Read The Night Belongs to Fireman for Free Online

setting foot inside his favorite spot, his garage–turned–martial arts studio. He’d started studying jujitsu, then gotten into Muay Thai, and become so dedicated he’d banished his truck to the street so he could use the garage to work out. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the only one who liked to work out there.
    Barely eight o’clock in the morning, and already the three bright-eyed Sinclair kids from across the street were sitting on his front porch. As soon as they caught sight of him through the front picture window, they banged on the door until he opened it.
    â€œYou locked your door,” said ten-year-old Tremaine indignantly. “How we supposed to get in if you do that?”
    â€œYou’re not supposed to get in unless I want you to,” explained Fred. Not that he’d ever turn them away. He got a huge kick out of the kids, and they were nearly as obsessed with martial arts as he was.
    â€œAw, man. That’s cold,” complained Tremaine’s twin, Jackson, as they all bounded into his house, as if propelled by a slingshot. “Dude, whazzup with your face?”
    â€œAccident,” said Fred shortly. He didn’t want to think about his damn nose. Every time he remembered last night, it throbbed. “Where’s your mom?”
    â€œShe’s studying.”
    â€œNo, she’s in the shower,” said little Kip, who was two years younger and very literal-minded. “ Then she’s studying.”
    With three rambunctious boys, their mother, Jasmine, had her hands full. Fred didn’t mind helping her out, but at the moment he could use some peace and quiet.
    â€œWhy don’t you boys come back later and I’ll teach you some new moves?”
    â€œWhat about breakfast?” Kip, who was going through a growth spurt, asked.
    â€œYou haven’t eaten yet?” Fred winced as he bent to pick up the newspaper off the front porch. Maybe he’d go to the gym later for a sauna.
    â€œMama said she’d pay you back if you give us some Froot Loops or something. While she’s studying.”
    â€œFroot Loops are not a healthy breakfast.”
    â€œShe said you’d say that, and that she’d pay you double for a healthy breakfast.”
    Fred unrolled the newspaper. Usually he did a quick scan for news from the various parts of the world where his brothers were deployed. But today the crane accident dominated the front page. Crap. He rolled the paper back up. Maybe he’d give it to Stan, the firehouse dog, as a chew toy. “Your mom drives a hard bargain.”
    Kip took his thumb out of his mouth again. “If that’s too ’spensive, we’ll take the Froot Loops. We won’t tell.”
    Fred had to laugh at that. The kids were so cute. Their father, a member of the Army Rangers, had been killed in Afghanistan. They’d told him that they’d only seen their father for short bits of time. Jasmine got some money from the government, but her real challenge was time. She was trying to finish her real estate training so she could bring in some extra cash.
    â€œTell you what. I’ll pour you boys some cereal and you can eat it—quietly—while I take a hot shower. If you’re quiet enough, I’ll let you spar.”
    Tremaine jumped to his feet. “How quiet do you mean?”
    â€œLike is this okay?” Jackson mimicked chomping cereal as if he were a warthog gnawing on a bone.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhat about this?” Tremaine moved his jaw up and down with a high-pitched whining sound.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWhat about this?” Kip joined the fun, chewing while jumping up and down so hard the windows clattered.
    â€œYou guys are hilarious. I think you should join a comedy club, I really do. Maybe go on tour and buy your own breakfasts. Now do you want cereal or not?”
    â€œSir, yes, sir!” They all performed admirable salutes. There was something to be