Page 47 of Burning for the Truth

When I’m almost to her, I see the matches all over the floor. All it would take is one spark and we’ll go up with the fumes of gasoline so heavy in the air. I don’t see gas, or anything that appears wet, but it’s here somewhere. I replace my gun in its holster and move in to remove the tape when I hear a door close behind me. “Briella,” he says. “My beautiful, brave Briella.”

I freeze.I knew it.When they mentioned any friends who have been acting…off lately, he was my first thought. The familiar scent and voice at Drew’s that night snap into place.

He tsks at me as I reach for my phone. “I wouldn’t do that. I’ll light this place up like the Fourth of July too early if you do. Turn around and face me.”

I stare down at Serena’s pleading face and silently apologize, hoping she can see it in my eyes.

When I glance up at the man who killed Drew, I know I’m looking at madness. Madness created by his own personal hell, and he has nothing to lose, so there won’t be any reasoning with him. And even though he took Drew from me…I still stand to lose everything. And my everything is Dean.

Icheck my watch again. It’s five thirty. She said she’d be here thirty minutes ago, and while it’s not like her to say one thing and do the opposite, I suppose she could’ve changed her mind and decided not to come. With her not showing up, I’m taking it as my sign to go on to the interview in the town over from here. I still have time, but barely.

Even though I’m reading her absence as her saying there’s nothing to talk about, I can’t help but feel as though something is off. I’ve sent her a few texts and called but she hasn’t answered. I’m not sure what to do. I get in my truck and hesitate. Finally, I call Sterling.

“Hey,” I say when he answers.

“Hey, brother. What’s up?” he asks.

“Briella was supposed to be at my house thirty minutes ago to talk. I have the interview, but I was going to cancel if things went well. At first, I took her not showing as her saying she didn’t want to talk, but something feels wrong.”

“Have you tried texting her or calling?” he asks with concern in his tone.

“I did. She isn’t picking up or responding at all,” I tell him.

Right then, the tones drop.“Dispatch to Greendale Valley Fire and Rescue…have a smoke alarm activated at Wally’s Gym, no contact with owner. Another caller states smoke and flames showing.”

Shit. “Sterling, are you getting this?” I ask frantically.

“Yes, I’ll meet you there.” He hangs up before I can say another word.

I make it to Wally’s in about five minutes and immediately see Bree’s rental car in the lot. Alex and Slade’s shift pulls up ready to go. They see me and nod, knowing I’m coming with them. My heart is pounding against my ribs as I pull on my turnout gear.She can’t be in there. She has to be okay.

Sterling pulls up and runs to me with wide, panicked eyes. “What do we do?” he asks, more unnerved than I’ve ever seen him.

I steady him by grabbing his shoulders. “You let us handle this part. We’re going to get her. I’m going in with them. Just hang tight.”

He nods and squeezes his eyes shut, but he stays silent, putting his trust in me to save his baby sister…to save the woman I love.

We do a perimeter check and find the best way to gain entry, when suddenly something explodes inside causing Chief Holden to pull us back. “Stand down!” he yells.

More rescue vehicles arrive, including ambulance and police as we stand back and watch the building helplessly. I turn and see Sterling with his hands above his head, tugging his hair while Chief Trudeau and Hart Thorne try to calm him down looking as much in despair as he is.

I face the building again, knowing they won’t let me go in. But I’m about to go against orders. She’s in there, I know it and I have to get her out.

Ten minutes earlier…

“Why are you doing this?” I ask him.

Michael looks at me as if relieved he gets to tell me the reason. “It started as a personal vendetta against the fire department and police. They didn’t get to my wife in time. She was alive when they got me out of the car, but it exploded before they could get to her. Then the police couldn’t get the case to stick and the drunk driver who killed my wife walked free after only a year. Do you have any idea what it was like to lose her that way and then no one was held accountable?”

I grimace. I’m not justifying his actions, but I can see why he would lay blame where he has, even though it isn’t warranted…it isn’t right. When you lose everything, you look for where to place blame. He laid it on the very people who saved his life and tried to save his wife’s too, but things don’t always go as planned, we can’t control everything about a situation. And as for the police, he’s forgetting police make the arrests and the case, but it’s ultimately up to the judicial system after that. I can see why he’s hurting, and why he’s angry, but this isn’t the way. This isn’t the answer to erase his pain.

He smiles at me, but it doesn’t touch his eyes. “I took care of that mistake though.”

I blanch, gathering his meaning. “You killed someone, Michael?”

He meets my glare with a treacherous one of his own. “Yes. I set a little fire for him too. It was pretty easy to make it seem like an accident. After all, he was still a drunk. My best friend helped me. He got him so drunk he passed out. I did the rest…turned on the gas stove, poured some alcohol all over the place, lit a cigarette for him and left. The rest of the magic worked itself out.”

I can see flames licking the outside of the building. His gaze follows mine. “Oh, yeah. I’m boxing us in. I have little fires set throughout this entire gym and they’re going to spread quick. So, we have a little time to talk, but not much.”

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