Page 60 of Jolene's Justice

“No thanks necessary. You know that.” The wooden floor echoed with the thump of Sorcha’s tail as Brodhi scratched her behind the ears. “I’ll help Grady get the trash down off the mountain.”

Finch nodded, and with an arm across her shoulders, he led Jolene out of the cabin behind the others. Finch stopped once outside and tilted his head back. Jolene followed his gaze and, for the first time in days, saw a sky filled with stars. She inhaled deeply, letting the damp earth and pine scents fill her.

“Let’s get you down off this mountain and to a doctor,” she told Finch.

He winced. “I don’t need a doctor.”

“Bullshit.”

He smiled down at her, obviously loving her vehemence. “I’m okay, Jolie. I promise. I’ve had worse. I’ll heal. And with some tender loving care, I’ll heal even faster.”

Brodhi chuckled as he made his way to the ATVs. Jolene swatted Finch’s arm, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Finch laughed at her but winced and held his side in pain. Jolene’s stern expression should have been a clear indication of her belief that he should seek medical assistance, but it just made him laugh harder. Then he kissed the expression right off her face. In that moment, nothing else mattered as he kissed her, his love for her evident in every brush of his lips. The world faded away, leaving only the sensation of his touch and the overwhelming love she felt for him.

Chapter 26

Joleneturnedoffthemusic and began counting the cash in the register as part of her closing routine. She made sure all the bottles were properly stored and the taps were shut off. Then with a sigh, Jolene wiped down the bar and stacked chairs, signaling the end of another night. She had sent her staff home early in appreciation of the hard work they’d done for the month she’d been away.

It had taken another two weeks after the incident with Angelica for her and Finch to finish her dad’s house. He was still in the rehab center, and she’d promised she’d come back when he was ready to move home. Knowing he would only fuss about it, she decided not to mention all the things they’d done in his house. The transformation would be a surprise for him. A surprise she hoped he appreciated. Her goal had been to make the place safe for him, and she was happy with the results.

Making their rekindled relationship public was met with overwhelming excitement from their friends. Needless to say, they had been shocked by the revelation about his marriage. But the support they showed him had brought her to tears. She knew how anxious he’d been about telling them the truth. Especially the guys. But the worry was unnecessary. The guys had a unique dynamic that allowed them to be themselves without fear of judgment. Finch had failed to remember that.

She took one last look around to make sure everything was secure before heading to her office for the work she wanted to take home with her. Finch had left earlier to take Brodhi home but was coming back for her, and she wanted to be ready to go when he arrived. She grabbed a canvas bag and shoved the spreadsheets she’d printed out earlier inside next to her laptop. She wanted to make sure she had successfully reestablished her relationships with the vendors after the disruption caused by the sabotage.

A sound from the front caught her attention. She stopped what she was doing and cocked her head, listening intently, but only the sound of the ice maker filled the quiet bar. Double-checking to make sure she had everything, she slung the bag over her shoulder, grabbed her keys, and locked up her office after stepping out into the hall.

Another strange noise had her walking down the hall toward the main bar area. A faint flickering light casting dancing shadows on the walls caught her eye. Stepping out from the hall, she froze in shock. The bar was on fire.

Shit. Her restaurant was on fire!

Dropping her bag, she ran behind the bar and grabbed the fire extinguisher. A line of flames went from one corner of the bar to the front door. It was strangely mesmerizing, the way the fire danced across the floor as if following a set path.

She readied the extinguisher and started spraying. The acrid smell of smoke filled the room, and she began coughing uncontrollably. It stung her eyes, and she blinked rapidly to try to clear her vision. The extinguisher was barely making a dent. Her heart raced as fear coursed through her veins, making it even harder to catch her breath.

Time to go, she thought as another hacking cough racked her body. Flames blocked the front door. She wasn’t getting out that way. As she dropped the extinguisher, the sound of it hitting the floor was drowned out by the deafening roar of the fire. She ran down the hall to the back door. She didn’t hesitate, running at the door and hitting the bar with full force, expecting it to yield.

It didn’t.

Something was preventing the door from opening. She glanced over her shoulder. The flames had not reached the hall yet but were closing in fast. She pushed against the door with all her might, but it didn’t budge.

The thought crossed her mind that this might have been done deliberately. She felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead as fear took hold of her. The smoke was so thick as it billowed down the hall toward her she had to squint to see through it, and her eyes watered as a result.

Giving up on the exit door, she hurried to her office, knowing she could use the window in there to escape if need be. Forgetting she had locked it, she searched her pockets for her keys and panicked when she didn’t find them. That was when she remembered she’d dropped them with her bag. She could just make out the lump on the floor that was her bag. The thick smoke made it hard to breathe, so she got down on her hands and knees to crawl toward it.

The heat was so intense as she approached the main room it felt like her skin was on fire. Her coughing became more intense, causing her to pause and gasp for breath. Finally reaching her bag, she swept her hands along the floor, looking for the keys through the thick, black smoke. The tips of her fingers brushed against metal, and she nearly wept with relief.

She grabbed the keys and crawled away from the heat and flames. Too bad she couldn’t escape the smoke as easily. As the smoke grew thicker in the hall, she crawled toward her office, feeling her way along the ground.

She fumbled with the keys, her heart pounding in her chest, until she finally unlocked the door and fell into the room, slamming it closed behind her.

Suddenly, she remembered her phone. Grabbing it from her pocket, she pushed the button to wake it up. Nothing happened. Shit. She’d forgotten her battery was dead. Why hadn’t she plugged it in while she closed up the bar? Too late now. The landline on her desk was within arm’s reach, and she quickly grabbed it. After pressing the power button, she held the cool plastic to her ear and waited. The absence of the dial tone was odd. She’d used it several times today, and it had worked just fine. Now nothing.

She clutched the edge of her desk as a coughing fit racked her body. Her eyes darted around the little room, seeking a way out.

Her office had one window and it was time to use it. On unsteady legs, she moved quickly toward her salvation. It was a small window, but as she eyed it, she was confident she could squeeze through. Twisting the lock open, she pulled at the sash. Nothing happened.

A sob slipped past her lips. She yanked at the window again, her frustration building with every failed attempt, until she felt her nail snap from the strain. Putting her hands flat on the glass, she tried to push it open that way, to no avail. That was when she noticed the haphazard nails that had been hammered into the frame. She stared in disbelief, trying to get her brain to understand what her eyes were telling her. Someone had nailed the window shut.

There was no doubt in her mind now that this was deliberate.

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