“They’re thinking it’s, uh…” Arms folded over his broad chest, he gives the group behind us another quick glance.“It’s inconclusive for the time being.”
“Inconclusive?What kind of bullshit answer is that?”I all but snarl.I motion toward the rubble that was once the back of my house.“No one was home but Cobie, and she doesn’t even go in our gym.How the hell would?—”
With two deliberate steps, Uncle Judge grabs my arm and gives me a loaded glare.“Keep your voice down, all right?”
“And why would I do that?”I growl.Who the hell does this asshole think he is?I have every right to be pissed.My house could’ve burned to the ground with my baby sister inside, and the sooner I find out what caused it, the sooner I can call our insurance company or the damn warranty offices or…fuck, I don’t even know, but there will be consequences.
“I’m, uh, I’m going to call the insurance company,” Cobie decides.
“I can take care of it tomorrow.”
“I want to,” Cobie rushes out.“It’ll help me feel…useful.”She tucks the sleeves of her long-sleeved shirt into her palms and folds her arms.“And besides, I could really use the distraction.”
My head bobs.“Okay, thanks.”
“Sure thing.”
As she leaves, I glare back at my uncle.“Why’d you tell me to keep my voice down?”
“Because the young fireman over there wants to do an investigation on what started the fire,” my uncle seethes.
“So?Isn’t that standard procedure?”I ask.
“Yeah, but if they find out it’s arson…”
“Arson?”
The blood drains from my face.What.The actual.Fuck?I glance toward the fireman in question, standing beside June.She isn’t laughing or smiling or doing anything at all, really.Just nodding with her arms crossed over her chest in the same revealing top I fucked her in.What are the odds her ex would’ve been on call tonight, let alone me bringing her here so they could catch up and chit-chat about the good ol’ days?
I rein in my jealousy, well aware it won’t get me anywhere.Besides, my family has some pretty big fucking boulders that need to be dealt with first.Like, who the hell would’ve tried burning down my house tonight.
Keeping my expression in check, I grit out, “Who thinks it was arson?The fireman?Or you?”
“Something doesn’t feel right,” Uncle Judge mutters.“They’re gonna ask where you were.”
“Me?”
“Yeah.”He doesn’t look too happy about it, either.“You and Jag and Hawke and Rome.Because if none of you have any solid alibis…”
“We didn’t torch our fuckin’ house, Unc,” I snap.Honestly, I’m offended he would even say something so far-fetched.
“You think I don’t know that?”
“Then why are you questioning me?”
“Because it doesn’t matter what I know, Ford.”He jabs his fingers into his chest, then clenches his fist and tilts his head toward the group gathered across the yard.“What matters is what they can prove.What matters is what your dad’s gonna say when this gets back to him.What matters…” He swallows thickly.“Is that you boys are safe.”My spine turns to steel as he wraps his arms around me, hugging me with a ferocity I never dreamed.We’re not exactly a hugging family, and we sure as shit have never experienced it from a father figure.Part of me wonders if he’s being selfish.If the only reason he’s hugging me is for his own damn reasons, and it has nothing to do with me.It’s a shit thing to think, but I can’t help it.Even so, a lump lodges in my throat.
It’s only a hug.
I lift my lead-filled arms to pat his back.“I’m, uh, I’m all right, Unc.”
“I know you are.”His quiet sniff hits the side of my face.“And I know you’re gonna stay that way.”Letting me go, he wipes beneath his nose with his tatted knuckle.“But first, we gotta get these people off your property so we can sit down and have a real chat.You understand?”
“You sure Daddy Dearest would like that?”I challenge.“Us having a chat.”
“Fuck your father.”
My brows raise, and I lean back.“Fuck my father, huh?”
