All Consuming (Brotherhood by Fire #3) -Jaci Burton Page 0,2

Kal, Starling and Micah all followed the ladder team down.

Once Larry was securely on the ground, the two wreckers could start the job of pulling the semi off the side of the overpass.

Lieutenant Davenport of Ladder 27 came over to them. “Good save today, guys.”

“Thanks,” Kal said.

Micah followed the lieutenant over to make sure Larry was okay. Kal turned to Starling.

“We did good today.”

“You were lax on the rope. And you didn’t back me up fast enough once I reached the driver. If I wasn’t as fast as I am, both he and I could have fallen. Next time, step it up.”

Starling walked away, and Kal just stared after him.

What the fuck? Kal knew he’d done that job clean and perfect. So what the hell was Starling’s problem?

He shook his head and went over to talk to the ladder team, because there was no point in having a conversation with someone who completely disagreed with you.

Ladder 27 gave them a ride back up to the top of the overpass, reuniting them with their team. They did cleanup and returned to the station. Fortunately, the rest of the day was uneventful, and Kal was damn glad when shift was over the next morning. He was frustrated and tired, hadn’t slept well the night before and was grouchy when he got home.

He pulled into the driveway at the same time as his brother Jackson.

“How was shift?” Jackson asked.

Kal shrugged. “Saw some action. The two semis on I-95. Rappelled down and helped get the stranded driver out.”

“Heard about that. Good rescue.”

They went through the garage and inside the house, putting their gear away in the laundry room.

“Not a good rescue on my part if you ask one of my team members.”

Jackson tucked his head in the fridge and grabbed some orange juice, then pulled glasses from the cabinet and poured. “Still having issues with those two guys?”

“Apparently. I don’t know what it is with them, but I can’t seem to do anything right.”

Kal went to the sink to wash his hands, dried them, then got eggs and bacon out of the fridge.

Kal and his brother stood side by side making breakfast.

“What do you think it is?” Jackson asked. “Just a personality clash?”

Kal pulled the bacon from the pan and laid it on a plate, then started on toast. “I don’t know. Maybe. I’ve tried to be nice, I’ve tried hard to get to know them, but they won’t give me anything.”

“What does your lieutenant say about the job you’re doing?”

“Nothing but good things.”

“Fuck ’em,” Jackson said. “They’ve obviously got it out for you for no good reason. Or maybe they’re jealous that you’re doing so well after such a short period of time on the team.”

Kal shrugged. “I’ve tried everything I can, and all I get is shit from them.”

They carried their plates to the table and sat.

“Then stop trying,” Jackson said. “You don’t need their approval. They don’t evaluate your performance—your lieutenant does. And as long as he says you’re getting it done, that’s all that counts.”

Kal knew Jackson was right. He didn’t need everyone on his team to like him. But, damn, he’d never had a conflict like this with anyone he’d worked with before. He and his fellow firefighters had always gotten along. When he’d worked at the same station with his brothers Jackson and Rafe, the entire group had been like a family. There had been no personality clashes.

He was an easygoing guy. He was friendly.

Then again, maybe Jackson was right and he needed to let it go. As long as they could work together, nothing else mattered.

“I smell bacon.”

Kal looked up to see Becks, Jackson’s fiancée, coming down the stairs.

Jackson grinned. “I knew the smell of bacon would wake you up.”

“And we made extra,” Kal said.

“Which is why I love you both—in different ways.”

Kal laughed.

She came over and kissed Jackson, went over to fix herself coffee and filled her plate with bacon and eggs. Then she took a seat.

“How were your shifts?” she asked.

“Kal had mean boys, so his was shitty,” Jackson said. “Mine was good. Nothing eventful.”

Becks looked over at Kal. “What? You have mean boys on your team?”

“I don’t want to talk about it. How’s tattooing?”

“Fabulous,” she said. “And you know you can talk to me about anything.”

“Thanks. If I need to, I will.” He’d practically grown up with Becks. They’d all been homeless together, so she was like a sister to him. Finding her again and Jackson and Becks falling in love had been the