Chapter 23 #2
“No, you are not,” he snapped. “You are staying here. The mountain will be a restricted area only available to mandated safety personnel.”
“What are you telling me?”
“Fuck,” he hissed. “The campus was just cleared. Several bombs were located. The area is clear, but the intention has been determined. You’re staying here where it’s safe.”
“Nowhere is safe, Landen. My parents weren’t safe in their own home.”
He sucked in his breath. “Grace.”
“Nope. I’m not going to just sit here. I’ll join the reporters and wait.” I backed away, trying my best to keep from breaking down. “If you won’t take me, I will drive.”
“Grace,” he pleaded.
“No, Landen. I’m finally following my heart for a change. I will be there when you and the team find out for certain. I need to be. Don’t you understand?”
“Take her, Landen. Take her with you,” Shannon whispered from behind me. “Can’t you see the girl is in love?”
Landen grimaced, closing his eyes briefly. “Fine, but you will stay where we park. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
* * *
Lights.
Activity.
Shouts.
Silence.
Fear.
The scene at the base of the mountain was chaotic. The same partially burned football field had been turned into a makeshift media zone that was turning into a frenzy. There was a police presence everywhere, the bomb squad remaining on site.
Students, professors, and police officers were waiting to hear any news. Hell, the lovely older woman from Maggie’s diner had opened up early, bringing coffee, water, and pastries. That had inspired other small food businesses in town to do the same.
I certainly couldn’t say I was alone.
Darlene had come with me, Cassie and Tammy heading to my house to walk and stay with the dogs. I’d never realized just how many friends I had until now.
Especially when several locals had learned that I was friendly with Viper, a man already considered a hero. There was so much support that I was almost suffocated in well wishes and concerns.
“Drink the water, Grace,” Darlene told me as she shoved a bottle into my hand.
My teeth were still chattering, maybe from the moisture left by the storm. “I’m fine. Just fine.”
“I didn’t ask, but that’s the fiftieth time you’ve said that. You’re not fine and it’s perfectly fine not to be fine.”
It took me a few seconds to realize she was trying to joke with me. When I stared at her, she rolled her eyes. The buzz had continued to heighten about the fire being purposely set. I could see fear in several pairs of eyes.
“See. You’re not. Come sit down.” She tried to pull my arm but I froze.
“The bastard loves this. He is loving that people are suffering.”
“Who are you talking about,” she pressed. “The killer?”
“Hell, yes. That asshole must be found.”
“Just calm down. Okay? I will help you. I’ve already made a couple calls.
Yes, I know it’s the middle of the night, but the lighter you found means something.
Maybe that’s why he or she returned to the site of the crime.
To find it.” She squeezed my arm again as she yanked hair from her face, scanning the crowd like I was doing.
It was better than staring at the black blob of the mountain, shadows creating ominous monsters.
“Oh, shit. I think you’re about to become famous. ”
“What are you talking about?”
The reporters were tenacious. Within two seconds, I had three microphones in my face, the same reporter who’d interviewed the captain right in front of me.
My body stiffened, my throat threatening to close.
“You’re Grace Monroe,” she said as if I didn’t remember who I was.
“Yes, that’s me.”
“I understand you’re a local veterinarian, also the daughter of two recent murder victims as well as the girlfriend of Viper Locke, the smokejumper trapped on the mountain. True?”
Well, what a charismatic way of putting the worst pieces of my life together in a neat little package.
I tried to turn and walk away, but I was completely surrounded.
“Yes, I am all three and in my off time, I ride horses and like to read kinky shit. Although you can call me Doctor Monroe. What else would you like to know?” My flippant answer might not obtain me a winning position on the city council, but I wasn’t interested in playing the martyr for anyone’s fifteen minutes of fame.
While the lead reporter was none too happy with me, the other two were fighting to hide their amusement.
“Doctor Monroe. I know this is an incredibly difficult time for you, but can you tell me what kind of man Viper Locke is, so we all have a better understanding of the man behind the hero?”
At least the second reporter’s question held some respect and I didn’t mind answering her question.
“Viper Locker is an incredible human being. On his way into town, he saved a starving dog he found on the side of the road, choosing to adopt him rather than to hand him over to animal control. He’s kind and loving, thoughtful in every way and I can tell you in all honesty, that he’s one of the bravest men I’ve ever met. He’s just… perfect.”
“Wow. Perfect. That’s a glowing testament, especially for a man recently released from prison.”
