“What the fuck?” Dixon’s bellow carries over the popping of the inferno and calls of the firemen fighting the blaze.
When Dad stalks back, there’s a stiffness in his limbs that tells me he’s pissed.
Like, super mad.
“Hold on.” I press my lips to Val’s forehead to pull him aside.
“What did Wade say?” I ask him quietly.
Dad’s jaw clenches along with his hands. “He found tracks behind the house,” he grits. “Looks like someonestartedit.”
Anger flares in my hotter than any flame. “What?”
I want to scream, cry, kick at the earth. But I just squeeze his sleeve a little tighter. “Did he see anything else? Like who it was?”
Dad just shakes his head, then runs his fingers through his short hair.
That’s when I notice he doesn’t even have his hat on.
I swear he’s aged ten years since the last time I saw him.
When he looks at me, bitter lines frame his frown. “I’m gonna find whoever did this, and I’m gonna kill them.”
I’ve seen him mad before, but never like this.
And for the first time, I feel it too.
Chapter 40
Val
The day reflects themood.
Rain mixes with snow as we all stand around the freshly engraved markers.
Here lies.
I only met them once, but their impact shows in the solemn faces that all focus on the granite-carved names.
Sawyer clings to my hand, chewing on his lower lip as he waits his turn to say a few quiet words.
It’s been three weeks since the fire, yet the days all run together.
Mason squats in front of the stones, his palms resting on each while he bows his head silently.
I can’t even imagine what he’s going through.
When my dad died, it was after over a year of illness. We all knew it was coming.
The day itself was difficult, but there was peace knowing he wasn’t suffering anymore.
This?
Tragic. Especially knowing they werekilled.
I just wish there was some sort of direction on who did it. Maybe justice would help heal the wounds that have scarred everyone here.
Sawyer’s fingers slip from mine as he steps forward, following Mason’s lead to stare silently down at the simple graves.
