Page 129 of Axe Backwards
Noah went rigid and stood, towering over him. “Denis Huxley tried to kill people tonight. It’s a miracle my infant daughter wasn’t home. If she had been…” He clenched his fists, his whole body vibrating. “This isn’t a joke, and it’s not a mystery. We know exactly who did this and why. So do your fucking job.”
Officer Fielder looked up, his brows lowered. “No need to talk to me like that. I know you’re shaken up.”
“I’m completely in control.” Noah’s voice was stony. “The citizens of this town are in danger. Get your officers, investigate the scene, call the state police, call the FBI, for all I care. But go do your job and lock that motherfucker up.”
Officer Fielder, looking far from rankled by the events of tonight or Noah’s demands, calmly continued to jot down notes. “The fire inspector will make a report. Then we’ll take photos and collect evidence. I know you’ve had a terrible scare and you’ve lost your homes. I’m truly sorry for that. I’ll walk the perimeter, take some photos. Please remain here so I know where you are if I have further questions.”
When Noah was seated again, his whole body heaving with angry breaths, I leaned my head on his shoulder.
“I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he said.
My stomach twisted painfully. Denis hadn’t just hurt me. He’d hurt Noah too. The single dad who loved his baby so much he never wanted to put her down. The man working so hard to overcome the terrible trauma he’d experienced.
And I’d put him and Tess at risk with my recklessness.
“I’m so sorry.” I buried my face in his shoulder. “This is my fault. I shouldn’t have taken that stupid thumb drive.”
He straightened, his muscles tensing. “Shit, the drive. Where is it?”
“At the food pantry,” I whispered. “In a locked file cabinet.”
I hadn’t wanted it in my apartment after Parker had told me to hold on to it. I knew it was valuable. But I didn’t think it was worth burning a building down over.
A second fire engine pulled up, this one withHeartsboroughemblazoned across the side. My stomach sank. If they were calling in reinforcements from other towns, then the fire wasbad.
“It’s okay,” Noah said, as if sensing my shock. “It’s just an apartment.”
My apartment. The home I’d created for myself. The cozy, peaceful space that had welcomed me when I arrived, hurting and alone. Gone in an instant.
And Noah. God, the way he’d busted down the door to save me, then insisted on making sure no one was in Dylan’s place.
I wanted to hug him and slap him and make him promise never to take a risk like that again.
I’d gone to bed feeling worthless and pathetic. Now, after coming so dangerously close to losing my life, it all seemed so ridiculous. I’d been so afraid of facing my family, of facing my failed marriage, that I’d made Noah pretend to be my boyfriend.
And worse, I’d gone ahead and fallen in love with him and his daughter.
Like a pathetic pick-me woman who was so desperate for affection, I forced my way into their lives.
I’d come to Lovewell to start over. To become a version of myself I could be proud of. But lying to the town, dragging Noah and Tess into all my baggage? That was far from the best version of me.
And now I’d destroyed his home. I’d destroyed Tess’s crib and all her clothing and toys. All the memories the two of them had made here.
Noah pulled me closer. “This is not your fault.” The man had become a mind reader. “All that matters is that we’re safe.”
It didn’t feel that way. I always felt safe in his arms, but right now, with a blanket draped over my shoulders and an oxygen mask in my hand, while our homes burned in front of us, I felt more vulnerable than ever.
After we’d been cleared by the EMTs and Willa, who’d come over to do her own examination, we headed for Noah’s truck. The only thing either of us wanted right now was to set eyes on Tess.
Matt, one of the full-time firefighters, walked over with his helmet under his arm.
“I found this.” He held out Tess’s plush Olaf. He was a bit sooty, but otherwise intact. “Strangest thing.” He shook his head. “So much destruction, but this toy was fine.”
He held the snowman out to Noah, and as if on cue, it said, “I like warm hugs,” his creepy voice even more disturbing after he’d survived the fire.
The hair on the back of my neck stood up. “How did Olaf survive?”
“He’s possessed by demons,” Noah said, tossing the snowman into the back seat.
