32. Thirty-Two
Thirty-Two
Sam
When I open my eyes, my first coherent thought is that I’m alone in bed. Emily’s side is empty. Glancing at the clock, I see that it’s almost noon. With a low groan, I sit on the side of the bed.
I wanted last night to be romantic. I wasn’t lying when I told Emily that sex wasn’t part of my plan. Then I grin because sex is always part of my plan–at least when I’m around Emily. She’s too damn hard to resist.
I give a rueful smile as I see my jacket thrown over the back of the chair. My lips turn down in a slight frown. I wanted to present Emily with a gold wedding band last night, but I wanted to give it to her after a romantic evening—it was probably stupid to think it would be more meaningful if the moment weren’t clouded by passion and sex. The timing was off, and now I’m left with the uneasy feeling that I need to do more, to say more. Emily deserves better than vague gestures and half-hearted attempts. So, much for my grand romantic gesture, I think with a shrug.
Standing, I confirm the box is still safely tucked into my jacket pocket. I grab a quick shower before I dress in my usual jeans and T-shirt. Before leaving the bedroom, I take the box with me.
Downstairs, I spy the note Emily left. Frowning because it was pretty vague, just that she was running some errands and that she’d probably meet me at the studio office later. There’s a niggling worry in the back of my mind, a leftover from this past week when she couldn’t hide the doubt in her eyes. I hate that she might think our marriage—or how I feel about her—is anything less than real. But how can I blame her when I’ve done such a poor job of telling or showing her otherwise?
I’m eager to see Emily because I feel that even if we didn’t completely break down the wall between us, we certainly put a big dent in it. Last night was great, even though we didn’t talk about anything too serious or personal. Depending on how things go—I’d like to give her the ring today.
An hour or so later, I pull up to Cass’s property. Since Emily is running errands, I planned to use the opportunity to discuss our next steps regarding Derrick with Cass. As I step out of my truck, the sound of a sudden, sharp shout breaks my focus.
“Fire! One of the buses is on fire!”
My blood runs cold. Spinning toward the direction of the commotion, I see thick black smoke billowing into the air, twisting ominously against the blue sky. Panic tightens in my chest as people rush toward the scene, yelling for someone to call 911.
My feet are moving before I’ve even decided to act, pounding across the drive toward the bus. Flames lick up the side, the heat of the fire already palpable as I approach. Someone grabs my arm, yelling something about staying back, but I shake them off.
One of the crew rushes forward, their voice shaking but urgent. “Miss. Emily was on the bus! I saw her get on!”
Everything inside me stops, then explodes into action. Nothing else matters except getting to her.
Without thinking, I break into a full sprint toward the bus. “Emily!” I shout, my voice raw with fear.
Smoke pours out of the open door, curling like fingers into the air. The acrid smell burns my throat, but I force myself up the steps. The interior is thick with smoke, the heat stifling as I shout her name again.
“Emily!”
Nothing. My heart pounds erratically as I push farther into the bus. The smoke is so dense it’s almost impossible to see, my eyes stinging and watering.
Then, from the small bathroom at the back of the bus, I hear a muffled sound—a cough.
I don’t hesitate. My body moves on pure adrenaline as I make my way toward the source of the sound, ducking low to avoid the thickest part of the smoke.
The bathroom door is closed, but it easily opens when I pull. Inside, Emily is crouched on the floor, a wet towel pressed to her face. Her eyes are wide, panicked, and watering, but she’s alive. The relief is so intense it's almost painful.
“Sam!” she gasps, her voice muffled by the towel.
I don’t say a word. Instead, I pull her to her feet, wrapping my arm around her waist to steady her. She’s coughing, her body trembling, and the way she clings to me as we escape makes my protective instincts surge even stronger.
“Stay low!” I shout over the roar of the flames, my voice rough from the smoke.
We move as quickly as possible, navigating the narrow aisle toward the exit. The heat is suffocating, and the smoke grows thicker by the second. My lungs burn, and I can feel the sweat dripping down my face, but all I can focus on is getting Emily and our unborn baby out of there.
Finally, the bright light of the open door appears ahead.
With one last push, we burst out of the bus, stumbling down the steps and into the fresh air. The cool breeze is a shocking contrast to the stifling heat inside, and I gasp for breath, pulling Emily along with me.
The crowd gathered nearby erupts into relieved shouts as we collapse onto the grass. Someone grabs a fire extinguisher and tries to control the flames, but it’s clear the bus is a lost cause.
Emily clings to me, coughing violently, her face pale and streaked with soot. I cradle her against my chest, my hands shaking.
“Are you okay?” I manage to ask, my voice hoarse. “The baby—”
“I… I’m fine.” She nods weakly, still struggling to catch her breath. “The baby’s okay, too.”
The wail of approaching sirens cuts through the air, signaling the arrival of the fire trucks. Relief surges through me, but it’s quickly replaced by a simmering anger.
