Irresistible Forces (McKingley) by Aliyah Burke, McKenna Jeffries Read Free Book Online Page A

didn’t have time to wait until she completely woke up.
    He drove to his destination fast, the scanner on giving him bits and pieces of what he could expect to find. Lights flashing and siren wailing, he whipped into the parking lot and stared up at the smouldering remains of part of a building. He hopped out then strode up to the police tape barricade.
    The officer who was there immediately lifted it and he ducked to pass under. He could see the news trucks gathering and pressed on. Those would be dealt with later.
    “What do we have?”
    “Part of the science lab blew. A few injuries but thankfully zero casualties.”
    He took a deep breath and shook his head. “Thanks.” He glanced at the officer by him and gave her a smile. “Evening, Deputy Conner.”
    Her return smile was fleeting and he didn’t begrudge her that. She was all about her job. Part of which made her so damn good at it.
    “Sheriff.” She cleared her throat and touched the side of her cheek. “You…umm…lipstick.”
    Damn. He rubbed it with the back of his hand until she nodded it was no longer there. Anyone else would have pressed him for who he’d been with. Not Conner. She didn’t pry.
    He opened his mouth to say something else when another explosion rocked the area. Flames shot out of the hole and a few more windows shattered with the force of the heat and projectiles that hit them.
    “Get down, get down!” he hollered, shielding his eyes from the flare. “Get those people back, goddamnit!”
    He ran towards the building to a man whose leg was on fire and helped put it out. Sirens pierced the night as more trucks rolled in to help combat the flames.
    “Come on, Thom!” a feminine voice came from the building and he turned in time to see his sister, his baby sister, hauling a stretcher down the ramp. Smoke billowed out after her and he pointed the man with him in the direction of medical and headed for his sister.
    Her face had streaks of soot on it and drywall dust seemed to fly off her with every step she took. Firefighters raced up past her, but he paid them no mind. Shoving through people, he made his way to her.
    “Lis!”
    She lifted her head and looked around. A ghost of a smile lifted her lips when she spied him.
    “Hey, Leo,” she said. They never slowed and he pivoted to keep pace with her. “Quite a mess wouldn’t you say?”
    “What are you doing in there?” He nodded at Thom who was rattling off stats into his radio.
    “My job.” They veered around a large chunk of concrete, which had blown out earlier.
    “We don’t even know what kind of chemicals are burning in there.”
    “And I can’t sit around and let injured people suffer because of that.” She touched his arm before opening the door to the ambulance. “I don’t need you to bandage my knees anymore, Leo. I’ll be okay.” She and Thom shared a look and lifted on their silent count. They’d worked together for so long they didn’t need verbal communication. Thom climbed in the back with the burns victim and she shut the doors. “Stay safe, okay?” She squeezed his arm then ran around to the front. Seconds later the ambulance had driven off.
    She was right—he couldn’t protect her. Didn’t mean he would stop trying, but he’d been hovering more than usual ever since their cousin, Justin, had been shot on her lawn. They all looked after Lis, though—she’d been so sick as a baby, they hadn’t known if she would make it. She’d done more than just make it. She’d surpassed anything they could have hoped for.
    “Sheriff!”
    Snapping his head around, he spied Deputy Conner waving at him. He jogged over to her side and the man she was talking to. Rolling his shoulders, he sighed in disappointment. This was going to take a long while. So much for getting back to the warm, willing woman he’d left in bed.
    * * * *
    Deyon couldn’t go back to sleep after Leo had left. She’d thought about it but fell short of reaching the actual goal of