Page 120 of Dead Love

“None of us deserve this,” I said, thinking of the words Vincent had spoken from the viewpoint years ago. “But he’s mine. And I’m his.”

Her chin quivered. She shook her head incessantly, then picked her phone out of her pocket.

“I’m calling the police department,” she said.

I moved toward the car and she stood in front of me.

“Nine-one-one operator, what’s your emergency?” a voice asked.

“Yes,” Shea said. “I’d like to report a fire. My—”

“We already have a team responding to Mount Punica, ma’am.”

“Poppies & Wheat,” she stammered. “The flower shop is burning.”

“My apologies. It’s been a stressful day,” the operator said. “Do you know what caused the fire, ma’am?”

Shea held the phone against her shoulder, covering the microphone as she spoke to me: “If you go, I will never forgive you for this.”

In the distance, white smoke rose above Mount Punica, dissipating into the overcast sky. The fire trucks would be here soon, and then my chance would be gone. Shea’s eyes were full of water, ready to burst.

“I know,” I said. Everything inside of me needed to tell her I was sorry, that I didn’t want to hurt her, but I couldn’t say those words. Because I wasn’t sorry for what I was about to do.

“Ma’am?” the operator said. “Are you there, ma’am?”

She turned back to the phone. “W-what was your question?”

“Do you know what started the fire?” the operator asked. “The more we know, the more adequately we can handle the situation.”

Shea closed her eyes. I was ready to hear her say those words:Vincent Erickson.

“No,” my mother said quietly. “No. I don’t know what caused it.”

The flames roared to the side, burning my eyes. Tears ran down my mother’s cheeks, and she turned away from me. I knew it hurt her to say those words, but I was grateful she had given us a chance. My mother moved down the sidewalk, keeping her back to me as she continued to speak to the operator. I quickly got into the car, then I drove down the street, hoping that I would get to Quiet Meadows in time.

CHAPTER41

Vincent

Andrew’s shadowloomed over the cemetery. The ice pick hung in his palm, his gun shining on his hip.

“Kora isn’t going anywhere,” he said.

“Have you asked her that?”

“I don’t have to.”

It pissed me off that everyone thought they could make decisions for Kora.Even me.But I could be different now. I wanted her to have her own choice. To be seen for who she was. And I knew Andrew would never do that for her.

“You think you know her?” I said. Andrew’s palm twitched around the ice pick’s handle. “You’re nothing but a mouthpiece for the sheriff.” I laughed, tilting my head back. “Trust me, without you, she’ll be fine.”

“And will it kill you when she chooses me?” He cracked his neck. “Soon, we’ll have you connected to all the arsons, and then the Echo Killer.” He grinned wildly. “You broke the agreement, Vincent. The only reason Sheriff Mike agreed to let you out was because Kora swore to do whatever her mother said. Now that’s been broken, and the sheriff never did declare that you were immune from being arrested again.” He smirked. “No one can save you this time.”

“I almost wish she would save me,” I forced a chuckle, “to show your sorry ass how stupid you are.”

He scowled at me, straightening, his image silhouetted in a film of gray. He grabbed his handcuffs from his back pocket.

“You’re under arrest for the arson of the Wild Berry Trailhead and Poppies & Wheat, in connection with the Echo murders.”