Page 59 of Keeping Katie

I’m interrupted by my phone ringing. The number is unknown, and usually, I wouldn’t answer, but something in my gut makes me hit accept.

“Hello?”

“Hello, this is Scott from the Seattle Police Department. Is this Katie Shaw?”

Fear clenches around me like a vise.

Please don’t be calling about Grady. Please let him be okay.

“Y-yes, this is Katie.” The tightness already wrapping around my throat makes it hard to speak. Hard to even breathe.

“I’m calling because someone set your coffee shop on fire. The damage is minimal, thanks to a homeless man who saw it happen. He was also able to catch the arsonist and hold her until we got here. We’ll need you to come down since there is a broken window, though. We don’t want anyone getting inside the premises.”

Relief washes through me as I sag against the desk while Marie stares at me worriedly. I wave my hand in the air, trying to reassure her that everything is fine. Because it is. Grady is safe, and that’s the only thing that truly matters. Twisted Bean is rebuildable.

I quickly tell the officer I’m on my way, then hang up so I can call my Daddy. I hate interrupting his meeting, but he told me that if I ever needed him for any reason at any time to call him no matter where he is or what he’s doing.

And right now, I need my Daddy.

Grady is already at the shop when I arrive. He called my bodyguard and gave him strict instructions not to speed with me in the car. It seems Grady’s word is law with that guy because he completely ignored me when I told him to go faster.

As soon as the SUV comes to a stop, Grady is at my door, helping me out. “The shop doesn’t look to be in too bad of a shape. I already have a company coming to fix everything.”

I try to look past him, but he blocks me and cups my chin. “Baby, breathe.”

Nodding, I do what he says and look around as several firefighters survey the building. When my gaze lands on an ambulance, I gasp and take off running.

“Tom,” I cry out as I approach.

An EMT is tending to his arm. When I take a look at it, my stomach coils, and I bring my hands up to my mouth to keep from vomiting.

“You’re burned. Oh, God. What happened?” Tears run down my cheeks as I look him up and down for more injuries.

“He tried to throw a blanket over the flames to put the fire out and got burned. He’ll be okay, if he lets me actually help him,” the older EMT says. She’s pretty and clearly exasperated by Tom, but underneath her irritation, I think there’s something else there. She likes him.

“Tom! You could have been seriously hurt.” I step closer and reach for him, but he brushes me off.

“You women need to quit fussing. I’ve experienced worse during my time overseas. Give me a wrap for my arm and I’ll be on my way.” His words are harsh, but there’s no force behind them.

“Please let her check you out and take care of you, Tom. For me?” It’s kind of low of me to guilt trip him, but he’ll give in to being treated, and that’s all that matters.

Grady walks up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me against his front. I clutch him like an anchor.

“Who would have done something like this?” I ask. I just don’t understand. Arson? It’s a coffee shop. Who would want to burn it down? Was it teenagers pranking?

“Sharleen,” Grady grits out between clenched teeth.

I whirl around and look up at him, my eyes practically popping out of my skull. “What?”

He runs his fingers through his hair. “I’m so fucking sorry, baby. This is my fault. I should have done more to get her to leave me alone.”

“Where is she?” My voice is quiet and deadly. It almost scares me, but I’m too pissed right now to feel anything other than pure rage.

“She’s in the back seat of the cop car over there. She’s been arrested and will be charged. My lawyers will make sure she spends time in jail.”

My feet are moving before he finishes his sentence. No one is standing outside the cop car, thankfully. As soon as I reach it, I swing the back door open and reach in to grab a fistful of her hair.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now, you bitch! You try to burn down my coffee shop! You come after my man! My family is hurt because of you! I’ll fucking kill you,” I scream as I slam her head into the plexiglass window that divides the front and back of the car.

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