Page 75 of The Library on Plum Island
“Thank goodness you’re alright.” Alex pulled her against himself, holding her tight as he cradled her shaking form.
“I was so scared you were inside,” Daniella’s voice shook with fear. “We got home, and there was this blast as the glass shattered.” She turned her head. “It landed on Jennifer’s car, so we reversed out of the drive. We were so scared you were inside that we went in through the garage.”
“Why on earth did you do that?” Fear resonated through Alex’s voice.
“Because we thought you were inside!” Harriet’s voice came from beside him before she wrapped her arms around Alex and Daniella. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“I’m glad the two of you are okay,” Alex breathed a sigh of relief as a firefighter ran toward them, flapping his hands.
“Get back!” the man shouted. “Get back.”
Alex grabbed Daniella and Harriet’s arms and pulled them along with him behind the fire truck as an explosion erupted from within the house, sending shards of debris in all directions. Sirens blared from down the road as two more fire trucks arrived. The police started making spectators turn and leave as they closed the road.
“Get the owners to safety,” the fire captain barked at the policeman.
Alex, Daniella, and Harriet were taken to an emergency vehicle that had arrived at alarming speed from the next town.
“I’m so sorry about your house,” Daniella whispered.
A few minutes later, Daniella sat cuddled to his side with Alex’s arm around her shoulders in the back of an ambulance as they watched the firefighters fight the blaze that was once Alex’s home—a home he was hoping Daniella and Emily would share with him if he was lucky enough.
Harriet sat on Alex’s other side with her arm through his and her head on his shoulder.
“This is all my fault,” Daniella sucked in a shaky breath. “I should never have dragged you into this.”
“This isnotyour fault,“ Harriet said with vehemence.
“No, it is not!” Alex agreed with Harriet. “This is the work of a sick, tormented soul who needs to be able to control everyone and everything in their path.”
“Maybe we should call this off,” Daniella’s eyes were filled with fear, panic, and sorrow. “I don’t know what I’ll do if you or anyone else gets hurt because of me.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Alex promised.
“Neither am I,” Harriet stated, taking Daniella’s hand. “This lunatic has to be stopped.”
“Besides, it’s just a house,” Alex was surprised to realize he meant those words.
While he was devastated that his beautiful house was being eaten by fire, Alex was relieved that Daniella and Harriet were okay. Although he wanted to make a home with Daniella and Emily, he knew that it could be anywhere. As long as they were there, it would be home.
Alex smiled at Daniella, who had her arms wrapped tightly around him, which he didn’t mind at all. But as he looked at her, he noticed the scratches on her face.
“You’re bleeding,” Alex sucked in his breath as he gently ran a finger over Daniella’s face.
“Oh!” Daniella said. “That’s not from the fire. I was attacked by a bird.”
“What?” Alex asked, alarmed.
“Caroline’s parrot,” Harriet told him what happened.
“Alex?” as if on cue, Finn Shaw walked toward them. “Are you okay?” He glanced toward the house. “What happened?”
“When Daniella and Harriet got home, the house was ablaze,” Alex explained. “We don’t know what caused it yet.”
“Oh, man,” Finn whistled. “I’m so sorry.” He looked at Alex. “If there’s anything I can do.”
“Hey, Finn,” one of the firefighters called him. “We can use your help.”
“Sure thing,” Finn called back. “Sorry, I’ve got to go get suited up.”
