Dallas Fire & Rescue: Fire Devil (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read online

  Text copyright ©2016 by the Author.

  This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Paige Tyler. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Dallas Fire & Rescue remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Paige Tyler, or their affiliates or licensors.

  For more information on Kindle Worlds: http://www.amazon.com/kindleworlds

  Fire Devil

  By

  Aliyah Burke

  Blurb for Fire Devil

  Can their passion withstand the flames?

  Carter Liaci gets the biggest shock of his life when he runs into the new arson investigator. Not only is it not a man, it’s a cute sexy blonde who he knows very well, his ex-wife. Understanding his mistake in letting her go, he wants her back in his life. But she’s hesitant, no doubt the flames are still there but the trust has gone. He’ll do what it takes to get it back.

  Gina Moyer has come a long way since being just a wife. She’s found a way to stand on her own, make a difference. Even so, she knew the risks of running into her ex when she took this position, in this town. She wasn’t going to back down just because she might see him. But when she does, all those old feelings come back.

  Will her job put her into too much danger? Will they lose out on ever having a second chance?

  Dedication

  A huge heartfelt thanks to the wonderful Paige Tyler who asked me to be part of this launch for her new Kindleworld series, Dallas Fire & Rescue. I can’t tell you enough what an honor this is for me. Thank you so much. To my readers, thanks for coming with me on another adventure and I hope you do enjoy the Liaci brothers, I certainly had fun writing them. To DH, thank you, for everything! I love you.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Other Books in the Dallas Fire & Rescue Series

  Additional Books By Aliyah Burke

  About The Author

  Chapter One

  The thick ash smooshed easily between her thumb and forefinger. Gina Moyer sniffed the residue as she made mental notes.

  Consistency is smooth, almost a bit oily. Detect a hint of… What is that, patchouli?

  She pushed up from her crouched position and sighed. “Definitely arson.” The ignition point was to her left, gasoline. But here in the middle of the room there’d been another accelerant. In fact, there were several spots throughout the open space.

  “Figure that out on your own, Ms. Moyer, or was it the fact the papers mentioned witnesses saw a male figure setting the blaze?”

  The voice sent shivers all through her. She squeezed her eyes shut, praying for both the strength to remain professional and to keep her hormones in check. Both were long shots but she sent up the request regardless. “Done playing with your hose, Liaci?” She pivoted slowly on her heeled boots. Her body had to be attached to electrodes when it came to this man.

  Carter Liaci.

  She brushed a blonde tendril back from her sweaty face. “Never mind. I forgot that play doesn’t take very long at all.” His gunmetal gray eyes hardened as he stared at her and she sensed a fight coming. She didn’t care right now, wasn’t the best time for her to travel this road. There was an arson to solve.

  Carter strode over to her, pausing before he actually had any physical contact. More’s the pity. Or so her body claimed.

  “Why are you here?”

  “I have a job to do.”

  He scoffed. “This area is off limits to lookie-loos and the general public. So what the fuck do you mean, your job? What position could you possibly have that requires you to be here at this time?”

  His words hurt but Gina ignored it, she could drown her sorrows later. Now wasn’t the time to allow him insight into how painful it was to hear things like this from him. She raked her gaze over him, almost dismissively. “Last time I checked, Sergeant Liaci, the Arson Investigator is allowed to be here.”

  “They are. Where’s Donavan?” He crossed powerful arms over his hard chest.

  Her single-minded track wobbled as fresh memories of the experiences she had while in those arms surfaced. She exhaled and prayed for wisdom, patience, and whatever else she would need to keep her from ending up with an assault charge. “Retired.”

  “When the hell did that happen?”

  “Four months ago. Been living under a rock?”

  His eyes swirled with an undefinable emotion. “Miss me?”

  “As much as a boil on my ass.” She stepped around him but he moved with her, keeping between her and the rest of her job. “Get out of my way.”

  “You took over?”

  The doubt in his tone set the bristles up on the back of her neck. Gina knew what others saw when they looked at her. Small. Petite. The cheerleader from high school and college. There tended to be assumptions she was weak and unable to hold her own. Quite the opposite. She was capable. But for it to come from this man‒this man‒it ripped scabs off her wounds making them hurt all over again. “Sure did,” she replied struggling to keep the tears of betrayal at bay. “They even provided me with a shiny badge that allows me to tell you to go fuck yourself. Not that I need a badge to say such a thing.”

  He raised a brow at her and shook his head. “I guess congratulations are in order then.”

  “Wow, your sincerity is mind boggling. Don’t try to do me any favors, Liaci. In fact, you can get out of my way and let me continue doing my job.” Her temper was on a slow burn but as it moved, it gobbled up the oxygen being fed to it. Soon, it would be a blaze.

  “I mean it.” His gaze turned possessive.

  She swallowed hard and retorted, “Right.” She moved purposefully around him to where her coat hung over a sawhorse that for some reason hadn’t been reduced to a pile of ash. Gina dug out her notebook and made a few notes.

  “One, you use a notebook? And two; what the hell is this chicken scratch?”

