Beautiful Sacrifice (Maddox Brothers #3) Read online

  “What is it?” Kirby asked, sensing my unease.

  “I don’t know yet,” I said, looking up to scan my tables.

  “Falyn! Order up!” Chuck called.

  I set down the phone and breezed by the food window. I had perfected fitting plates onto a tray years ago. Only a few seconds were spent loading entrees before continuing to the dining area.

  “Ta-da,” I said, standing over my favorite regular, Don.

  Don sat up tall, setting his tea down and giving me plenty of room to situate his meal.

  “Do me a favor, and cut into that steak, handsome.”

  He nodded, his shaking hands carving into the thick meat. He hummed a, “Yes,” and then brought the fork to his mouth.

  I put my hand on his shoulder. “How is it?”

  He hummed again, chewing. “You’re my favorite, Falyn.”

  “You’re mine, but you knew that.” I winked at him and then walked over to the drink station.

  The sky was dark outside, and the sidewalks were wet with the intermittent rain that had been falling since mid-morning. Crap weather meant less butts in the seats and less tips in our pockets.

  Phaedra brought in a stack of freshly sanitized menus from the back before setting them in a rectangular wicker basket. She crossed her tan arms, her skin leathered from years in the sun. “I’m not going to curse the rain. We needed the rain.”

  “Yes, we did,” I said.

  “Maybe that will help your boy with those fires.”

  “We’re going to need a lot more rain than this. And he’s not my boy. I haven’t seen him in a week.”

  “He’ll be back.”

  I shook my head, breathing out a laugh. “I don’t think so.”

  “Did you get into a fuss?”

  “No. Not really. Kind of. We ran into my parents. Eakins was brought up. There was a misunderstanding.”

  A knowing smile lit up Phaedra’s face. “He figured out you were using him?”

  “What? No. I’m not using him,” I said, guilt washing over me.

  “You’re not, huh?”

  “I’m … renting him. He doesn’t have to take me if he doesn’t want to. I’m not being fake. I’m being pretty damn mean actually.”

  Phaedra watched me try to talk my way out of the hole my words were digging. “So, why did he quit coming around?”

  “I think he thinks I’m somehow involved in an investigation of his little brother.”

  “What in the Sam Hades? Where did that come from?”

  I blew my bangs from my face. “It’s a long story.”

  “They always are.”

  I felt her watching me as I made my way out to the main dining area.

  “More soda?” I asked the woman at table twelve.

  She shook her head, waved me away, and I moved on to the next patron.

  The sky opened up, and huge drops began dive-bombing the street and sidewalk. They were bouncing off so hard that they scattered after impact, appearing like steam hovering over the concrete.

  “It’s getting ugly out there,” I said to Don. “Want me to call Michelle to have her pick you up?”

  Don shook his head. “Don’t want her getting the grandbabies out in this. They’re my great-grands, you know. They call me Papa.”

  “I know,” I said with a warm smile. “They’re lucky ducks. I would have loved to have you as my papa.”

  He chuckled. “You do. Why in heaven’s name do you think I come to visit you every day?”

  I gently touched his back with my fingers. “Well, maybe just eat your cheesecake a little slower. Hopefully, the rain will ease up.”

  I bent down to kiss his cheek, his jowl sinking under my lips. The smell of his aftershave and his scratchy stubble were two of a hundred things I loved about this man.

  Several men sprinted along the glass wall and ducked into the door, laughing and out of breath. Taylor squeegeed his glistening arms with his hands while shaking the water from his face.

  Kirby pointed at the bar, prompting Taylor to lead Zeke and Dalton to the empty stools in front of the drink station. Taylor and I locked eyes while he passed behind me. I picked up a few dirty dishes and tried not to rush them to Hector before returning to stand next to Phaedra.

  “Your boy has the day off,” Phaedra said.

  I felt my cheeks burn. “Please stop calling him that.”

  “He likes it,” Dalton teased.

  Taylor craned his neck at Dalton.

  Dalton sank back. “I’m just giving you shit. Damn.”

