Chapter 39
Sawyer
What the hell?
I sit up straight, blinking in the dark room and scramble for my ringing phone.
“Soph, what the fuck?” I groan, collapsing back into the pillows.
Val stirs, draping her arm over her eyes.
“Sawyer! It’s on fire!” Sophia screeches.
Like an icy wave of water being thrown over me, I bolt upright. “What is?”
I’m wide awake now.
“The house—” She’s interrupted by a loud rumble in the background.
“Is everyone out? Did you call the fire department?” I growl, jumping out of bed.
That’s enough to rouse Val. “What’s going on?”
“Yea, Dad called, they’re here. He got Lori and the boys…” She takes in a shuddering sob.
Yanking on my jeans, I brace my cell against my cheek.
Val sits up and flips on the light, pushing her wild dark hair away from her face. “Sawyer?”
Wait.
“What about Grandma and Grandpa?” I hold my breath when Sophia pauses.
Val’s feet flatten on the floor, watching my face.
“They’re still inside,” Sophia whispers. “The firefighters are trying to get to them.”
Pain spasms through my guts making my phone slip to the floor.
I pick it up but the screen blurs as tears form. “I’ll be right there.”
Ending the call, I slip it into my back pocket and furiously dig out a shirt.
“Tell me.” Val stands, hurriedly dressing next to me.
A knot forms in my throat, choking my words while I try to tug on my boots without socks. “It’s on fire.”
Her face pales. “Shit.”
I barely remember the drive.
It’s everything I can do to see the road and keep my truck on it.
Val doesn’t say anything, just keeps her palm flattened on my leg as we whip through the narrow country road.
The glow is visible from miles away, growing into an angry toxic cloud against the lightening sky.
When I finally pull into the lane, a uniformed deputy holds up his hand to stop me.
I’m tempted to just blow past him.
“I can’t really let you past,” he says as he leans closer to my lowered window.
“It’s my house,” I choke out.
Val tips over my shoulder. “We’ll stay out of the way, officer, but please, we need to be there.”
He doesn’t look much older than me. Clenching his jaw, he gives a curt nod and straightens. “Just don’t go past that first set of corrals, it isn’t safe.”
“Thank you, sir.” I take off quickly, before he can change his mind.
“Holy—” She falls silent as the roaring flames leap into view.
It’s the whole half where my room, Sophia’s, and my grandparents were sleeping.
Dad raises his arm, waving us over.
I rush out to wrap my arms around him, burying my face against him like I was ten all over again. “Are they okay?” My voice cracks in desperation.
Dad hugs me tightly. “I’m sorry, son.” His own words are laced with pain.
A sledgehammer of agony crushes my heart.
“I tried,” he whispers. “I couldn’t get to them. But they brought them out a little while ago.”
Standing to face him, I wipe my cheek and try to bite back the quiver in my lip. “I know you did, Dad. I wish I had been here.”
But his jaw clenches. “I don’t. You might not have made it out either.” He looks past me to the raging fire, the churning red light revealing the haggard hollow under his eyes.
Lori and Sophia are huddled nearby, each holding a squirming baby.
“I might have been able to—”
He cuts me off with a stern shake of his head. “Don’t fall into that trap, son. I did after your mom for years.” He swallows hard, glancing towards his wife. “It’s too easy to wallow in ‘what-if’s’.”
The sheriff appears from the darkness, gesturing for Dad and Uncle Dixon to follow him.
Val takes my hand, tugging me to her.
When I pull her close, the tears begin to fall.
I just saw my grandparents last night. Now they’re gone?
“It hurts,” I sniffle against her neck.
She circles me with her arms. “I know,” she whispers, stroking the back of my head.
“What the fuck?” Dixon’s bellow carries over the popping of the inferno and calls of the firemen fighting the blaze.
When Dad stalks back, there’s a stiffness in his limbs that tells me he’s pissed.
Like, super mad.
“Hold on.” I press my lips to Val’s forehead to pull him aside.
“What did Wade say?” I ask him quietly.
Dad’s jaw clenches along with his hands. “He found tracks behind the house,” he grits. “Looks like someone started it.”
Anger flares in my hotter than any flame. “What?”
I want to scream, cry, kick at the earth. But I just squeeze his sleeve a little tighter. “Did he see anything else? Like who it was?”
Dad just shakes his head, then runs his fingers through his short hair.
That’s when I notice he doesn’t even have his hat on.
I swear he’s aged ten years since the last time I saw him.
When he looks at me, bitter lines frame his frown. “I’m gonna find whoever did this, and I’m gonna kill them.”
I’ve seen him mad before, but never like this.
And for the first time, I feel it too.