TONY: Slow Burn (Raging Fire Book 1) by Kallypso Masters (the false prince TXT) 📕

She waved away his concern for her. “You have to do what’s best for you and your family.” She almost said they’d have other times but didn’t know whether Tony’s guard would go back up after they returned to Colorado. “Why don’t we go downstairs, make some coffee, and maybe watch a movie while we wait for word?”

“I’m not going to be able to concentrate on anything until I get the all clear.”

“Then we’ll just sit and talk. Out by the pool.” When he didn’t move, she turned to grab and put on her cover-up, took his free hand, and led him out of her bedroom and into the hall. “Oh! Wait right here.” She remembered the candles she’d left burning and ran back in and blew them out before joining Tony again to walk down the stairs together.

After brewing a fresh pot of coffee, they each carried a mug onto the patio to await further news.

Tony took a sip of his coffee, then set his mug on the table. “This has always been my greatest fear—that something’s going to happen to one of my brothers in the line of duty.”

“I had those same worries when Gino and Marc went off to war.”

He met her gaze. “You understand my fears. I know you’ve had to deal with tragedies with both of them.” He reached across the table to squeeze her hand but didn’t let go. “I don’t think I would survive losing anyone else in my family.” His voice sounded raspy.

“I’m sure Matt will be fine. He had to be in full protective gear, right?”

Tony nodded.

“Thank God for that.”

“Yeah, but they aren’t so much worried about burns this time as they are about a concussion or worse. Mama didn’t even know if he was conscious.”

The lingering and long-term effects of a concussion could be debilitating for anyone, but it might put Matt out of work for a while if severe enough. Could it even end his career? She didn’t think any of the brothers would want to do anything other than be firefighters.

Tony raised his other hand and pressed his thumb and forefinger against his eyelids as if to push back the flow of tears—or to keep her from seeing them. Carm’s own eyes began to sting. Not being with his family right now was killing Tony, and Carm almost regretted coaxing him down here. But Tony needed this getaway; she was certain of it.

Besides, Matt had probably never been alone. He and Franco worked the same shift, and wouldn’t the department have sent him to the hospital to be with Matt when the accident happened? His mother and Rafe lived ninety minutes away, but they’d made it to Leadville already. She was certain the rest of the family was already there or soon would be. Angelina had probably gone down with Rafe and her mama, because Marc would be on duty tonight.

Carm squeezed his hand, unable to come up with any comforting words she thought would help. After half an hour or so, Tony leaned his head back in the chair and closed his eyes. They sat in silence listening to the distant sound of the ocean until Tony’s phone lit up. She saw Rafe’s name flash on the screen; Tony must not realize he still had it silenced.

“Tony, you just got a text.”

He bolted upright. He hadn’t been sleeping but instead had been distancing himself from carrying on a conversation. She could understand that too. He grabbed the phone with one hand but reached out for Carm’s hand with his other. She squeezed his reassuringly then held on.

Tony stared at the screen a moment before his entire body relaxed, and he sat back in the chair to expel a long sigh. Their hands no longer touching, she was heartened that he had sought that contact with her in a moment of panic. She waited anxiously for the update.

“He’s conscious.” Tony cleared his voice. “Rafe said Matt is joking around with Mama.”

Now it was Carm’s turn to relax. “Sounds like his injuries might be minor if he’s awake and kidding around.”

“Well, he has a lousy sense of humor, but yeah, it sounds positive to me too.”

Carm shook her head. Brothers until the end. Tony fancied himself the family’s clown, but from what she could tell, both he and Matt tended to be the more lighthearted of the four brothers. Tony would be doing the same if he’d been there, trying to keep their mama from worrying. Franco was the remote one, but she worried most about Rafe, the brooding older brother who had shouldered the responsibility for the family since losing their papa so tragically.

The family continued to stand by each other no matter what life tossed its way. She commended them for keeping their family bonds strong.

Another text came through. “They don’t have the scan results yet, though.” Tony texted something back and stared at the phone awhile, waiting. When none came, he texted again and explained to Carm, “Thanking Rafe for the update and telling him to keep me posted.”

“You know he will.” Everyone knew how anxious moments like these could be especially when you weren’t with your family. “Don’t forget to turn your ringer back on.”

“Oh yeah. Thanks!” He flipped the switch on the side.

When there were no further texts for fifteen minutes, Carm picked up their mugs and went into the kitchen for refills. It was going to be a long night.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Waiting for Carm to return, Tony decided now that Matt was conscious she needed to go to bed. He doubted he’d be able to until he heard about the scan results, but he didn’t need much sleep. However, she had dive training later today and needed to be at the top of her game to stay safe.

If anything came of their dating each other after this week, Tony couldn’t help but wonder how she’d react to news that Tony had been injured. Or worse. She’d suffered a lot