BURNT (The Wild Flames #1) Read online

  “Hi Kevin,” Tara answered. “Baby, I’ve been thinking about you all day. Want to come over? The house would be all ours.”

  “Tara...” he quickly interrupted, “something awful has happened. Please come to my house. Jake...he was just arrested.”

  “What? I’ll be right there,” she said, disconnecting the call.

  Kevin fell to the living room couch. Jake was a suspect in a murder case? He couldn’t believe this was happening.

  ***

  Tara tried not to panic as she drove to Kevin’s house. He had not had the chance to explain what was happening and she already feared the worst.

  “It will be okay! It will be okay!” she chanted, trying to believe her words.

  She turned into his driveway and he was watching for her from the front window.

  He hurried out of the house and ran to her car. When he jumped in, they looked at one another.

  “Thank you for coming. I can’t get a hold of my parents and...” he took a deep breath.

  She could tell he was a nervous wreck.

  “It’s going to be okay,” she said, backing out of the driveway.

  He sighed heavily in the seat next to her and turned to look out the window. She didn’t want to pry, but she was concerned about him. She was about to reply when Kevin suddenly spoke up.

  “You’re not going to believe what they think Jake has done,” he replied, never turning back to her.

  “What?” she asked with caution.

  There was a long pause, before he continued.

  “Murder...” he finally let out.

  Her eyes widened, but she tried not to look away from the road. The one word answer kept running through her mind. Murder? It was no longer a stretch to realize what he was saying.

  “You don’t mean to say they think he had something to do with the murders in town?” she asked.

  She turned slightly and saw the side of his head. He was nodding.

  “Amy?” she asked slowly.

  Again, he nodded his head. She couldn’t believe it. It didn’t make sense.

  “Why? What motive would he have? He doesn’t even know her.”

  Suddenly, he turned back to face her. She only briefly looked at him before looking back at the road.

  “According to Officer Jessup...they were dating.”

  Tara flung her head around to look at him.

  “Dating?” she said, shocked to hear the news.

  This was all so surreal. It couldn’t be possible. She could barely think.

  “They have to be mistaken,” she replied, just as the car turned into the police station.

  “What would be the chances?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know, but I don’t want to believe it. If he murdered Amy, then...”

  “He probably murdered the rest of the victims,” Tara finished for him.

  Their eyes locked as she parked. There was no time to wait. They both quickly exited the car and rushed to the entrance. He was way ahead of her, but she understood why. They got inside, and on reporting their visit, were guided to another floor. She could see how nervous he was, from his actions and the sweat on his forehead. She wanted to reach out to him, but she was afraid to distract him.

  Finally, Officer Jessup and Officer Grayson made their appearance. They moved closer to the two officers.

  “I want to see him,” Kevin said.

  Officer Grayson nodded. “You’ll get your chance. They’re fingerprinting him now. We’ll be sure to let you know when you can have a few minutes.”

  They started to walk away, but Kevin persisted.

  “You have no right. What proof do you have?”

  “We’re not at liberty to discuss the details with you,” Officer Jessup remarked.

  “You’re locking him up like a criminal, when it’s possible he didn’t do this. I know my brother and he would not kill someone. You have the wrong guy.”

  Officer Jessup nodded. “For your sake and his...I hope we do. We’re going to question him now. Step back sir, we’ll get to the bottom of this. I promise you.”

  They walked away, leaving Kevin standing frozen, looking forlorn. Tara could see the pain and confusion on his face. She reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him closer to her.

  “It will be alright,” she replied, although she had no idea what was going to happen.

  “I hope you’re right,” he said, shaking his head. “He said he didn’t do it. I have to believe him.”

  Tara wanted to believe him too.

  “Let’s sit down,” she said, pulling him over to two empty seats along a wall.

  She continued to hold his hand in hers. All they could do was wait for the officers. She hoped it would all be over sooner than later.

  ***

  About two hours into the wait, Kevin got up and began pacing. He couldn’t take much more of this waiting, because it only brought about more worrying. What are they talking about? When can I see him? Why do they feel he was involved? Was he involved? All the questions kept running through his mind. He felt like he was going to go crazy.

  “Mr. Crawford?” He looked up when he heard his name. He noticed Tara had gotten up and moved to his side. She grabbed on to his hand. Kevin didn’t know what he would have done without her there.

  “Yes?” he answered.

  The officer looked between Kevin and Tara.

  “Only one of you can go back,” the officer informed them.

  Kevin nodded, turning to Tara. He gave her an apologetic look, but she didn’t seem to mind.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  “I love you too,” he answered, planting a brief kiss on her lips for comfort.

  He then turned back to the officer and followed her through a glass door. His heart raced as they followed a path down a long hallway. She opened a door, where he went in and was led to a chair.

  “Where is he?” he asked, looking around the room.

  “He’ll be in shortly,” she replied in a serious tone.

  He took a seat and a few seconds later he saw Jake walking through another door, on the other side of the glass. Kevin stared at him, wearing an orange jumpsuit and already looking like a man on death row. Jake moved closer to the window that divided them, and both their faces turned to their phones. They picked up the phones simultaneously to talk.

