Page 338 of Redeeming 6

“There’s been a fire,” the Gard told us, wincing when she set the phone down. “At 95 Elk’s Terrace. All fire department units have been dispatched.”

“A fire?” My eyes widened in horror. “What do you mean, a fire? At their house? Is anyone hurt?”

“I’m sorry, but that’s the only information available to me at this time.”

“Dad?” I spun around to face him. “We need to go.”

“Aoife, love—”

“No, you either take me or I’ll walk, but I’m going, Dad.”

109

I Had a Dream about a Burning House

JOEY

When I reached the end of my road and my eyes landed on the orange flames swelling from my house, the heavy weight of disgust and self-loathing that had been pressing heavily on my shoulders was quickly replaced with sheer fucking terror.

The fire engines.

The ambulances.

The squad cars.

The sirens.

It was for my house.

My family.

“Joey!” Fran, our next-door neighbor, cried out, hurrying toward me as hordes of our neighbors began to gather on the road. “I don’t know what happened. Your father showed up a couple of hours ago, and then all of a sudden, the entire house just went up in flames. I phoned the Gards as soon as I heard the bang, but they… I overheard them talking about accelerants.”

“My father?” Trembling violently, I looked from her face to the house. “He was here?”

“He’s still in there, love.”

“Where’s my mam?” I demanded, feeling my body grow limp as a horrendous feeling of cold dread washed over me. “Where are the kids?”

“I don’t know, love.” She shook her head, eyes filled with tears. “I think they might be still inside. I didn’t see anyone leave.”

Jesus Christ!

With my heart gunning in my chest, I sprang into action, my body automatically shifting into fight mode as I ran toward the flames.

“Joey, no!”

“You can’t go in there, pet.”

“It’s not safe!”

Ignoring Fran and every other one of my neighbors trying to get in my way, I darted under the tape cordoning off my house from the rest of the street, narrowly avoiding two firemen in the process. However, the second I touched the door handle, a sudden blast of blistering heat shot through my flesh.

It was burning.

Fuck.

“Shannon!” I roared, voice rising with my panic as I pulled my sleeve over my hand and persevered, needing to get inside that house more than I needed air. “Tadhg!”

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