“Oh, thank God.” She swayed a little, felt Cain’s arm go around her waist to steady her.
“Your brother saved us,” a woman said, coming forward. “Me and my daughter and the others. We’ll never forget how brave he was.”
Jenny smiled at Dylan, then turned back to the woman. “He’s a fireman. That’s what firemen do.”
Dylan grinned, his teeth flashing white in a face black with soot. The firemen were still working hard to contain the blaze, but the hotel continued to burn.
Jenny spotted Summer sitting on a stretcher at the back of the ambulance and hurried over.
“Oh, Summer, I’m so sorry. Dylan told me some of what happened. I know you broke your leg, but I’m just so glad you’re both alive.”
“Your brother was amazing,” Summer said. “None of us would have made it out of there if it hadn’t been for him.”
Dylan walked up just then, reached down and took hold of Summer’s hand. He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them.
“Summer was brave, and she was smart. She did everything I told her.” He flashed her a grin. “Well, almost everything.”
“I feel like this is my fault,” Jenny said. “I should have closed the hotel when the trouble started.”
“We don’t know what happened yet,” Cain said, but Jenny caught her brother’s glance, which locked with Cain’s.
“You both think it was arson,” Jenny said.
“There’s no way to know until the arson team goes in,” Dylan said.
“But if you had to guess?” Jenny asked.
Dylan rubbed a soot-covered hand over his face, leaving a black streak along his jaw. “I could smell gasoline. I’d say the fire was set.”
Jenny turned away, her chest clamping down. Between the smoke, the worry, and now this, she could barely breathe.
“You gonna be okay?” Dylan asked.
“I wanted the truth, but in my heart I already knew the answer.”
“What we don’t know,” Cain said, “is who’s responsible. But I promise you—we’re going to find out.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
THE FIRE WAS STILL BURNING WHENCAIN LEDJENNY BACK TO THEfront of the building. Flames licked out of upper- and lower-story windows, their sills blackened with soot. Several firemen told them there seemed to be no casualties, but Cain wanted to talk to the chief to be sure.
The chief was busy, so they waited. They were watching the flames, Jenny’s face pale with worry, when Cain spotted Cleopatra Swift, swaying from side to side as she walked toward them.
She stopped in front of where they stood on the far side of the street, away from the blaze and the heat. Cleo flicked Cain a glance, but spoke to Jenny.
“I’m sorry about your place, hun. Seems like you got nothing but bad news lately.”
Jenny glanced over at the business that had meant so much to her. “Dylan thinks it was arson.”
Cleo grunted. “Considering what’s been going on, I’m not surprised.”
“We’ll find out who did it,” Cain said darkly. “You may be certain of that.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Cleo said. “You’ve always been a man of your word.”
She turned back to Jenny. “Something happened up there tonight.”
“Besides half the block burning down,” Cain drawled.