  “Hello,” Jake spoke. His gaze fell to the floor.

  “Hello,” Kevin replied, not knowing where to begin.

  “I have a lawyer coming tomorrow,” Jake offered.

  Kevin sighed. It all seemed so official. “Really...did they appoint you one?”

  Jake slowly nodded.

  “Jake. I have to know for sure...you didn’t do this, right?”

  There was agony on Jake’s face. His hesitation was worrisome.

  “I was questioned already,” he replied, seeming to avoid the question that Kevin asked.

  Kevin just looked at him, unsure if it was deliberate.

  “I told them everything I know,” Jake answered.

  “Which is?” Kevin asked quietly.

  Jake looked into Kevin’s eyes. “I don’t know what happened to Amy.”

  A breath of air escaped from Kevin’s lungs. He was relieved.

  “Okay...that’s a start.”

  “Did you really question it?” Jake asked, glaring at him. “Did you believe the police?”

  Kevin nervously shrugged. “I don’t know. You were planning on leaving a few minutes earlier and I haven’t really had much time to talk to you lately. I guess a part of me feared the worst. I’m sorry for doubting you.”

  Jake gawked. It pained Kevin to see him this way.

  “I understand,” Jake finally said.

  Kevin sighed, knowing he still had plenty of questions.

  “I do wonder how you and Amy came to know each other.” He said with a sigh.

  Kevin thought about how Amy had dropped them both off that one night, but Jake was the first one to go inside th
e house. It wasn’t like he stuck around to talk to her. “I didn’t know you were seeing anyone, either,” he added.

  Jake looked away. “It just kind of happened. I ran into her a couple of days after meeting her. We got to talking and one thing led to another. She was someone nice to talk to, but it was just a fling...nothing serious.”

  The way he said it made Kevin think there was more to the story.

  “I need you to do me a favor,” Jake said, bringing Kevin’s attention to the moment at hand.

  “Okay, what?” he asked slowly.

  “I wasn’t lucky enough to have a proper alibi. I need you to back me up. Tell the cops that the three of us were together at that movie we saw. Fiery Peaks, wasn’t it?”

  Jake’s face was a mask of intensity. He glared at Kevin through the glass as though daring his brother to contradict him.

  Kevin looked around the small room. He was glad that the guard seemed to be a safe distance away, but he couldn’t believe his brother was being so vocal. They were lucky. In a small town like where they lived, jails didn’t record prisoners’ conversations.

  “You can’t be serious,” Kevin hissed between clenched teeth.

  Jake nodded. His face was as serious as stone.

  “I’m dead serious,” Jake pleaded. “I could be hung out to dry if you let them believe I don’t have an alibi, and that would be wrong. I need you to cover for me, just tell them where we were, Kevin. It’s simple.”

  Jake’s facial expressions softened after he made his appeal.

  “So where were you last night?” Kevin shot back, barely above a whisper.

  “None of your business,” Jake replied coldly.

  Kevin’s jaw dropped. “It is my business if you want me to lie for you,” he whispered into the phone. “Where were you?”

  Jake looked around. His eyes fell on the guard and then shot a look back at Kevin.

  “I was out with a lady friend...if you know what I mean,” Jake winked.

  Lady friend? Kevin thought. He closed his eyes, processing the words. Things were only getting harder to comprehend.

  “What? A hooker?” Kevin asked, still in disbelief from everything that was happening.

  “You said it...not me,” Jake replied. A smirk rose from his lips.

  Kevin shook his head. Jake was so nonchalant over the whole thing and didn’t seem the least bit concerned his girlfriend was dead.

  “I don’t think I can...”

  “Time’s up,” the guard said, moving closer to them.

  The panic on Jake’s face was evident. His eyes made its final plea to Kevin. Kevin looked away from him. He couldn’t make any promises. He didn’t know if he could keep them.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” Kevin replied, putting down the phone.

  Jake’s eyes followed him as he left, but he pretended not to notice. He had a lot to think about and he needed time, without Jake staring his plea for him to be an alibi.

  ***

  The drive back to Kevin’s house was quiet and awkward. Tara cautiously watched him, but he never said a word once they left the police station. She decided not to put her nose where it didn’t belong and knew in due time he would come around. As they headed down the street to the house, she saw his parent’s car in the driveway. “It looks like they’re home,” she said, coming to a stop.

  He looked at the house and then at her. “Keep driving.”

  “What?” she said.

  “I can’t talk to them right now,” he mumbled, sitting back against the seat.

  She stared at him, even though he was not looking her way.

  “You have to tell them, Kevin. They need to know.”

  He looked at her. “They will...just not right this second.”

  She was torn between what was right and what he wanted her to do. She decided to trust him and go along with his plan. They drove for a little while before she found the courage to ask for details.

  “Where are we going?” She asked.

  “Rosemont Hotel,” Kevin answered in haste.

  She shrugged, carrying out his request. They drove the rest of the way to the hotel and once she was parked, she turned to him.

