Rekindle The Flames (The Men of CLE-FD Book 4) (10 page)

“Well, when the cat’s away, the mice will play,” a
sarcastic voice said.

Megan turned around to see Lolita standing at the fence
that separated their yards. “Not that it is any of your business,” she snarled,
“That was my brother-in-law.”

“Oh, keeping it in the family…nice touch.”

Megan walked over to the fence.  It was about time she put
that nosey she-devil in her place. “Look, I’ve had a hard day and you are not
about to make it any worse.  I know what you tried to do with Ryan.  Luring him
to your house for dinner and then you tried to seduce him…what a waste of your
time and energy.”

“I’m not surprised he told you or that he turned down my
advances.  Ryan is a nice guy, too nice to be attached to a crybaby like you,”
she replied with a snap to her tone. “You’re lucky I backed off or…”

“Or, what Lolita? I know my husband; he would never be
unfaithful to me.  So, if you had been given one minute or an hour, it would
not have produced a damn thing.  Ryan would not have slept with you.”

“Don’t be so sure of that. He was all for it before his
conscious kicked in.”

“You are a sad excuse for a woman.  If something would
have happened it wouldn’t have meant anything for Ryan. He would have fucked
you out of pity, not because he desired you. You haven’t had a man since your
husband walked out, have you?” Megan bit back. Thanks to Pam, her vocabulary
contained words she would never use.

“Aw, trying to hurt my feelings…NOT! You’re young and will
screw up again; it’s in your nature.” Lolita put her hands on the fence and
glared at her.  “I refuse to help your mother ruin Ryan, but I will help myself
to him when you mess up again. I will be there to pick up the pieces of Ryan’s
broken heart.  And once he has had a taste of what I have to offer, sweetheart,
you will be a faded memory.”

Lack of sleep and lingering anger from the flowers Emin
sent to her workplace had Megan lose it altogether. She lunged for the fence
causing Lolita to jump back.  Rapidly, she spat, “Bitch, stay your ass away
from him or it’ll be you and me!”  That said she walked inside the house and
slammed the door behind her.  The clock and pictures hanging on the wall fell
lopsided from the vibration. She threw her stuff on the floor, venting. Steam
poured from her pores. Her mother had gone too far.  She was enlisting help
from the neighbors. It was time for her to be stopped.

Chapter Twelve

Twenty-Four Hours Later

Rescue Squad 1 backed into the firehouse.  Ryan jumped off
the truck. Most of their morning had been spent doing drills.

“Nice job on the water today, Tisdale,” Otto said slapping
him on the shoulder.

 “Thanks, Lieutenant. Hey, if it stays slow today, do you
think we can do drills on the ropes?  I was hoping we could do a tall building
drop.”

Otto nodded. “Sure, if we stay slow.  Go shower, you smell
like Lake Erie,” he joked.

Ryan sniffed his shirt. “Yeah, I do.” He headed for the
locker room when Jon stopped him.

“Ryan, there is a visitor waiting for you in the
breakroom.”

“Who is it, Jon?”

Jon shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t know…I didn’t ask.”

Ryan entered the breakroom and grinned. “Mr. Jones, what
brings you to the firehouse?” James Jones had asked Ryan to call him by his
first name numerous times, but Ryan couldn’t bring himself to call him James or
any nickname derived from it.  He respected the man as a person and admired his
calm demeanor as a businessman. He often wondered how he ended up with Iona as
a mate.

James shook Ryan’s hand. “I was going to call but wanted
to see where you worked.  I’ve never been inside a firehouse before.  It’s like
a cool clubhouse for grown men with expensive toys to play with,” he chuckled.

“I’d be glad to give you a tour. If we get a call, you can
tag along.”

“I don’t want to get in the way of the men working.”

“Nah, you won’t be in the way.”  Ryan offered James a
seat. “Would you like a cup of coffee or something to eat?”

“Ryan, I’m fine,” he replied, sitting down and unbuttoning
his suit jacket.

Ryan sat at the table. “Alright, then what can I do for
you?”

James put a folder on the table. “I’m here to help you and
Megan.”

Ryan looked at the folder but didn’t pick it up. He had an
idea of what it contained. “Mr. Jones, I hope that folder doesn’t have what I
think it has in it?”

James grinned. “You’re a smart man.  I knew I liked you
for a reason.”

“If that’s the case, then you know I’m not going to agree
to sign them. Look, Mr. Jones, I respect you.  I don’t want to lose that.  So
maybe we should end this conversation now.”

“Ryan, it’s the only way to stop Iona and give you and
Megan a shot at a happy life. You love my daughter, right?”

He nodded. “You know I do.”

He opened the folder and spread out the documents. James
said, “These look like legitimate documents, don’t they?”

Ryan flipped through the documents.  They consisted of a
separation agreement, divorce decree, and financial spreadsheets. “Yeah, they
do.  Are you saying these are fake documents?”

