Page 48 of Captive Vow (Mafia Marriages 2)

19

Paige

Just as my grumpy boss reams me for stealing something I didn’t do, I smell smoke.

When he finally realizes I’m not trying to play him to get away, we rush into the playroom just a few feet away from us.

The curtains are ablaze.

Nova stands near the fire, frozen. The flames lap all around her as she’s coughing because of the smoke.

“Nova!” I shriek.

Thick smoke curls around the room as the fire quickly spreads from one surface to the next. The toys are wood and paper, highly flammable.

Fire rolls up the walls and to the ceiling.

“I’ll get Nova. Grab a fire extinguisher!” I shout at Moreno. The longer we wait, the less likely the fire will remain contained.

I rush into the playroom, coughing on the thick smoke as I grab the little girl and carry her out of the playroom.

The smoke detector signals and emits a high-frequency pitch. It’s tied to every smoke detector within the premises, and they all go off.

Moreno hurries back with a fire extinguisher, dousing the flames, but it isn’t enough.

Two more guards, now aware of the imminent threat, bring additional fire extinguishers from other parts of the home, using the canisters to smother the blaze.

Dante is behind them with one more fire extinguisher, and Nikki is ushering Luca down the stairs toward the front door. “Should I call 9-1-1?” Nikki asks her hand on her phone.

“No, we’ve got it smothered,” Moreno says.

The fire is out, but smoke still wafts through the playroom and has extended beyond the hallway.

“Open the windows and someone shut off that damned alarm!” Moreno shouts.

“What the hell happened?” Dante glances from Moreno to me. Like I had something to do with it.

Nova’s arms are wrapped snug around my neck, and I shift her to my hip. Her fingers fumble with something. I don’t quite know what it is when it drops to the ground with a clunk.

A lighter.

“Where the hell did she get a lighter from?” Moreno bends down and snatches the disposable lighter from the floor.

Shit.

Nova did this?

I’m sure it was an accident.

She couldn’t have known what she was doing and the damage and danger that she caused.

“Did you give this to her?” Moreno stares at me, showing me the lighter.

“Of course not!”

How could he think that I would give a four-year-old a lighter? Is he going to accuse me of giving her matches or telling her to stick a fork in an electric socket next?

“I’m sorry,” Luca’s soft and fragile voice carries from the door. His bottom lip trembles.

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