  “Okay, we’re here...now, you mind telling me why?”

  “I wanted to be somewhere private,” he replied. “We need to discuss some things.”

  The way he was looking at her, it just startled her. He seemed so unsure of himself. Tara could only imagine what was going on in his mind. They got out of the car and headed into the hotel. She followed him as her walked to the registration desk and quickly paid for a room. Kevin turned to her, motioning for her to follow him, and they got on the elevator. She was anxious to find out what he wanted to say, but she wasn’t going pushy too hard about it. The elevator got to their floor and she followed him to the room.

  The moment they got inside, he turned to her.

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he admitted.

  She took his hand and walked with him to sit on the bed.

  “Talk to me. What did Jake say?”

  “He denied it, which I would have expected. He’s my brother and I don’t want to ever believe he could do something like that, but I had doubts.”

  “Had?” she asked, staring at him for an answer.

  “Had...” he agreed. “I feel he’s being sincere. He says he knows nothing about it and I believe him.”

  She was relieved to hear the words. She wanted to believe him, too.

  “Then, what’s the problem? We stand by his side and help him fight. It’s a no brainer,” she remarked with a nod.

  She remembered her dad would say that innocent people had to work harder to fight their way out of trouble. Kevin and his family could get Jake through it. She just knew they could.

  “Do you honestly believe that? Do you think we could help him get through this and prove his innocence, no matter what we had to do?”

  “I believe you’re innocent until proven guilty. So, why shouldn’t we help him?”

  Kevin nodded, but he still didn’t seem sure.

  “Is something else bothering you?” she asked, seeing he was still uneasy.

  He let out a sigh. “He asked me to lie to the police.”

  “About what?” she asked.

  “He wants me to tell the police he was with me all night, so he obviously couldn’t have murdered Amy.” He paused, shaking his head. “What’s worse than that? I’m actually considering it.”

  Her eyes widened and she dropped his hand from hers. She stood up from the bed and thought about what he was saying. She wanted to help Jake out, but lying to the police was definitely something she wasn’t expecting or prepared to do. She then thought about her conversation with the officers as she was being questioned. She turned to face him.

  “If you lie, then I’ll have to lie, too. The police know we were together.”

  “I realize that,” he said. “I know it’s a huge favor to ask of you and I can’t force you to do anything you don’t feel comfortable with.”

  Tara tried to picture how she would feel lying to an officer when no one really knew the truth...other than Jake. It was hard enough telling them the truth without feeling like a criminal. Then again, it was about helping Kevin’s brother. He wasn’t pressuring her, and even as he was still talking about how it was her decision and he would never coerce her into anything, she had made up her mind.

  “I’ll do it,” she said.

  “Are you sure?” he asked. She wasn’t sure of anything, but she had to trust him and hope for the best.

  “I know I love you and I don’t want you to be alone in this. I want to do this for you.”

  “I don’t want you to feel obligated,” he started.

  She walked over to the bed and placed a finger to his lips.

  “I don’t feel obligated, but if this is something you are willing to do for your brother, then I’m willing to do it for you.”

  As she said the words, she felt
a moment of clarity rush past her. She was willing to do anything for Kevin; even if it meant lying to the cops. God, I love this man, she thought.

  “Thank you,” he replied, grabbing her waist and pulling her down to his lap.

  He caressed her face between his palms and pulled her to him. They kissed. It started off slow and gentle, but then turned into a hot and heavy distraction. His hand cupped her neck, while his tongue grazed across hers. She tried to ignore that she could feel his erection through his jeans. The more she fought it, though, the harder it was to resist. She moaned against his lips, deepening the kiss.

  “I need you tonight,” he whispered against her lips.

  It was all she wanted to hear. She stood up from his lap and undressed. She needed him too. The temporary escape from the chaos was what they both yearned for. It sealed their resolve to help Jake.

  Chapter 11

  Tara looked at their clothes, spread out on the floor, and had a momentary reminder of their life, which seemed just as frenetic. She needed the sensual distraction. She took a stride toward the bed, ready to mount him. She wrapped her legs around his and straddled him. Looking down at his eager face was enough to send wicked heat to her stomach. Her hands moved to the back of his neck and she lowered herself to steal a kiss. Their bodies gently swayed together as she positioned herself, feeling his rock hard shaft against her and eagerly waiting. She was so wet for him, and her throbbing clit didn’t want to wait, but she did her best to keep things slow.

  Her breasts slid against Kevin’s body while she tenderly drew him toward her. She felt his hand snaked through her long hair, gently grasping back at it. His teeth slightly bit down on her lower lip as they tried to hold the kiss, causing a deep moan to leave her lips. She loved how Kevin stroked through her hair until they landed on her back. As he held her in place, they continued the passionate embrace.

  “Hmmm...” Tara moaned as she felt him standing to his feet. She wrapped her legs around his body as he carried her around to the other side of the bed. Their lips never broke from each other and their tongues continued dancing in exploration and passion. She felt him lower her to the bed and as his hands roamed up and down her body, she knew he was ready.