Page 30 of Burning for the Truth

He chuckles lightheartedly and it grates on my nerves. “It’s part of being a reporter…sorry. I always go after the truth.”

“Yeah, well, whatever is between me and her is no one’s business. And I wasn’t kidding about you needing to go back home to Zoey. Someone is out there, and he’s upping the ante. It isn’t safe right now. You put enough together about what happened at Drew’s to know that.”

He finally seems concerned. “I know, man. Look…when family calls, you do what you have to. He said he needed to talk, so I came. I wasn’t planning on staying long.”

“I understand, but you need to be careful. We all do,” I tell him as I run a hand down my face. He nods as we watch the game between Michael and Bree. She throws her head back and laughs without a care in the world at something he says, and I notice how he keeps touching her every chance he gets.He’s after more than friendship.The thought of anyone else touching Briella ignites a jealousy in me I didn’t know I was capable of feeling. I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on Michael Boyd.

I kept my distance, nursing a lite beer while my attention was on Bree. An hour had gone by as she played pool with this Michael guy. Jake had gone over to join them about thirty minutes ago. He stayed with me thinking they’d end their game quickly. He mentioned Michael wanted to talk to him, and he made it sound…important. Jake must’ve given up because he shook hands with Michael before pulling Bree into a one-armed hug and kissing her cheek, then he nodded at me before making his way to the exit. Obviously, they couldn’t talk while Bree was with them, so Jake must have taken my advice to go back home to Zoey and their daughter.

I was about to get up and tell Bree it’s time to go when Brittney came over to where I’ve been perched at the bar for the better part of an hour. She made a show of wiping the bar before slinging the towel over her shoulder. “Can I get you another?” she asks, eyeing me with curiosity written all over her face. Her perfectly shaped brow arches as she watches me.

“Nah.” I hold up the now warm beer in front of me, which I’ve barely had two sips of and bring it to my lips in a grimace.

Brittney laughs at me. “I’ve never seen a man leave a full beer almost untouched. What gives?” She leans over the bar waiting for me to answer. When it’s clear I’m not divulging any details, she raises back up and sighs. “I know,” she says accusatorily. “There’s not much Bree doesn’t tell me, so if you’re afraid of breaking some semblance of trust between you two, you won’t.” Her gaze flicks from me to Briella still by the pool tables before settling back on me once more.

“Look, things are complicated right now. I’m trying to keep her safe—not toy with her or hurt her.” I hang my head and stare down at my hands. The faint hint of a scar is visible on top of my left hand. And the same as every time I see it, I’m reminded of that night, of being trapped while one of my best friends was dying and I was too weak to get myself out and save him. I clench my teeth together and push down the memory. I don’t deserve love—especially not Briella’s. I glance back up at Brittney, who is now staring at me with an expression I can’t decipher.

She narrows her eyes and lowers her voice. All the humor has disappeared from her tone. “I don’t knowhowyou hurt her when y’all were teenagers,but I know you did. I also know because of it, she keeps you at arm’s length. Now with Drew…” She closes her eyes briefly before finishing her thought. When her eyes open again, they’re rimmed with tears she quickly blinks away. “I know you weren’t really around because she refused to see you after Drew died, but I love her, she’s mybestfriend and I want her to be happy again. These last few months…well, she hasn’t been okay. She puts on a brave face for everyone, but she’s far from okay.”

I interject before she can continue. “When we were young, I couldn’t be who she deserved. I knew how she felt about me, and I was an ass. I hurt her and it’s something I’ll always regret.But I only did it to protect her from me!”I whisper-shout. Then I take a breath and start again calmly, “I know I wasn’t around her after the fire, but it wasn’t because I wanted to stay away. She wouldn’t see me, and I get it. It’s my fault. Drew…we should’ve never been in that house in the first place.” I squeeze my eyes shut and then I feel a hand touch mine.

Brittney gives my hand a squeeze. “Hey, I’m not blaming you for hurting her. As kids, we don’t make the best choices. And you’re right, pushing her away back then may have been the best choice for you both. But I’m not exactly telling you all of this because I’m afraid you’ll hurt her again.” She gives me a stern look, pinching her brows together. “Do everything in your power to make sure you don’t, but what I’m trying to say is—I think you may be good for her, Dean.”

I glance back at her laughing with Michael again. It looks like they’re finishing up…finally. She glances in my direction, and I shift my focus back to Brittney. “All I’m good for is holding people back and hurting the ones I care about the most.”

Brittney gives me a disappointed look with crinkled eyes and pursed lips. “Dean—”

I cut her off before she can continue. “It’s the way it is, Brittney. I wish I could be the man who makes her happy, but I can’t. She deserves every happiness in the world. And my way of contributing to that, is keeping her safe so she can have it one day.”

Brittney pinches her lips together but stays quiet as both Bree and Michael come back to the bar. Briella stares at me curiously while Michael ignores me completely as he orders a beer. I glance at Briella. “We need to go back to your apartment.”

This time, she doesn’t argue. She shifts her gaze to Brittney as if they were passing some secret message or code. She looks back at me. “Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go.”

Beside her Michael shifts. “You’re leaving so soon?”

She’s looking at me when she answers, “Yeah. Sorry. Dean and I have some things to sort out.”

For a moment my heart races staring into her brown eyes, which are the color of a chocolate diamond. Losing myself in them briefly, I finally snap out of it and put my wall back up. I glance at Michael to find him glaring at me. Yeah, this guy has a thing for Bree. No doubt.

He stands and pulls her into a hug. She steps back after a few seconds and tells Brittney bye. Then she looks my way again. “Come on.”

I pull out my wallet and leave enough to cover my beer and a nice tip for Brittney. As we approach our vehicles in the parking lot, an uneasy feeling crawls over me unlike ever before. I step in front of her and put my hand out to stop her. I see a light in her car like the door is ajar.

“What?” she asks as if annoyed I stopped her.

“Stay here,” I tell her and slowly continue to move to where my truck sits beside her car. The closer I get to her car, the stronger my bad feeling gets. The hair stands up on the back of my neck.

“Dean…” I hold up a hand to silence her. I don’t know what’s wrong, but I know something is.

“Did you leave your car unlocked?” I ask quickly. I have her full attention now. She searches her purse and comes up empty.

“I can’t find my keys.” She stares at me with wide eyes, her forehead creased in concern. She starts to walk toward me.

“Don’t come any closer, Bree. Call Sterling and at least have him on the line. Something doesn’t feel right.” I get closer and find her keys in the ignition turned back with the radio playing. I can hear a song talking about fire. “Get back!” I shout and turn to run after seeing a loose wire under the ignition. Someone has tampered with her car. No sooner than I had gotten about fifty feet from the car, it explodes.

The blast knocks me to the ground and my recently healed shoulder takes the brunt of my fall. I groan in pain as Briella frantically crawls toward me. Her eyes are wide with fear and rimmed with tears. “Dean! Are you okay?” She reaches me, her gaze wildly searching me for injury.

“I’m fine,” I grunt. I pull myself up and stand grabbing my shoulder. “Did you call Sterling?”

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