  All three men were wearing soaked T-shirts and jeans. Taylor’s gray T-shirt had a small red bulldog over his heart with the words Eastern State circling around it. He turned his red ball cap backward, and I smiled, knowing he’d deny it if I pointed out that he matched.

  “I do kind of like it,” Taylor said, his threatening glare vanishing. He elbowed Dalton, who pushed him off.

  Phaedra shook her head and held up menus. “You gonna eat or what?”

  “We are,” Zeke said, clapping his hands and rubbing them together.

  Phaedra placed a menu in front of each of them and then left us for the kitchen.

  Taylor glanced up at me for only a second before he studied the entrees.

  “Drinks?” I asked.

  “Cherry Coke,” they said in unison.

  I breathed out a laugh as I turned to grab cups, and then I filled them with ice.

  “Not funny. Shut the fuck up,” Taylor seethed, his voice low.

  I turned. “Excuse me?”

  Taylor’s expression smoothed, and he cleared his throat. “Sorry. Not you.”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  “Dalton said you had a nice ass,” Zeke said.

  “You disagree?” I said, pouring my special cherry concoction into their Cokes.

  Taylor made a face, as if I’d just asked the stupidest question in history. “No. I just don’t want them noticing.”

  I set their cups on the bar and handed them straws. “What are you eating?”

  “Paninis again,” Taylor said, dropping the menu.

  I looked to the other two for confirmation.

  Zeke shrugged. “We decided before we got here. They’re fucking good.”

  “If they’re so good, why haven’t you been in for almost a week?” I asked, instantly regretting it.

  “Keeping track, huh?” Zeke teased.

  “If you like the paninis, you should try Phaedra’s cheesecake,” I said, ignoring Zeke’s jab.

  They traded glances.

  “Okay,” Taylor said.

  I left them to put in their order, notifying Chuck, and then I turned to check on my tables. Twelve was almost out of soda, and they were still talking.

  Damn it. I’d known she would need more.

  Don wasn’t quite finished, but he was sitting still, a blank stare on his face. His glasses had fallen down the bridge of his nose, barely hanging on at the tip.

  “Don?” I said.

  He fell over, hitting the tiled floor hard with his shoulder and head. His glasses slid off his face, flying a few feet across the floor.

  “Don!” I yelled, running over to him.

  Once I reached him, I fell to my knees and cradled his head with my hands. I leaned over and then looked to Phaedra and Chuck, who had both run out of the kitchen.

  “He’s not breathing.” The reality of what that meant made my heart sink. “He’s not breathing! Someone, help him!” I screamed.

  Taylor, Zeke, and Dalton all joined me on the floor. Zeke checked Don’s pulse and then looked at Taylor as he shook his head.

  “Call an ambulance!” Taylor yelled to Phaedra. “Scoot back, sweetheart.” He positioned himself next to Don and crossed his hands, one over the other, on the center part of Don’s lower chest.

  Dalton angled Don’s head upward and then pinched his nose, breathing into Don’s mouth once, before Taylor began compressions.

  I crawled backward several feet until Kir
by knelt beside me. Don’s glasses were next to my hand, so I snatched them up and held them to my chest, watching the guys working on him. Everyone was quiet, listening to Taylor counting compressions aloud and instructing Dalton when to administer breaths.

  Zeke checked Don’s pulse, and each time he shook his head, I felt my body sink lower.

  Taylor was out of breath, but he took one look at me, and whatever expression was on my face gave him renewed strength. “C’mon, Don!” Taylor said. “Breathe!” he barked to Dalton.

  Dalton leaned over, giving a breath, all hope gone from his eyes.

  “Taylor,” Zeke said, touching Taylor’s arm.

  Taylor shrugged Zeke off, continuing to press into Don’s chest. “I’m not giving up.” He looked up at me. “I’m not giving up.”

  Chuck picked me up off the floor and supported my weight as he held me to his side. “I’m sorry, kiddo.”

  Just a few minutes after the sirens could be heard, they were loud and right outside the door, the lights casting reds and blues inside the Bucksaw.

