Page 103 of Enraged

Anna approached the table with a tray that held our drinks.

“Anna,” Dad began, “Shug, I’m gonna need a Jack on the rocks.”

From somewhere inside my purse, my phone started to ring.

Nope, not today, Satan.

I ignored it until it stopped.

“So, what else did you find out, Lee Lee?” Mama asked me.

Where do I even begin?

“So, she said the first –,” I was interrupted by my phone ringing once again.

“See who it is. Might be important,” Daddy told me. I fumbled in my purse until I found my phone.

Two missed calls from the fire chief?

“Who was it, honey?” Mama asked me.

“Chief Hennessy,” I told her, puzzled at why he would be calling me.

“Call him back.”

Before I could dial his number, he was calling me again.

“Lena, you need to come to the hospital. There was a warehouse fire. He’s…he’s in bad shape, Lee Lee.”

My heart dipped down into my stomach.

A warehouse fire…

“Okay, I’m comin’ right now.”

“See you soon.”

I hung up my phone.

“What’s the matter, sweetie?” Mama asked.

“Dakota…,” I choked out. “Warehouse fire. Chief said he’s in bad shape. I gotta go.”

I ran out of the restaurant without waiting for their response.

The chief’s words played on a loop in my head as I frantically drove towards the hospital.

“He’s in bad shape, Lee Lee.”

Traffic was light for this time of night, making it a quick, easy trip.

Why didn’t I talk to him this mornin’ when he needed a friend? Why wasn’t I there for him the way he’s been there for me?

The hospital parking lot was full of emergency vehicles, more than I’d ever seen in one place.

Oh my God.

After peeling into the nearest available space, I jumped out of my car without even bothering to grab my keys.

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