Page 21 of Burn for Me
“I know this is a huge blow to you, baby, but I need to get going. I don’t like the idea of leaving you here alone. Do you want to go with me?”
He felt her nod of assent. Putting a comforting arm around her, he steered her out of the room into the lounge so he could find his T-shirt. Allowing him to guide her, Kitty walked beside him. When they reached the parking area of her complex, he helped her into the car before circling around to climb in beside her. They drove to Decadence in grim silence, Gray holding her hand the whole way.
* * *
Kitty could feelGray’s eyes on her constantly. But she was so caught up in her own misery she wasn’t able to offer him assurances she’d be okay. Decadence had been her life. She’d invested more than just money into her business. Her heart and soul had gone into making it all that it had been. Now it was gone. All of it.
No, not Decadence. Decadence was gone. Nothing more than ash and lost dreams. What was she supposed to do now?
She felt raw. Like she was about to come out of her skin. And she didn’t know how to deal with how she was feeling. So how could she tell Gray she was okay when she really wasn’t?
Instead, Kitty held her silence, staring out at the passing darkness. Sitting still, her body clenched, as if she could hold herself together by pure will alone. If she moved too quickly, she might just shatter into a million pieces. Pieces that would never be found again, so when she put herself back together, she’d be incomplete.
Closing her eyes against the pain, Kitty’s mind flooded with memories. Of the early years. The months leading up to the opening. She’d worked herself to the bone to make sure all would go off without a hitch. She remembered the excitement and nervousness.
Opening day had been the culmination of hard work and dreams fulfilled. Everything she wanted and more. And now, now it was all gone. Nothing left to show how much of herself she’d invested into making Decadence a reality.
Kitty wanted nothing more than to scream out her pain. To break things, throw things. Rail at the fates. Why had they done this to her?Whohad done this to her? She didn’t understand how she found herself here. So how could she reassure Gray she was fine? She wasn’t.
* * *
Gray kept glancingover at Kitty. She was deathly pale and hadn’t said a word since before they’d left the apartment. He reached out to take her hand, squeezing gently to let her know he was there for her. Holding on to his hand, she sat, unmoving, until they reached Decadence.
Pulling up near to the crime tape, he parked and turned the truck off. Turning to her, Gray ran his fingers down her face, coming to rest under her chin. With gentle but firm pressure, he turned her face so he could look into her eyes.
“Kitty, I need to go speak to my guys. Will you be okay waiting here? Or would you rather go with me?” She just shook her head and reached for the door handle. “Sit tight. I’ll come around.” He got out of the cab and came around to open the door for her.
To the untrained eye,chaos reigned, but in truth it was a well-rehearsed choreography. Each member of the team knew where they needed to be and what they needed to be doing. Knowing just where to find him, Gray made his way directly to command central. Gray was glad to spot Jeff Erickson manning the post. The fire scene couldn’t be in better hands.
“Hi, Jeff.”Putting a hand out to shake the older man’s, he then turned to Kitty, saying, “This is Katherine Spence. She’s the owner to the bakery.” Gray gestured to the burning building. “Kitty, this is Jeffrey Erickson.”
“Ms Spence, it’s nice to meet you.” The elder gentleman smiled kindly at her. “I’m just sorry it has to be under these conditions.”
Trying valiantly to pull herself together, Kitty stuck her hand out, replying, “It’s nice to meet you too, Mr Erickson.”
“Jeff, what can you tell me?” Gray asked.
“Stevens, Collins, and Links are in there now. I’ll know more when they come out, but they’ve found the point of origin. And it seems our firebug left something behind this time. Stevens says it’s somewhat mangled due to the fire, but if anyone can work magic, it’s you. I’m sure you’ll get something useful out of it.”
“It’s about time we caught a break. I’m taking him down this time.”
“Sir, we’re coming out. Search and rescue done, all clear. Looks like James has scored this time. Hopefully, we can nail this bastard now.” Kyle’s voice sounded over Jeff’s radio.
“Copy that, Stevens,” Jeff responded.
Turning to watch, they saw the three men clear the doorway and head towards where they were standing. Just as they reached them, a shower of sparks lit up the night sky as the building finally collapsed in on herself.
* * *
That moment waslike a red-hot poker to the chest. Suddenly, Kitty felt as if she couldn’t catch a breath. Like an enormous weight had settled on her chest and it wouldn’t allow her to breathe. Fanciful maybe, but it felt as if the last of her dreams had collapsed right along with her building. In the far reaches of her mind, she knew it wasn’t the truth. She could start over, that this wasn’t the end of it. But in that moment, that’s exactly how it felt. Five years of blood, sweat, and tears had just collapsed in a spectacular shower of sparks. Gone.
So focused on the scene unfolding before her, she didn’t even feel the tears that streamed down her face. Only when Gray reached out and wiped at them did she notice. She couldn’t see past her tears, but she felt his strength, his gentle touch. Turning to him, she burrowed into his warmth as he enfolded her in his arms. A single sob escaped.
“It’s okay, honey. I’m here. Give it to me,” he whispered.
Unable to help herself, she pressed closer yet, giving in to all the misery and heartache swirling in a painful mix within her. Her body shook with the intensity of the emotions as they poured out. For a long time, they simply stood like that as all movement ebbed and flowed around them. The gentle hand Gray continued to rub up and down her back soothed, giving comfort. Eventually, all the emotion spent, she stood unmoving in his embrace and absorbed the quiet strength that he offered.
* * *