“Every document with your name printed on it is a fake
document. Mine are real documents.”

“You want a divorce from Iona?” Ryan broke into a broad
grin.  “I knew you didn’t want to be with that witch. You’re too calm and
collective.”

“Well, I was young when we met and she had the answers
that I needed to hear to keep me going when I wanted to give up.  Ryan, it took
me years to realize she was not the woman for me.  I do believe you are the man
for Megan.  I can’t let Iona ruin a perfect match made in heaven.”

Ryan shook his head. “Our marriage isn’t perfect, but it
could be a lot better without Iona and Emin interfering in it.  How is this
going to work?”

“Son, the less you know, the better. In the business
world, I have met some shady characters.  I don’t dismiss them all because I
never know when I might need a favor.  The day has arrived that I need a favor.
Your divorce papers are 100% worthless and will not stand up in any court. All
you and Megan have to do is sign, and my people will take care of the rest. 
Ten days from now, my divorce will be final.  However, you’ll still be happily
married.”

“Ten days?  How is that possible, Mr. Jones?”

“I have a flight schedule to the Dominican.  No sooner
than Iona signs the papers I’ll be on my way there to get my sham of a marriage
over with.  Once more night in the same house with that woman, and I can’t
promise what will happen to her.”

Ryan leaned back in the chair and rubbed his chin. The
look on James Jones face was serious. “Sounds simple, but I was hoping to get
revenge.  I wanted to take pleasure in watching Iona melt as I poured water on
her.”

James released a booming laugh. “Revenge is always sweeter
when you walk away with clean hands, Ryan.  I can’t stop you from hurting
Emin.  He has to be dealt with, and that should come from you.”

 “What are you suggesting I do?” Ryan asked with a
questioning brow.

“Whatever your heart desires; just don’t kill him.  He’s a
lawyer with connections through his family. That could make things hard for
you. So whatever you do, make sure he provokes you into doing it.  You’re a big
man, and he wants to be big, but peel away his new shell and beneath it, he is
still that quivering mess of flab he’s always been.”

“I’m willing to do what I have to do to keep him away from
Megan.”

“I’ll protect you as much as I can.  I have an excellent
legal staff as well as other resources at my disposal.”

Ryan smirked. “Really?”

“Yes. And the attorneys that work for me are legitimate,”
James added after reading Ryan’s skeptical look.

Ryan held out his hand. “Then we have a deal.  I’ll have
Megan sign the papers tonight when I get home.  We’re going to Ja’Nell’s to
celebrate tonight with some friends, why don’t you join us?”

“Damn,” James muttered.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ryan, I don’t think that is a good idea.  Iona could have
spies watching you two.  If you two appear too happy, she will not believe a
divorce is in the works.”

“I didn’t think about that.  We already have the plans;
I’ll have to alter them somehow; Megan has her heart set on a night out.”

Jon walked into the room. “I’m sorry; I didn’t know you
still had a visitor,” he said, starting to leave.

Ryan stopped him. “Jon, I want you to meet my
father-in-law, James Jones.  Mr. Jones, this is my cousin and one of the
lieutenants at the firehouse.”

Jon offered his hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Jones.” James
nodded and shook Jon’s hand but remained silent. “I’m gonna disappear now.”

“Jon, I need your help. Can you stay for a minute while I
run an idea by the both of you?” Ryan asked.

“Sure,” Jon agreed.

Later that night Ryan, Jon, Orlando, and Nick arrived at
Illuminations. Jon and Ryan were standing at the bar when Megan walked in. 
Ryan could tell from her body language that she was still hot under the
collar.  His idea to have her call Emin to cry on his shoulder was met with a
raging fit.  She hated the idea to tell Emin that Ryan had cheated on her with
Lolita.

Megan protested to the point of calling off the evening
until Ryan convinced her this was the only way to get the ball rolling to get
the manipulative people out of their lives for good.  Once the papers were
signed and dropped off to the imposters posing as attorneys, they went their
separate ways.  Ryan went to Jon’s house, and Megan went home to wait for Emin
to pick her up for their date.

The nightclub was packed, and Illuminations was a known
hangout for firefighters.  There would not be any surprise that they would be
there if Emin got suspicious. Ryan doubted that would happen since Emin’s
attention was focused on Megan.

Megan looked beautiful, although she had downplayed her
usual style. She wore black skinny jeans and a short crop top that bared her
midriff. The pendant that graced her belly button served as a prism for the
lights blinking in the nightclub.  Her hair was full of natural curls.  Ryan
could hardly contain himself.

“Still think this was a good idea?” Jon asked sipping beer.

Ryan didn’t take his eyes off Megan and Emin as they sat
at a table across the room.  Emin was being a handful, and Megan was clearly
rebuffing his moves.  “Yeah, I do.  I want to teach that asshole a lesson.  He
doesn’t fuck with me and get away with it.”

“I understand that.  I hope it doesn’t backfire.  Megan
looks like she is ready to puke her guts out.”