“For protecting his sister, who was physically and sexually abused by a monster. While I don’t condone his actions, I do understand and I think all of us who have a family do.
He gave me the strength to demand justice for my parents.
” I took the opportunity to speak to the bastard who’d killed my parents.
Why not? I’d never have another chance like this.
“The killer will be found. Just like Viper will walk out of this nightmare alive. So do me a favor and back off.”
There were more reporters who’d caught the tail end of my speech.
When the group began to barrage me with more questions, one coming right after another, my limited resolve began to crumble.
“That’s enough. No more questions.” Darlene pulled me away, even nastier to the reporters when they pushed. When I was several yards away, she turned toward me. “You can’t threaten the killer like that. You do understand you could place yourself in danger.”
“I don’t care, Darlene. If this fire was intentionally set, he must be stopped.”
“I agree with you. Just take some deep breaths.”
I tried, but could no longer hear myself think. “I’m going for a walk.”
“You heard what Landen told you.”
“I’m not going up the mountain, Darlene. I just need some time to myself without reporters. Without the noise. Without thinking the worst. Okay? I promise you I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.”
We’d been here for another three, maybe four hours. All track of time was shot. I was wired, incapable of thinking clearly.
“Why don’t you go talk with Shannon. She cares about you. I mean I do too, but it doesn’t seem like I’m saying the right things.” Darlene’s face fell.
“You’re doing just fine and I’m so glad you’re here with me. But I just need a little space. Okay? I promise.”
“I will hunt you down like everyone else.”
Even after everything that had occurred, she could still make me laugh. I turned away before the tears began to slide down my face, walking quickly toward a building on campus. I had no idea where I was going. I simply needed to find somewhere to sit quietly where no one knew who I was.
If that was possible any longer.
Wiping tears away, I kept my head down, praying to God I didn’t see anyone. I couldn’t continue pretending that I was alright. Not to anyone.
I managed to walk just far enough away the roar of the crowd had begun to fade.
Somehow, I’d found a gorgeous little well-lit park between buildings.
There were benches and a stunning fountain along with flowers and trees everywhere.
With my entire body aching, I finally sat down on a bench where the running water could maybe soothe the fear coursing through my veins.
I’d already tried to prepare myself for what the news could be, but so much of me was determined not to believe the worst. He wasn’t dead. He couldn’t be. Because I hadn’t told him it was alright.
Laughing, I lowered my head, holding my arms and rocking.
The minutes ticked by. I could feel them doing so in my bones, as if the weight of everything was ticking off months if not years of my life. I was no longer surprised about the way I felt about Viper. He was a magnanimous man capable of bringing out a full dichotomy of emotions and desires.
He was simply an incredible man.
Leaning back, I allowed myself to daydream, thinking of the moment I’d met him, chuckling from memories of my reaction. I played out the days, including how I’d found him more than once snuggling with the pups. For a man who couldn’t say he was an animal lover, he was an animal lover.
And I adored him even more.
The sounds of the crowd began to filter in, destroying the fake peace I was insisting I find. With a heavy groan, I cupped both sides of my face.
Crack.
The single sound and I shot up in my seat like a rocket. What the hell had I just heard? Twisting in my seat, I scanned the area. Even in a relatively well-lit area, the darkness was oppressive.
Another teensy sound and I was on my feet, nerves adding to the lingering fear. What if the bastard who’d set the fire was here? What a perfect opportunity to do whatever he was thinking about.
And it wasn’t confessing.
I took a step away, trying to figure out which way to run that would get me back to the group of people the quickest.
A light rustle of something and I snapped my head toward the way I’d come in.
What…
My feet managed to move forward even if my vision was completely out of focus. It had to be. Because…
“Viper?”
A man was standing only a few feet away, the beam from one of the decorate lights blinding me.
“Viper. Is that you?”
“Grace. Oh, Grace, baby.”
I remained silent and completely paralyzed for another three seconds before the spell was broken. As I ran toward him, he threw off a blanket, moving awkwardly toward me. But he caught me when I jumped into his arms, swinging me around and around.
“You’re here. I knew you’d come back. I knew it,” I managed while gasping for air, sobbing uncontrollably.
Viper allowed my body to slide down his slowly until he was able to grip my face. “I had no intention of staying away. Never. Never.”
As soon as he crushed his mouth over mine, I sensed we weren’t alone, but I just didn’t care. All that mattered was that he was home. He was safe.
And he was mine.