  He’s a great firefighter and it would be a waste to kill him. Plus, his family would be upset.

  “Yes. I transcribe later and it’s my own version of shorthand. I do it, so if it falls into the wrong hands, no one else can decipher it.” How the hell is it possible for me to be standing in a burned out building and I smell his scent over everything else? Because she knew it firsthand, used to sleep with it surrounding her.

  He hadn’t moved when she turned back. That broad chest remained right there, tempting her and she knew exactly how it felt under her explorations. The perfect pressure to have his nipples respond. She held firsthand knowledge on how he loved her scraping teeth over those nipples as well as his sac and cock.

  She shoved those memories back for a second time. Or was it third, fourth…tenth? She’d lost count.

  “Congratulations, Gina. I do mean it.”

  “I don’t give a damn. I don’t crave your blessing. Your opinion means shit to me.” She strode off leaving him by the door and her items.

  Even so, her curiosity as to where he’d been that he didn’t know Donovan had retired raged fast and fierce. Finding her zone, she got back in it, as she mentally cataloged items and notes. Anything she longed to expand on she made some notes in her notebook to think on later. Methodically and deliberately, she walked the large room, tracking flame patterns and the residues left behind doing her best to separate each of the
different oils she picked up on.

  Odd, since this place wasn’t supposed to have essence oils in it. Her phone rang and she dug it out of her pocket. “Moyer.”

  “Hey, how’s it going over there?”

  She stared at the gray ash covering her steel toe boots as a smile kicked up her lips. Davidson Levitt worked with her in the office. In fact, he was her right hand man who liked to be her big brother at times as well. “Fine Davidson. I’m finishing up at the site.” Gina turned, hiding her smirk. It may have been years between her and Liaci but she was well acquainted with the possessive and jealous expression on his face. “Missed lunch though, why don’t you order us something.”

  “What’s going on?” Davidson asked.

  “Yes, pancit is perfect. Thanks for asking. See you in a little bit.”

  “I’ll expect an explanation.”

  “Of course, extra shrimp, thank you.” She put her phone away and moved to her coat and sequentially Liaci.

  “Who was that?”

  Gina reached around him and plucked her coat up. Without a word, she walked out, ducking under the crime scene tape and making her way to her Nissan 370Z.

  “Gina,” her name fell from his mouth seconds before one hand curved over her upper arm.

  “I no longer answer to you, Sergeant. Take your hand off me.”

  “You make me sound like a tyrant.” He finally let go of her arm.

  “Not my job to ease your guilty conscience.” She unlocked her black cherry coupe and dropped her dirty items into the cargo space. Then went and slid behind the wheel on the gray leather seat.

  “What’s your problem?” he growled as he grabbed the car door.

  She pressed the start button. “Always trying to make it someone else’s problem. Ever think the issue may be yours?” She sighed. “Of course not. It’s never the fault of the perfect Carter Liaci. Let go of my door, I have a lunch date.”

  “We’re not finished.”

  “Actually, we are. I don’t owe you time. You want a discussion, call my office.” God, it felt terrific to say that. “Make an appointment. Because you can’t just walk in. Those papers you gave me and I signed severed all that.” She raked another look over him. “We’re no longer married.” She slammed her door and drove off, wheels spinning as she shifted gears.

  αβ

  Carter Liaci stared after his wife. Ex-wife. Three years since she’d taken him at his dare—his stupid, dumbass challenge—and signed the divorce papers before leaving everything behind and walking out of his life.

  “Gina,” he muttered shoving a hand through his hair. If possible, she was even sexier now. Perhaps the confidence she’d found being on her own and as an arson investigator played into her transformation. He wasn’t positive but whatever it was, it worked for her.

  The push of his dick against his jeans had him amending that statement. Worked for him too.

  He’d noted that her blonde hair reached to the middle of her back. Did it still smell like peaches? Yes, it did, he’d discovered that when he stood behind her. Did it still feel soft as silk? He groaned and stomped over to his truck. “Damn it!” He slammed his palms against the steering wheel. It irked the hell out of him that she had a lunch date with a man named Davidson.

  Starting his truck, he drove to his brother’s apartment and let himself in. “Cameron? You home?”

  “Of course, I’m here. I live here. What are you doing here and why, more importantly, are you yelling?”

  “Guess who I ran into?” He strode across the open room to see his brother exiting his bedroom in a pair of pants. “Do you have company?”

  “Only in my dreams. Didn’t feel like entertaining you in my boxers.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Who’d you run into? Damn, I need coffee.” Cameron rooted for a pair of mugs and started the pot.

  “Gina.”

  “So it happened huh? Figured you would. Hard not to in our line of work.”

  Carter had expected a shocked look, words—hell, something but not this bland reply. “Wait a fucking second, you knew she was back?”

  “Yep. And her being an arson investigator.” He shrugged and leaned against the counter. “We had dinner her first week back.”

  Carter’s anger exploded. “You had dinner with my wife and didn’t find it necessary to tell me she was back in town?”

