Vanessa shuffled around the kitchen, opening the cabinets and refrigerator before declaring we were ordering pizza from Nick’s on Gun Hill Rd.
I watched them busying themselves, waiting for the right moment to ask their questions. I knew they were coming.
“So, what happened?” Vanessa asked, taking the seat beside me.
“Someone set our house on fire.”
Her eyes darted to Romero’s. “Do you think?—”
“Vanessa,” Romero grumbled.
Two years ago, when I accused Charles of murdering my sister and trying to do the same to me, no one believed me. He had an alibi when they questioned him back then. Several of his colleagues and family members vouched for him.
Anyone who knew our history knew we were as thick as thieves. Some people assumed I had been too grief-stricken tothink clearly.I guess I could add Romero and Vanessa to that list.
Instead of sitting in the unpleasant moment, I excused myself to the bathroom. Staring in the mirror, I took a deep breath, shaking out my arms on the exhale.
I would stay here for the night, and tomorrow I would call the police.
My hopes weren’t high, but I didn’t want to repeat my mistakes. I had to advocate for myself.
Spying a hair tie on the sink counter, I snagged it, running my fingers through my hair until it was piled in a bun. I took one last look at myself, then left the bathroom, attempting to be present even though my mind was a million miles away.
The restof the evening went smoothly. We talked about Romero’s job at the local bank and Vanessa’s decision to go to grad school. They kept the conversation light until the pizza arrived, then we all ate in silence while watchingCaptain America.
I must’ve dozed off during the movie because my eyes shot open at the sound of a loud bang. Their living room was blanketed in darkness except for the light on the cable box.
I pressed a hand to my chest, feeling my heart raging beneath it. The loud noise comes again, sending me to my feet. I raced toward their front door, just as Vanessa appeared in front of it.
She took one look through the window of the door and swung it open with a gasp.
Romero was hunched over the railing of the steps with blood trailing down the side of his face from his head. He stepped forward, swaying into the doorway, almost losing his balance.Vanessa and I rushed to his side to hold him up and led him to the living room, placing him across the sofa.
“What the hell happened to you?”
“Baby, I’m okay. Sit down, please,” Romero grunted.
Vanessa took a seat on the couch and placed his head in her lap. “Romero answer the question,” she spat as she examined the wound on his head.
“He came out of nowhere. I was walking from the train station, and he hit me with something hard.”
“Did you see what he looked like?” Vanessa pressed on.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, distracting me from his answer.
[Unknown]: I love catching up with old friends.
[Unknown]: Maybe next time I’ll surprise Vanessa.
[Unknown]: Did you have a nice chat with Officer Grant?
The buzzing in my ears goes from a soft hum to a roar as his message becomes clear.
I fucked up. I should’ve kept my mouth shut.
The little hope I had for myself was extinguished. I was truly on my own.
Vanessa had gotten up from the couch and returned with a damp towel. She started clearing the blood from his face. Romero tilted his head slightly in my direction as she cleaned his neck.
