

“Logan. This is bad. It’s too close to home. Is everyone evacuated? Melinda, Laurie, Rebecca, and their families. I don’t like the looks of this. It’s getting out of control.” He ran with his team as he communicated.

“You mean near the logging site?” Logan asked.

Sawyer almost tripped. “Yes. Dammit. Above it. Closing in. Make sure that’s being cleared too. Shit, I’m sure the department has already begun evacuations from both the site and the homes at the base of the mountain, but please fucking make sure.”

“On it, Sawyer. Go. Do your job.”

Sawyer had to literally turn his mind off in order to work. The mantra running over and over in his head said to get this fire out as a priority. What if it encroached on the homes below? He didn’t give a fuck about the logging site since those bastards were already breaking the law and stealing more than they were allotted from the national forest. Karma.

Fuck them.

But he hated to see his siblings lose their homes down below. It broke his heart. So he concentrated on that reality and worked at a fevered pace.

He had no idea how long he’d been clearing the land to create a firebreak before Logan reached into his mind again. “You okay?”

“I’m here, if that’s what you mean. Okay? No. Alive, yes. Any news?”

“No. The logging site has been evacuated. It would make sense that the reason the spirits were hanging around that area and leading us down the mountain was foreshadowing of what was to come. The crew is all safe.”

“That’s just fucking great. So someone from that fucked-up church must have Amanda. Figure it out, Logan, before I go insane up here.” He cut off the connection before Logan could respond, conserving all his energy for the fierce work in front of him.

The squad leader shouted over the drone of the fire to his left.

When Sawyer lifted his gaze to face the man, he watched his hand signals carefully. They were to retreat a quarter of a mile and switch tactics. They wouldn’t be able to finish this buffer in time. They needed something that would stop the fire from continuing down the mountain.