Page 23 of Hot Knot Summer
He makes notes, his expression thoughtful rather than suspicious. “Any electrical issues you noticed? Lights flickering? Circuit breakers tripping?”
“There was no electricity when I arrived at the cabin. Everything else seemed fine.”
“We’ll have the fire investigator look into it once it’s safe to enter the structure.” He glances up at the still-burning cabin.
He asks a few more routine questions. How long I plan to stay in Whispering Grove, where I’m from, if I’d noticed anything unusual before going to bed. I answer as best I can through my increasingly sore throat, growing more exhausted with each passing minute.
“I’ll need your phone number and contact details,” he says finally. “Also, I have to ask you not to leave Whispering Grove while this fire is being investigated.”
My heart sinks. “I’m a suspect?”
Officer Brennan’s expression softens. “Standard procedure, Ms. Collins. We can’t rule anything out at this stage, but between you and me, accidental causes are far more common than deliberate ones. Especially in rental properties where maintenance might not be up to code.”
His kindness eases my anxiety somewhat. Still, the thought of being considered even a potential arsonist is distressing. As if sensing my unease, he pats my arm lightly.
“Try not toworry too much,” he advises. “Focus on getting checked out medically for now.”
Sara, the paramedic, returns. “We need to transport you to the hospital now,” she says firmly. “Standard protocol for smoke inhalation cases.”
Officer Brennan stands, tipping his hat slightly. “We’ll continue this conversation later, Ms. Collins. Take care of yourself first.”
As the paramedics prepare to load me into the ambulance, I look over at the firefighting operation once more. The cabin fire is close to being put out now, the combined efforts of the firefighters and the relentless rain finally gaining ground. Through the chaos, I spot Atlas chatting with two other men at the edge of the property.
One is the blond firefighter from earlier, River, and the other is tall and built with dark hair, clearly explaining something technical to the others.
All three are soaking wet, their gear steaming slightly. Despite the grim circumstances, I can’t help noticing what an imposing trio they make, three powerful Alphas working together.
All three turn to stare in my direction. I flush instantly, embarrassed at being caught staring. My stomach flutters. Just then, Sara and her partner are helping me into the medic unit. As I settle onto the stretcher, I catch one last glimpse of Atlas through the closing doors, rain streaming down his face, his midnight eyes fixed intently on mine until the doors shutcompletely.
The medic vehicle pulls away, sirens blaring despite the late hour. I slump against the stretcher, physically and emotionally drained by everything that’s happened. In less than twenty-four hours, I’ve been dumped by my boyfriend, discovered he was cheating with my friend, driven to a strange town, survived a fire, and been rescued by possibly the most attractive and unsettling Alpha I’ve ever encountered.
As Sara adjusts my oxygen mask and starts an IV line just as a precaution, I stare at the ceiling, trying to make sense of the bizarre turn my life has taken.
One troubling thought rises above the chaos of everything else:
What if the fire wasn’t an accident? What if someone set it deliberately?
And if they did, what if they try again?
5
EMMA
The antiseptic smell of the hospital finally fades as the automatic doors slide open, releasing me into the bright morning sunshine that instantly makes me squint. After a night of poking, prodding, and oxygen checks every hour—seriously, do they think oxygen levels dramatically change while you’re unconscious?—I’m finally free. Well,freemight be a relative term.
I pause on the sidewalk, clutching my backpack to my chest like it contains the last remnants of my dignity. Which, considering I’m still wearing yesterday’s smoke-infused summer dress and Chad’s jacket, the ultimate walk of shame outfit minus the fun part that usually precedes it, isn’t far off.
Where the hell am I supposed to go now? Hotel if I can find a room.
The cop’s words echo in my head about not leaving town until our investigation is complete.Right. Because apparently, I’ve graduated from Failed Omega Extraordinaire to Suspected Arsonist in the span of twenty-four hours. Talk about career advancement.
I run through the events of last night for the millionth time, a mental checklist I’ve been obsessively ticking off. Candles, extinguished before my shower. Fireplace, never even lit it. My emergency battery-operated reading lamp. I definitely switched off and stowed in my bag. I did everything right. I always do everything right. That’s part of my problem.
My phone buzzes with a text from Jess after I message her early this morning.Still alive? Hospital update?
I quickly type back.Discharged. Clean bill of health except for my pride and vacation plans.
The universe clearly has it out for me. Though if there’s one silver lining to the entire fiasco, it’s that Chad’s backpack, filled with his precious designer clothes and that ridiculous cologne he practically bathed in, is now a pile of designer ash. The thought pulls a somewhat vindictive smile from me.
