“Time for dessert!” Mama Torres chimed excitedly, effectively cutting off whatever moment Alden and I were having.
Everyone hustled over to the dessert table and fixed their plates. Conversation became normal and relaxed as myself and the guys settled back at our table and ate our pastries and pies. I couldn’t help glancing at Alden occasionally, wondering if maybe the jealousy I’d heard was just in my head. Was it possible? I knew with Misty in his life it wasn’t right for him to feel anything but friendship towards me, but had that changed since they broke up?
I didn’t get long to ponder on the questions racing through my head because the station’s alarm suddenly went off, making me jump in surprise. Firefighters scrambled to get to their equipment as their families looked on in worry.
Darren rubbed circles on my lower back and Porter slid his hand into mine, watching as their coworkers rushed to get ready. I was about to ask what kind of fire it was when Duvie rushed out of the station and whistled loudly to get everyone’s attention.
“Five alarm fire boys. All hands on deck.”
I paled, glancing between the guys. A five alarm fire meant the fire was too great for just a single engine or two. It required multiple stations to put out and everyone had to go.
“Fuck. Sorry, sweetheart. Duty calls,” Darren stated, kissing the top of my head before running inside, Alden hot on his heels.
“Be safe!” I called after them, my gut churning.
Porter grabbed my shoulders and turned me to face him. “Here, take the truck back home and we’ll see you when we get there.” He handed me his keys and kissed my cheek. “Drive safe, beautiful.”
“Get home safe,” I responded, giving his hand a squeeze before letting it go and watching solemnly as the guys disappeared inside with all the other firefighters.
“They’ll be okay,” Mama Torres said, coming to stand next to me and wrapping an arm around my waist to hug me to her side.
“I hope so. Did you hear where the fire was?”
“A medical supply warehouse. Whole thing is engulfed,” she answered, though I thought I’d misheard her since all the engines simultaneously began pulling out through the bay doors.
My stomach dropped and bile threatened to surface from my throat. “Memorial Medical Supply?” I clarified.
She nodded. “That’s the one. I hope no one was inside,” she replied, placing her hand over her heart with a solemn look on her face.
“Oh God…” I whispered in horror. “That’s my hospital’s main supply warehouse.” The coincidence was too much to ignore.
It washim.The unknown arsonist who continued trying to destroy my life with fire after fire. This was my fault.
Mama Torres’ grip loosened and she turned me to face her, her hands going to my cheeks tenderly. “I see that look on your face,mija.This isn’t your fault. The man who’s tormenting you is responsible for his own actions. One of these days he’ll be the one getting burned for theel cabrónhe is.”
My eyes glassed over with tears as fear penetrated every fiber of my body. Until this man was caught or killed, he would never stop. I would never be free of him and people would continue getting hurt.
It almost made me wonder if I should just give in and let him have me. At least then no one else would be caught in the crossfire.
No.I had to stay strong and keep hope that he’d be caught.
He just had to be.
The Arsonist
Seeing my fires burn out of control was what I’d guess was the equivalent of watching a child you created grow and become self-sufficient, learning and adapting to their environment. The flames of this one were glorious, eating away at the supply building like it was nothing. I’d used the last of my accelerant I had stockpiled to pull this one off. I’d have to get more to follow through with my final plan though.
This blaze would be the last before my grand finale. The one in which I’d finally claim Sophia as my own and take her away from this fucking cesspool of a city. I couldn’t wait til that moment came. Everything was in motion and ready to go. And as a reward to myself, I stuck around this time to watch this fire burn. I wanted to watch the firefighters scrambling to put it out—see them tire and weaken as my masterpiece roared to life.
And fuck what a beauty it was to watch as they pulled in, going to work to put it out.
I stood a good distance away in the tree line, far enough they couldn’t see me, but close enough I could see them, hear them call out their commands. I grinned wickedly, pride swelling inside my chest as they continually shot gallons upon gallons of water at the building. I couldn’t tell you how long I watched, maybe a couple of hours, and I was about to call it a job well done when a name caught my attention.
“Might need to text Sophia and let her know we probably won’t be home for a while,”one of the firefighters said to another.
“Good idea,”the other agreed, pulling out his phone and typing out a message. When he was done, he slipped it back into his pocket and grinned at the other.“So who’s turn is it to spend the night with her tonight?”
I gritted my teeth together as my blood began to boil.
