Embracing Today, a firefighter romance: (The Trading Yesterday Series, #3), Kahlen Aymes [essential reading txt] 📗

This was new for me, too, but my business degree and experience with it in the past dictated that insurance policies typically had some sort of liability coverage on accident victims. The issue would be that the blaze was Carter’s fault. He was the one drinking; it was his asinine decision to keep working by lantern in a greasy shop.

“My daughter Googled you, and the fire my son died in. You have all that land.”

I felt sick that I was being subjected to this interrogation, surrounded by what seemed to me to be a bunch of delinquents and criminals. “It’s not liquid.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” The woman scowled and sucked on her cigarette. Surely her voice and leathery skin had been destroyed from years of smoking.

“Having land is not the same as having cash,” I tried to explain without giving too much away. Did she or her daughter know how to look up the land value from the Teton County Assessor? I’d have to borrow against the land, wait for the insurance settlement, or sell it in order to get money for her now, which will still take weeks or months.

She seemed to consider this for a minute. “I lost my son! I deserve to be paid!”

I felt they could kill me, and I was positive that there was someone in this room that would be capable of doing just that. I sucked in my breath. I had to get the hell out of here and fast. All thoughts of attending the funeral vanished. I just had to get home.

“I agree, but I beg for your patience. I can’t get anything significant right away.” I glanced at Apollo who was leaning up against the wall with his beefy, tattooed arms crossed over his chest, a stoic expression plastered on his face.

“Give Sierra your credit card,” Carter’s mother demanded. I didn’t know what to call her, even in my mind. My mouth fell open in astonishment. This was bad. I was in serious trouble.

“Hey, Ma,” Apollo said, moving closer. He put his head down and whispered something in her ear. When he moved away, he kept speaking. “Know what I mean? Stolen plastic will only draw attention to the family. We need to be patient. The insurance payout is where the big money is. She wasn’t married to Carter, so it will come to you. Chill out for now.”

“Right. I can make sure the investigation goes as planned and then follow-up with my insurance company.” I could hear the tremor in my voice and tried to quell it.

“How much do you think it will be?” Apollo demanded.

My sheltered life in Wyoming had not prepared me to deal with any of this, but I had to keep my wits about me, or I could end up dead, or worse. “A hundred thousand, maybe. I’m not sure. It depends on the policy, but I’ll look into it.”

My response seemed to placate her, and the old woman nodded. “Right,” she agreed. “But I still need a new dress for Carter’s service, and you’re gonna buy it for me.”

I nodded, scared out of my wits. “Okay, I can probably afford a few dresses for you and Sierra and, I’m sorry, I don’t know Apollo’s girlfriend’s name.” I was careful not to say something to set him or his mother off.

“Greta,” a voluptuous woman, sitting on the arm of the shabby sofa, spoke up.

“Greta,” I nodded. “I’d love to get to know all of you better and it will be fun to all go shopping together. I’d like a new outfit, too,” I lied. A public place was the safest place to be and maybe I could find a police officer or a mall security guard who could help me.

“What about Apollo’s suit? And my grandkids? They need something cute for their uncle’s service.”

“What about us?” one of the other men asked.

“You, too,” the old lady agreed.

I tried to remember how much open credit I had on my one credit card, but hopefully I wouldn’t need it. “I think I can do that.” Another lie, but anything to get out of this house. “Then later, maybe the kids can come and swim at the hotel pool.” I tried to smile, but the attempt was pathetic. “Sound good?” I could almost feel the lie screaming from my face. I knew I had to look terrified.

“Come on, girls. You and the kids ride with the other guys and me and Carter’s girl will go with Apollo”. The women and two of the men rose to do as the old woman requested, but as they gathered the kids and left the house, many nasty looks were cast in my direction. This was a nightmare.

When Mrs. Stanton came out of her bedroom, she had put on a pair of sandals on her bare feet, though little else had changed. She was drunk and probably high.

“Come on,” she grumbled, moving slowly with a slight limp on her right leg. I stood to follow her, glancing at my bag sitting by the door. When I got close to it, I bent to pick it up, when Apollo grabbed my arm. “Don’t do anything stupid,” Apollo stated. “We’ll be watching your every move. You better not run or call the cops.”

I met his eyes steadily. My bravado was all an act, but I was scared for my life. “How is this going to work with the insurance money if you keep threatening me? I agree your family deserves some compensation, but stealing my credit card, or hurting me will only put your family under suspicion. If something happens to me, do you think they won’t look here first? If I don’t make it home in two days as planned, my friends will call the police. How does that help you get the insurance? I just wanted to get my bag. I thought we were going to take the kids swimming after shopping.”

He glared at me warily and