“Noted. Thanks!” Nolan said as he chewed.
“Back to what I was saying, though.” Walker turned to me. “Have you thought about going back to work? Now that Edward is being arrested, a new warden will be taking over Camp Bower—I think it’s going to be one of the sergeants from Station Fourteen.”
“I’m glad the fucker will pay for what he did.”
Walker nodded. “The fucker was meant to be helping them on their rehabilitation journeys and instead was using them to buy drugs. There's a special place in hell for people like him.”
“Is he behind bars yet?”
Walker shook his head. “No. He is currently on administrative leave while the investigation is officially being done, but I expect the arrest will come any day now.”
“I, for one, will feel a lot more comfortable once he's no longer in town.”
Walker nodded. “So will I.”
“As for what you are saying about a job, honestly, I haven't thought past the baby arriving. I'm definitely not going to take any jobs that involve me leaving home regularly.”
“I'm only asking because I know for a fact you're a good firefighter, and if you want a job at a firehouse, I'll get you a position.”
“You'd really do that for me?”
Walker chuckled. “I would be doing myself a favor considering how much we need good firefighters, but the offer is there for whenever you want it.”
Did I want it?
In addition to my time at Camp Bower, I had spent six months when I was in the military helping fight wildfires and had done enough training to qualify as a civilian firefighter. The work had been grueling but rewarding. This way, I would be working with another member of my pack and Hailey would know where I was every day.
The one thing I loved about my work was that it helped people. It was a personality trait that connected me to all of my pack mates. We all wanted to help in our own way.
Nolan helped people fight their legal battles to make the right choices for their family and children. Wilder helped heal people. And I just went where I was needed. As a soldier, I helped people in many different ways, but fighting fires seemed like the perfect option now.
“I may take you up on that—after the baby is born, of course. I plan to be there for Hailey now.”
“If you weren’t, she would make you suffer. I think you’ve used up all her goodwill,” Nolan said.
As annoying as it was to hear, he was right. Hailey had been patient with me, and there was no way in hell I was going to test her patience going forward.
“Why did I have a feeling you guys would have found your way to the kitchen?” Merrick entered the room, water still dripping from his hair.
I laughed. “Because the kitchen is the place where food magically appears?”
“Rune is amazing,” Nolan agreed.
Whatever I was about to say next was cut short by the shrill, blaring noise coming from the speakers that could only mean one thing.
Fire.
The alarm rang through the firehouse, and every firefighter paused, looking up as the dispatcher read the address of the fire over the speakers.
Thirty-four Walnut Road.
“Fuck,” Walker hissed. He was half out of his seat, like he was preparing to run and get into his gear, but his eyes landed on Merrick. “Isn't that your house?” he asked.
My stomach dropped so violently, I was surprised I was still standing.
Then Merrick said the two words that made me want to vomit.
“It is.”