  Taylor, Dalton, and Zeke let the paramedics take over, one of them patting Taylor on the back. They loaded Don onto the gurney and carted him outside into the rain and then into the ambulance.

  Taylor heaved, exhausted after using his entire upper body for so long.

  “Is Don going to be okay?” Chuck asked.

  Taylor pressed his lips together, hesitant to tell the truth. “I don’t know. We never got a pulse. I think he was gone before he hit the floor.”

  I covered my mouth and turned to Chuck, letting his large arms surround me. I felt other hands on me, but I wasn’t sure whose. My knees buckled, and my entire body went limp, but Chuck supported my weight without effort.

  “Chuck,” Phaedra said, desperation in her voice.

  “Go on upstairs, honey,” Chuck said into my ear.

  “I’ll take care of your tables,” Phaedra said.

  I shook my head and wiped my nose with the back of my wrist, but I was unable to answer.

  Taylor tossed his truck keys to Dalton. “You guys go ahead. I’ll take mine to go, Phaedra.”

  “I’ll bring it up to you when it’s ready,” she said.

  Taylor peeled me from Chuck’s arms and escorted me to the back and up the stairs. Just as he realized neither of us had keys, Phaedra appeared with a plate in one hand and a to-go cup along with my keys in the other.

  “You’re amazing,” Taylor said as Phaedra unlocked the door.

  She pushed it open, and Taylor guided me inside, sitting with me on the couch. Phaedra set his plate and cup on the coffee table and then left my keys.

  “You want a blanket, kiddo?” she asked, leaning over and touching my knee.

  The sirens blared as the ambulance tore off for the nearest hospital, taking away my friend.

  “I should have gone with him,” I said, looking up in horror. “Someone should be with him. He’s all alone. He doesn’t know those paramedics. Someone he knows should be with him.”

  Phaedra reached out for me. “Chuck is calling Michelle. She’s going to meet them at the hospital. Let me get you a blanket.”

  I shook my head, but she went to the closet anyway. She fetched a threadbare baby-blue blanket, bordered in equally worn satin. She shook it until it unfolded, and then she covered me up to my neck.

  “I’m going to bring you some tea. You need anything, Taylor?”

  Taylor shook his head, wrapping his arms around me. “I got her.”

  Phaedra patted his shoulder. “I know.”

  She left us alone in the silence-filled loft that hovered over the death below. My head and chest felt heavy, my mouth dry.

  “You knew he wasn’t coming back,” I said. “But you kept going. Even though he didn’t make it … you’re good at your job.”

  He looked down on me, his eyes turning soft. “It wasn’t about the job, Falyn.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered, trying to find anywhere else to look but his eyes.

  “He came in a lot, didn’t he?” Taylor asked.

  “Yes,” I said, my voice sounding far away.

  The feeling inside of me was strange. I was so accustomed to feeling numb that feeling anything at all was unsettling. Nestled in Taylor’s arms, feeling a myriad of emotions was more than I could stand.

  “I need to …” I began, shrugging from his embrace.

  “Breathe?” Taylor asked. He touched my wrist, and then he leaned over to look into my eyes. Once he was convinced I wasn’t going into shock, he relaxed back against the sofa. “I’m really pretty comfortable. No expectations.”

  I nodded, and he reached his arm around me, pulling me gently against his side. I fit perfectly under his wing, his chest warm against my cheek. He rested his jaw on my hair, content.

  Comfortable in the silence, comfortable with each other, we just breathed, existing from one moment to the next. The rain tapped against the window, making oceans of the streets and drenching the islands of cars passing by.

  Taylor pressed his lips to my temple. My chest heaved, and I buried my chest into Taylor’s damp T-shirt. He held me close, letting me cry.

  His arms were safe and strong, and even though there was no space between us, I needed him to be closer. I gripped his T-shirt in my fist and pulled him tighter against me. He obliged without hesitation. I cried quietly until I was exhausted, and then I took a deep breath. I waited for the embarrassment to set in, but it never came.

  A soft knock on the door announced Phaedra and the mug of tea she had brought back for me. She also had Taylor’s cheesecake. “The boys took theirs to-go, too. They said to call whenever you’re ready.”