“Why the hell were you on the bus?” I demand, my voice harsher than I intend.
Before Emily can answer, a commotion erupts nearby.
“It’s him! He’s running!” someone shouts.
My head snaps up just in time to see Jeb bolting toward the gate. Several of the crew give chase, tackling him to the ground before he can make it far.
“What’s going on?” Emily whispers, her voice trembling.
I don’t answer, my eyes fixed on Jeb as the crew hauls him to his feet. His shirt is smeared with soot, his face pale.
Cass storms over, his expression thunderous. “Why the hell are you doing this?” he demands, his voice cold with fury.
“No one was supposed to get hurt.” Jeb stammers, his gaze darting around wildly. “She shouldn’t have been on the bus.” Then he whines. “I wasn’t trying to hurt anybody. I was only trying to damage the equipment.”
“You set the fire,” I say, my voice low and dangerous. It’s not a question. Rage courses through me.
Emily’s fingers tighten on my arm. Her face is still pale, but her eyes are clear and steady. “Don’t,” she whispers, her voice barely audible over the crackling of the still-smoldering bus.
I grit my teeth, my hands curling into fists at my sides. Every muscle in my body screams to act, to lash out, but I force myself to take a deep breath. She’s right. This isn’t the time.
The fire trucks arrive, and the firefighters quickly take over, dousing the flames with powerful streams of water.
Cass steps closer to Jeb, his towering presence almost menacing. “Who put you up to this?” he demands. “Give us the name.”
Jeb hesitates, his gaze shifting nervously to the gathering crowd. “It doesn’t matter now,” he mutters.
Cass’s jaw tightens, but before he can press further, the sound of sirens fills the air. The police arrive, their cars screeching to a halt near the curb. Officers step out, their presence immediately commanding attention.
Jeb pales, his bravado evaporating as two Officers approach.
“You’re under arrest,” one of them says firmly, grabbing Jeb’s arm and snapping on a pair of handcuffs.
“It was Derrick!” Jeb blurts out, panic clear in his voice. “He hired me. He said it was just supposed to be minor stuff—messing with the equipment, causing delays–sabotage. I swear I didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt!”
Cass and I exchange a look. We already knew. We just needed Jeb’s confession to confirm it.
As the Officers lead Jeb away, Emily leans heavily against me. I turn my focus back to her, gently cupping her face. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
She nods, her expression weary but resolute. “I’m fine. So, is the baby.”
The mention of the baby sends another wave of relief crashing over me.
The paramedics approach, one of them gesturing for Emily to sit in the back of their ambulance. “We need to check you out,” the woman says kindly, her gaze flicking to me. “You too, just in case.”
I help Emily to the ambulance, staying close as they run through their checks. Her vitals are good, and the baby’s heartbeat is steady and strong. The reassurance does little to ease the lingering knot in my chest.
My hands still shaking from fear and adrenaline, I realize how close I came to losing everything that matters. The need to tell her how I feel becomes almost overwhelming.
“You’re lucky,” the paramedic says, addressing Emily with a soft smile. “That wet towel was smart. It kept you from inhaling too much smoke.”
Emily nods, but her gaze is distant, her hands resting protectively on her stomach.
When they’re done, I wrap an arm around her shoulders, guiding her back toward the house. The police are still here, taking statements and assessing the damage. The bus is a charred wreck, and the sight of it sends a fresh surge of anger through me.
As we step onto the porch, Emily turns to me, her expression troubled. “Derrick,” she says quietly, her voice tinged with disbelief. “He hates us that much?”
I shake my head, my jaw clenching. “Derrick’s holding a grudge because Cass fired him. You’re just an easy target because you’re doing such an incredible job.”
Her lips press into a thin line, but she doesn’t argue. I can see the doubt in her eyes, though, the way she’s questioning everything.
“I won’t let him get away with this,” I say firmly, my voice low.
Her gaze softens, and she reaches for my hand, her fingers threading through mine. “Sam... thank you. For getting me out of there.”
I look at her, my chest tightening. “I’d do it a thousand times over,” I say honestly.
For a moment, I just hold her close, cherishing the sound of her breathing and heartbeat. The chaos around us fading into the background. I want to tell her how I feel. Turning her face up to mine, I begin.
“Emily–”
But before I can, Cass joins us on the porch. His expression is grim, his shoulders tense.
“They’ve got him,” he says, nodding toward the police car where Jeb is being loaded. “He’ll be charged, and Derrick’s involvement will be investigated.”
Emily stiffens beside me. “Do you think it’ll be enough to stop him?”
Cass hesitates, his gaze flicking to me before landing on Emily. “It’s hard to say. But one thing’s for sure—he will regret underestimating us.”
There’s a fierceness in Cass’s voice that sends a chill down my spine. But I don’t feel sorry for Derrick. He’ll finally get what he deserves.
I glance at Emily, her expression a mix of determination and exhaustion. “Let’s get you home,” I say gently.
She nods, leaning into me as I help her into my truck.