  “One, she’s your ex-wife. Two, it’s you who she doesn’t like, not me. Three, you were in Dallas training with their Fire and Rescue on your six months. Which by the way, I need to ask you about that. I’m heading there for my training in two weeks. Would love to get your opinion on the squad we’re training with.” He poured them each some coffee.

  “Later. Right now, we’re discussing my wife.” He wanted to punch his brother.

  “Ex-wife.” His brother repeated as he raised an eyebrow. “You keep leaving that X off. It’s not my place to tell you a damn thing about her. You’re the one who presented her with divorce papers. What? Were you expecting a warm reception from her?” Cameron’s tone had gone cold.

  His brother had always been pissed at him for divorcing Gina and apparently, it hadn’t changed any. They both drank the coffee. Cameron drained his cup and put it in the sink. The man wasn’t one for enjoying his coffee.

  “She’s the one who signed them,” Carter thundered.

  “You had them drawn up. I told you. Ma and Pa told you that your temper would be your downfall with her. Because she challenged you and Rochelle was being the slut she is. So you thought she’d back down. You thought she’d be timid. She wasn’t, she called your bluff and got on with her life. Without you.”

  Those words sat like rotten fish on crackers in his stomach. “I hate you,” he said.

  “No, you hate yourself for being the ass you are. Now take me to dinner, I’m hungry. Your treat, since you woke me up.”

  Carter shook his head and drank the rest of his coffee as well. “How the hell do you eat so much and not get fat?”

  “Extracurricular activities,” his sibling hollered from the bedroom. He strode into view, a rakish grin on his face. “When women like you, there’s a lot of that. After all, I’m the better looking twin. You’re just the old twin.”

  “Fuck you,” he snapped.

  Cameron laughed. “Not what I’m into.”

  They headed for Carter’s truck and he got behind the wheel. “Where to?”

  “Lucielle’s on Tenth.”

  “The diner?”

  “Yes, the diner. Why’d you say it that way? They have damn good food.”

  Muttering under his breath, Carter drove there. No reason to be upset, he did enjoy what they served. They parked and climbed out.

  Women turned their heads, watching them approach. It’d been happening since childhood. The Liaci twins turned heads when they went places.

  Cameron beat him to the door and swung it open. “After you old man.”

  “I’m so kicking your ass.” Claiming a booth, Carter stretched out his legs—kicking his brother by accident—and picked up a menu from where they resided behind the paper napkin holder. He flipped it open to the burgers and decided immediately which one he wanted.

  “Evening sweetness,” his brother drawled.

  Carter looked up in shock at the tone.

  A stunning black woman stood there, pad in hand as she stared at the table. “Go jump in a lake, Cameron. Good to have you back, Carter.”

  He blinked and smiled, for both her comment to Cameron and recognition finally sank in. Riya Hendrickson. “Riya, good to see you.” He liked her, always had. Good head on her shoulders and worked her ass off for what she wanted.

  “And you. How was Dallas?”

  Carter slanted his gaze to his brother. Cameron’s expression was drawn tight, pinched with…was that jealousy? Focusing back on the woman at the table waiting to take their order, he shrugged. “I had a great time, learned a lot. But, as you know, there’s no place like home.”

  “I for one,
am glad you’re back. Can I get you your usual?”

  He arched a brow. “I’ve been gone for over six months and you remember my usual?”

  Her eyes sparkled as she grinned. “I remember for people I like. Half pound with mayo, medium. Lettuce, tomato, bacon, cheddar, and pickles. Bun freshly toasted and fries of the sweet potato variety. Pepsi to drink.”

  “Damn, you’re good. Although, I think you sneered when you said Pepsi.”

  “Thank you. And yes, I’m sure I did. Not a fan of that drink.” She glanced at his twin. “What do you want?”

  “Don’t you remember what I order? I was just in here last week.”

  “Nope.”

  Carter coughed to hide his laughter.

  Cameron kicked him under the table, no “accident” about it this time. After he placed his food request, Riya walked away to put their order in.

  “What’s with you two?” he asked his twin.

  “Nothing is with us,” Cameron replied, leaning back. “Why?”

  “I’m not blind, there’s something.”

  “You’re seeing things that aren’t there, Carter. Let it go. I just like picking on her, is all.”

  “Right,” he said, not agreeing with that at all. But it wasn’t time for him to dissect his brother’s odd relationship. “About Dallas. Captain is Earl Stewart, a good man. Straight shooter, like me he doesn’t mince anything he says. I spent most of my time with a man named Nate Boone. He’s got a kickass crew, most notable to me would be Jax Malloy and Dane Chandler, both ace firefighters and I learned a lot from them.”

  Riya returned and placed their drinks down. “Food will be up in just a bit. You need me, holler.”

  “What about me?” Cameron questioned in a low tone. “Can I holler as well?”

  She batted her eyes at him and leaned closer, false smile in place. “Holler all you want, just don’t expect me to come.”

  Cameron matched her forward movement. He reached out and ran a finger down her glossy curls. “I always expect you to come.”