  Taylor nodded, not relinquishing his grip on me.

  Phaedra put the dishes on the table. “Falyn, drink your tea. It’ll help.” She nodded her head and crossed her arms over her middle. “It always helps me.”

  I leaned forward and then returned to the security of Taylor’s arms, taking a sip. “Thank you. I’ll be back down in a little bit.”

  “Don’t you dare. We’re slow. I’ve got it taken care of. Just take the rest of the day off. I’ll see you for dinner.”

  “We’ll be down,” Taylor said.

  Phaedra offered him a small smile of appreciation, the wrinkles around her mouth deepening. “All right then.”

  She closed the door, and once again, Taylor and I were alone, wrapped in each other’s arms under the blue blanket.

  “I wasn’t prepared for how good this feels,” Taylor said. “Every muscle in my body is relaxed.”

  “Like you’ve never sat and held a girl before.”

  He was quiet, so I looked up at him.

  “You’re full of it,” I said.

  “I don’t really …” He trailed off, shrugging. “It’s not my thing. But this is kind of awesome.”

  “What is your thing?” I asked.

  He shrugged again. “One-night stands, angry women, and fighting fires.”

  “If you weren’t sitting here with your arms around me right now, I’d say that makes you kind of an asshole.”

  He considered that. “I’m okay with that.”

  “Why am I not surprised?”

  He chuckled. “This surprises me. You surprise me.”

  I smiled, feeling another tear slipping over my lips. I reached up and wiped it away.

  “Here,” he said, offering his T-shirt.

  He touched the cotton to my lips as I looked up at him.

  “Why did you stay away?” I asked.

  “Because of this. You make me feel weird.”

  “Weird?” I asked.

  “I don’t know how else to describe it. Any other girl, I could bag and not think twice about it. Not you. It’s kind of like that feeling you got as a kid, right before you did something you knew would get you an ass-whipping.”

  “I have a hard time believing you’re that intimidated.”

  “Me, too.” He paused. “Falyn?” He took a deep breath,
as if saying my name was painful, and he rubbed his eyes. “Fuck, I thought I wanted to know, but now, I don’t think I do.”

  “Ask me,” I said, readying myself to dodge the truth.

  “Just tell me one thing.” He paused, unsure if he wanted the answer. “Does your connection with Eakins have to do with my brother?”

  I sighed, relieved. “No. I just looked up the fire today.”

  “So, you know about Travis.”

  “No. I didn’t have time to get a good look, and you don’t have to tell me.”

  Taylor rested his chin on my hair, his muscles relaxing again.

  I was glad he couldn’t see the look on my face. Just because I wasn’t involved with the fire didn’t mean I didn’t have an agenda. “Taylor?” I said with the same hesitation he’d had in his voice.

  “Ask me,” he said, repeating my earlier response.

  “I do want to go to Eakins for a reason. I was hoping you’d take me there. I’ve been saving. I have enough for a plane ticket. I just need a place to stay.”

  He took a deep breath and slowly blew it out. “I thought that might be where you were going with this.”

  I winced. “It’s not what you think. I agree, it’s a coincidence. But I’m not trying to find out anything about your brother.”

  “Then tell me.”

  I chewed on my bottom lip. “What if I prove it to you—that it’s not about your brother? Will you consider it?”

  Taylor shrugged, confused. “I guess so.”

  I stood up, leaving him for my bedroom. I pulled the shoebox out of my closet and returned to the sofa, pulling out an envelope and shoving it at him. “The address on your license is on this street.”

  He looked at the return address, frowning. “This is next door to my dad’s house. How do you know the Olliviers?”

  I breathed out a laugh, my eyes filling with tears. “Next door?”

  “Yeah,” Taylor said, handing back the envelope.

  I pulled out a photograph and offered it to him. He looked it over—a four-by-six picture of a young girl standing on a sidewalk, leaning against her brother, Austin. Her waist-length platinum-blonde hair was pinned away from her face, her enormous green eyes peering up at the camera over a shy smile. Austin hugged her to him, proud and protective, like a big brother should be.