Ryan laughed. “That would be icing on the cake if she did
that.  Where did Orlando and Nick go?”

“They got you covered from the other side of the room in
case dude gets lost in the crowd.”

Across the room, Orlando spotted Megan and the man she was
supposed to be on a date with.  “Damn, this place brings back memories,” he
said to Nick.

Nick asked, “You met Regan here, didn’t you?”

 “Yep. We had our first dance on that dance floor and
didn’t even know each other’s name.  Now we’re married with a son. Have you and
Lincoln made reservations in Chicago yet for Lynette’s wedding?”

 “Not yet.  We have to either get my mom to go or find a
sitter to watch the kids.  Lincoln is not gonna want to leave her babies with a
sitter for a week.”

“Yeah, Regan is fussing about that too.  Hey, why don’t we
hire a professional babysitter to travel with us and split the cost?” Orlando
suggested.

“I can’t afford that. Besides, we would need two.  I have
three kids to your one.”

Orlando slapped Nick on the back. “Who would have thought
you would have three kids when you acted like a big ass kid yourself?”

 “I never saw it coming, but I’m happy, Orlando.  Lincoln
is the best thing to come my way.  I love her more every day.  She keeps me
going. I see why Ryan is doing this.  You can’t replace that one and only love
of your life. Hey, I don’t need to tell you that.”

Orlando shook his head. “Nope, I understand perfectly why
he is doing it.  It’s just the people who are involved that have me worried. 
They can come back to fuck him over, and he doesn’t need that.”

“We’re here to make sure that doesn’t happen.  He’s one of
us now, a brother to the end.  We got his back.”

Two scantily dressed women approached them, their hips
gyrating to the music that was playing.  The taller one asked first. “Are you
fine studs, firemen?”

Orlando rolled his eyes. “Yeah, but married ones, so keep
it moving.”

Nick chuckled as the women made their way down the bar to
the next set of men. “Damn, man, we are definitely scoring some cool points
with the wives tonight. The place is full of free cookies, and we are turning
it down. The old Nick Barona would never do that.”

“That’s the price we pay for love, my man…the price we
pay,” Orlando said, drinking down a shot of tequila.

*****

Megan’s skin itched where Emin touched her.
She didn’t know how she would make it through the night pretending to have a
good time with the well-dressed urchin sitting across from her. Ryan owes me
big, she huffed in silence.
Hmm, maybe a new car or a vacation on a tropical
island. Oh, a shopping spree at a real store. Whatever, I decide it will be big
and expensive
. She looked around the room and spotted him with Jon at the
bar.

He was gorgeous. She hardly saw him dressed
in real clothes. Tonight, he wore a black blazer with a white button down
shirt, black trouser, and hard shoes. His usual attire was shorts, tees, and
jeans, and he always wore sneakers. A man of his size looked damn good dressed
up. She frowned when two women approached the bar and started to talk to them.
Then
it dawned on her
who they were.
Gabrielle and Lincoln.  They decided to have Lincoln
pretend to hit on Ryan because she was young and had a light brown complexion,
and her ultra slim body type fit Megan’s.  The only difference was Lincoln was
tall.

Emin took hold of her hand. “Hey, what has
your attention?”

Megan inhaled and said, “Seems Ryan hasn’t
wasted any time getting back into the game. Looks like he is on a date tonight
too.”

Emin leaned over to take a closer look.
“Wow, she almost looks like you, Megan. That is a sign of a sick bastard. You
should be happy to get rid of him.”

“He is free to date. We signed the divorce
papers, and my marriage will be over soon. My mother’s been right all along.
Ryan cheated on me with our next door neighbor; I can’t forgive him for that.”

“You shouldn’t. I don’t want to pressure
you, but I have to return to New York. Megan, I need to know if you are going
to be with me when I go.”

The bubble in her stomach moved up to her
throat. It was blocking her speech. She hunched her shoulders. “Let’s not talk
about that. I want to dance.”

“Dance? I don’t dance, Megan. At least, not
the dancing these people are doing. Once we get married, you will be introduced
to a higher society of living. I know your father is a millionaire, but he
doesn’t live like one.  I will show you a whole new side of what it is like to
be rich and fabulous.”

Megan wanted to hurl. “My dad doesn’t need
to show off, Emin. I don’t want to be that way either. Why don’t you and my mom
do the high society ass-kissing and I’ll sit back and watch? And another thing
I’ve been meaning to
ask,
what is she getting out of
this?”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s pushing you to marry me.  Did you
offer her some sort of payment for my hand in marriage? I mean, that is how it
works in the old country right?”

“Megan, I’m not caring for your attitude
right now. I love you and always have. Iona didn’t have to sell you to me. I’ve
wanted this since the day I met you.”

She shook her head. “I don’t believe that.
I believe my mother called you the minute she found out I was thinking about
divorcing Ryan.”

Emin became agitated. “Why does it matter
now? We are finally together.”