Jump gasped. “How could you say that about my mommy?”
“Wait, your name really is Jump? Like your parents named you Jump?”
He shook his head. “No, my name is Jesse. Jesse Boulton. Jump is my nickname. T is his. Cy and Foster are behind us.”
Blakely nodded. “Well, Blakely is my real name. Last name Masters.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Blakely Masters,” T said. “Now then, let’s get this guy into the hospital. You can tell me whatever you needed to tell me once we’re inside.”
Jump got out of the car, and waited for Blakely to climb out, too. He could see the exhaustion was wearing on her. They’d be a few hours here. Hopefully she could get some sleep in the waiting room. His buddies wouldn’t leave until they knew he was okay, which meant they wouldn’t leave Blakely alone. She would be safe from Grayson, at least for a little while.
CHAPTER FOUR
By the time they made it to the house where they were staying, Blakely was exhausted. She needed sleep, lots of it. At least she didn’t have to be anywhere in the morning.
The doctor at the hospital had been nice enough to give her a breathing treatment once they heard she’d been in the fire, too. She needed insurance. Heck, she needed Grayson to leave her alone. She might have what he was looking for, but no way would she ever give it to him.
Worrying about Grayson had never done her any good, so she pushed him from her mind before dropping off to sleep. When she woke, she heard a noise coming from another room, and sat up, worry filling her. Then she remembered everything. Grayson, Jump helping her, the fire, the hospital, then coming here and meeting Wave who would be gone by the time she woke up, which was now.
All of her stuff was gone. Well, almost everything was gone. He’d probably come back to her place and trashed it before starting the fire.
Once the police learned that the fire started in her apartment, they would want to talk to her. She would have to play this cool. Just like last time, Grayson ruined everything.
She dressed then headed out to the kitchen where she found Jump and one of his friends eating breakfast.
“Hey, good morning. Are you feeling better?” Jump asked.
She nodded. “Do you have coffee?”
“I do. T even stopped by for some creamer in case you like cream in your coffee.”
“Thank you. I do like my coffee sweet.”
She grabbed her coffee then sat at the small four-person table with the guys. She took a sip and let go a deep sigh.
“I guess Wave is gone?”
Jump nodded. “He left early this morning. He’ll be gone for a month or more, so we can use his place until he gets back. I’ve talked to a few friends. There’s this shop one of the women suggested where you can get some clothes.”
Clothes, she would have to buy new clothes. Just great. “I don’t think shopping is on my agenda. I can’t afford new clothes.”
Jump set his fork down. “It’s not like that. It’s a place that helps people get back on their feet when bad things happen. So the clothes aren’t expensive, and you don’t have to worry about not being able to afford them.”
“Oh, I guess that’s good.”
“And I’ve already received a call from a guy I know who was Navy but left and joined the police force. It was arson. Usually they wait to make that call, but it was obvious. There was a gas can left in the stairwell. They think your bed was in the mess in one of the stairwells.”
“Shit. How many injuries?”
“One guy broke his ankle. A few cuts and scrapes. Some smoke inhalation. No deaths and no major burns.”
“How did everyone get out? The stairs were blocked.”
“Only on our side. And two of the units on my end were empty. So really, it was only us and one other couple who were trapped.”
She took a sip of her coffee, trying to ignore the way his words had sounded. He hadn’t meant they were a couple, though that’s how she wanted to take it.
It was impossible for her to get involved with this man. Now that Grayson knew where she was, he’d probably call for more people to help him. She wouldn’t be allowed any peace until she either gave him what he was looking for or he died. And she would never give him what he wanted.