Ace of Spades (Underground Affair Series Book 1) (19 page)

The Chief ordered everyone out of the house. It had become far too dangerous. The fire was to be fought from the exterior only. However, the Chief wasn’t leaving without Ace. He dug as quickly as he could to free Ace’s legs. Ace regained consciousness and grabbed the Chief’s arm. With the Chief’s help, Ace managed to get enough leverage to push himself up and the Chief yanked him forward freeing him. Together they crawled to the door. As they emerged a few firefighters and the EMT’s ran towards them. The last thing Ace saw was the child being held by his mother.

“He’s not breathing.”

The Chief headed back over to Ace but the medics pushed him away as they worked frantically to revive him.

“It’s very weak but I think I have a pulse. Let’s get him to the hospital.”

The Chief was led to a different ambulance and was given oxygen. The thought of losing Ace was incomprehensible.

Chace was across town dealing with another victim of what seemed to be a serial killer. He was looking over the body when Chloe showed up.

“So what number is this victim?”

The mere sound of her voice set his body atither.

“Looks like a three.”

“Do you have any leads yet, Detective?”

“We’ve had several but so far they’ve all turned into dead ends.”

“I see.”

“What exactly do you see?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Look, as a woman it doesn’t warm my heart to know that some psycho is out there sexually assaulting and killing women.”

Chace looked down at Chloe and she actually looked concerned. She wasn’t her normal arrogant, confident self. Chace reached out his hand and placed it on her arm.

“Hey, I’m going to find this guy and soon.”

Chloe pulled her arm away from Chace’s hand and in that moment, the arrogant, confident Chloe returned. Before Chace had time to reply his phone rang.

“Detective McQueen.”

“Chace, its Storm. I’m over on Oak Street. There’s a huge fire burning here. You might want to head to the hospital. Your friend, Ace was inside when the house began to collapse.”

“What? Storm, was he breathing when they put him in the ambulance?”

“He was unconscious and wasn’t breathing at first but they managed to get him breathing again.”

“Thanks for letting me know.”

“Yeah, sure. I hope he will be alright.”

“Is everything alright?”

“My buddy Ace, he was injured at a call. I gotta go.”

“Taryn said he was real sweet. I hope he’ll be ok.”

Chace dialed Declan as he ran to the car.

Lucy was driving home from work when her mother called her in tears.

“Hello.”

“Lucy, your father is on his way to the hospital. They think it is just smoke inhalation but they’re not sure. I’m on my way there now.”

“I’ll meet you there.”

Lucy was about halfway to the hospital when Ace crossed her mind. She wondered if he was working and, if so, if he was at the fire scene with her father. What if he was injured too? She hit the gas, she couldn’t get to the hospital fast enough.

Shane was at the bar waiting for Luke to show up. He found himself sitting staring at the door. He decided to pour himself a beer.

“Hey.”

Shane looked up and did a double take. Luke was standing in front of him. Instead of his usual dress slacks, shirt and tie, Luke had on jeans and a tight fitted black V-neck t-shirt. Shane couldn’t help but stare.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare. You just look different.”

“Is that good or bad?”

“Good. I mean you looked good before. You just look different now.”

“You should see what I’m hiding under these clothes.” Luke smirked.

The thought of Luke naked made Shane instantly hard.

“Is that an invitation?”

“Do you want it to be?”

The bartender walked over and tapped Shane on the shoulder.

“Mr. Hart, you have a phone call.”

“Who is it?”

“Mr. King and he said it’s urgent.”

“I’ll be right back, Luke.”

Shane walked to the back of the bar and picked up the phone.

“Dec, what’s up?”

“It’s Ace. He was injured at a call. That’s all I know. I’m at the hospital.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Shane ran past the bartender.

“Jenna, you’re in charge. It’s Ace, I have to get to the hospital.”

“Is he going to be ok?”

“I don’t know. I’ll call you.”

Luke was standing at the end of the bar as Shane exited.

“Luke, I’m sorry but my partner Ace, he was injured at a call and is on his way to the hospital. I have to go.”

“Of course, I hope he will be alright.”

“Me too, I don’t know what we’d do without him.”

Shane ran out, leaving Luke to wonder why he even came to meet Shane. He wasn’t into sharing even though it seemed that Shane and his partners didn’t mind.

Lucy ran into the ER just as they were wheeling Ace past. He looked like he was dead. Her heart was in her throat. She couldn’t breathe.

“Lucy, your father is going to be alright. They’re treating him for smoke inhalation.”

“What about Ace? I saw them rushing him in.”

“There was a ceiling collapse and Ace was trapped. Your father helped pull him out. He wasn’t breathing at first. Your father is very upset.”

“Oh Mom, I was so awful to him last time we spoke.”

Lucy’s mother pulled her into a hug.

“Let’s sit down and pray dear. He is a strong young man. I’m sure he will be just fine and then you can straighten things out with him.”

“When can we see Daddy?”

“They said in a few minutes. Someone will come call us in.”

“Ok.”

Lucy just sat there holding her mother’s hand while thoughts of Ace flooded her head.

Declan paced back and forth. Shane and Chace arrived at the same time.

“Shane, you hear anything else?”

“No, I’m hoping no news is good news.”

The two walked into the ER waiting area to find Declan pacing.

“Any news?”

Declan shook his head at Chace.

“All I know is that a ceiling collapsed, trapping him. He has severe smoke inhalation and stopped breathing at one point.”

“But he’s ok now right?”

“I don’t know, Shane. How’d you do at the doctor’s today?”

“I still can’t fight for two more weeks because of this stupid concussion but I can get back to working out.”

“Shane, maybe you should quit while you’re ahead.”

“Quit, Declan?”

“How many more times do you think you can get your head bashed in before you end up with permanent damage?”

“I’m fine.”

“If you were fine then you’d be back in the cage. Shane, you know I care about you, I’m just worried.”

“Thanks, Dec, but I’m ok.”

“Dec, Shane, come on, the doctor just walked in.”

Declan, Shane and Chace all walked towards the doctor who was already talking to Lucy and her mother.

“You can go see your husband now, Mrs. Jenkins.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

“Dr. St. Paul, is there any news on Ace Dean?”

“We were just about to ask that ourselves, Lucy.”

Lucy turned and looked at the trio.

“Mr. Dean is being treated for smoke inhalation. It was severe enough that we needed to intubate. He also has a few cracked ribs, but my main concern right now is keeping him breathing.”

“Can I see him?”

Declan, Shane and Chace all looked at Lucy when she asked the doctor if she could see Ace.

“How close are you and Ace?”

“Well, my father thinks of him as a son.”

Chace smirked and again asked, “How close are you and Ace?”

Lucy looked down at the floor. Her mother rubbed her back. Lucy looked up with tears in her eyes.

“Close and it’s complicated.”

“You can each see him but one at a time and only for a few minutes.”

Declan rested his hand on Lucy’s shoulder.

“You go first, Lucy.”

“Thank you.” Lucy smiled at Declan. Then she followed the doctor down the hall.

Lucy walked into Ace’s room. He was so still and pale, he looked dead. Machines were flashing, beeping and helping him breathe. Lucy approached the bed and took hold of his hand.

“I love you too. I’m so sorry…for everything.”