Radclyffe - Firestorm

Jac said, “How many are out there?”

“Three,” Mallory said. “Two boys and a girl. College kids. They decided to get in a climb before they left for summer break. Only they forgot it’s not summer up here yet.”

“Experienced climbers?” Jac asked, her tone hopeful.

Mallory shook her head. “One of the boys is. The girl has a little experience. The other guy, none.”

“Man,” Jac muttered. “We better find them fast, then.”

“Roger that,” Mallory said. “Hopefully we’ll be back here tomorrow.”

Sarah headed off to the barracks, stopping in the middle of the yard to talk to Sully.

“I’ve got EMT experience,” Jac said. “Ski patrol.”

“Good, I can always use backup.” Mallory leaned against the Jeep. “I’m surprised you weren’t a corpsman in the Guard, then.”

Jac rubbed the back of her neck, her expression distant, as if remembering. “I had that choice, but I wanted to stop troopers from getting blown up, not piece them back together afterward.”

Mallory’s throat tightened at the image of how close Jac must have come to death so many times. Even though she knew Jac had been trained for the work, the idea of her defusing one of those monsters, alone and vulnerable, scared her in a way she hadn’t been scared since the flames roared down on her team a year ago. She shuddered. She couldn’t go there again, and to remind herself, she said out loud, “You an adrenaline junkie, Russo?”

“Not so much. Steady hands, remember?”

Mallory said nothing.

“Mallory,” Jac said, the levity gone from her voice. “You can count on me. I promise.”

Mallory didn’t want to. She didn’t want to count on anyone, didn’t want to need anyone, didn’t want to fear losing anyone. “Just do your job, and we’ll be fine.”

“Just so you know, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be tonight than right here.”

What was Jac saying? She had to be talking about the job. She couldn’t be talking about Chantal. Could she? Could she really be that brave? Mallory knew she wouldn’t have been. Wasn’t. “Get your gear, Russo. We need to move out.”

Jac held her gaze as if waiting for her to say more, and when she didn’t, Jac strode away. Mallory ached to call her back—wanted to say she understood. That this was where she wanted to be too—not anywhere else, not with anyone else. She kept her silence. Better that way. Safer. Yes. Yes. Then why the hollow ache in her chest? Mallory gritted her teeth and double-checked the equipment she’d stored in the back of the Jeep. The sound of another vehicle pulling into the yard put thoughts of Jac and the fleeting pain in her eyes out of Mallory’s mind.

Kingston, Anderson, and Cooper climbed out of Cooper’s battered Ford 450.

“What’s going on?” Cooper called as the men hurried over.

“Missing hikers,” Mallory said. “Who’s the designated driver?”

“Me,” Ray said.

“How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” Ray said. “Need another man?”

“Could use one. Grab your stuff. We’re ready to leave.”

“Give me a minute,” he said, and he hurried away.

“Cooper—you’ll be with Sully setting up field camp.”

“Sounds good.”

Sully ambled over. “All set?”

“Yes,” Mallory said. “Good luck up at River Rock.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep them busy until you show up.”

Mallory grinned. “No doubt.”

“Keep me updated, and be careful out there.”

“Will do.” Mallory handed radios to Sarah, Jac, and Ray as they returned. “Okay. Let’s go.”

“I’ve got shotgun,” Jac said and pulled open the passenger side door.

Mallory got behind the wheel, and Sarah and Ray piled into the rear. She pulled out of the yard, her mind on the upcoming mission, but her senses flooded with Jac. She could still smell her, damn it. She tightened her grip on the wheel and kept her gaze forward. If she didn’t look at her, maybe it would be easier to ignore her. “Everyone should try to catch a little sleep.”

“I can spell you driving in a little while,” Jac murmured, “so you can catch an hour or so.”

“I’m fine,” Mallory said.

“No doubt. But even superheroes sleep sometimes.”

“Anyone ever tell you you were a smart-ass, Russo?” Mallory muttered.

“Not that I can recall.”

“Smart-ass with a bad memory.”

Jac laughed softly. “Thanks for taking me along tonight.”

“I needed a warm body.” The instant she said it, Mallory recognized her mistake. Thankfully, the dark hid the blush she felt heating her cheeks.

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” Jac said too quietly for Sarah or Ray to pick up above the sound of the engine revving, “until you really mean it.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Mallory said.

“You never know,” Jac said as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “There’s always Bear Creek.”

*

The murmurs of conversation from the backseat faded away, and Jac figured Sarah and Ray were sleeping. She’d catnapped for a while until the Jeep bumped off the highway and onto a fire trail.

“Must be getting close,” she said.

“Another hour or so,” Mallory murmured.

“Ready to surrender your cape, Wonder Woman, and grab some sleep?” Jac knew she was taking a chance baiting Mallory, teasing her, but she didn’t know any other way to get through to her. When she’d realized Mallory was back at camp and not somewhere with Emily, the flood of relief was so strong she couldn’t pretend she didn’t care. She cared, and the knowledge slammed through her with equal parts terror and wonder. The last time she’d really cared about a woman she’d been in college, young and naïve and impressionable. Cynthia had been a graduate student, a classic California blonde exiled to Idaho because the college offered a hotel management program that was the best in the West. Cynthia had been a sorority girl, vivacious and sexy and fickle. She’d run so hot and cold Jac never knew whether a dinner date would end up with them in bed or her heading back to her dorm room alone and frustrated. When she’d begun to realize that Cynthia only wanted to spend time with her when she was attending obligatory family affairs with the power people who surrounded her father, she called it quits. Cynthia wasn’t interested in her company, but only in the company she kept. Why did she keep forgetting that lesson?

“All right.” Mallory pulled over. “You win this one.”

From the backseat, Sarah murmured thickly, “We there?”

“Not yet. Go back to sleep.” Mallory put the Jeep in Park and got out.

Jac opened her door and crossed in front of the Jeep, slowing as Mallory’s figure skirted the cone of light thrown off by the headlights. She waited just at the edge of the shadows for her. “Thanks.”

Mallory’s face was half in shadow, half illuminated by the slanting light. A furrow creased her brow. “For what?”

“For trusting me. To drive.”

“You know,” Mallory said softly, “you’ve never given me any reason not to trust you. It just doesn’t come easy for me.”

“I know. Me neither.” Jac wanted to touch her so badly. Just to graze her fingertips over the top of her hand. As if the slight physical connection would somehow cement the fragile, elusive bond that flickered between them like firelight.

“And, Jac?”

“Yeah?” Jac’s chest was so tight she could hardly get words out.

“Wonder Woman had magical bracelets, not a cape.”

“I never could keep my superheroes straight.”

Mallory brushed by her in the darkness, leaving the lingering hint of honeysuckle behind. When Jac climbed behind the wheel, Mallory had already tilted the seat back and curled on her side facing Jac. Her eyes were closed, one hand beneath her cheek. Strands of dark hair layered across her face. Jac carefully reached across the space between them and brushed the hair away from Mallory’s eyes with her fingertips. Mallory’s eyelids fluttered open, and her gaze caught Jac’s and held.