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“It was interesting,” she answers as she grips her cup, taking a sip. “Thank you for the coffee.”
We sit there in silence. Even the noise around us seems to be drowned out.
“Umm, okay,” she begins, stumbling over her words.
“What is it, Alex? Just tell us. You’re killing me,” Dimitri’s somber voice begs.
“Okay. So you know I’m a firefighter.”
“Aye, but what’s that got to do with the price of cheese? We don’t care.” Hell, it’s a plus in our book, especially since she saved Dimitri.
“I know that, but it kind of has a lot to do with everything,” she replies.
My eyes glance over to Dimitri and I can see how tense he is. The color seems to be draining from his face, as he grips the lighter tighter in his hands.
Does she know she saved him? Can she not date someone she’s helped? Has she figured out who he is?
She takes a deep breath before opening those beautiful lips. I know already what’s about to come out of them is going to rip us apart.
Chapter twenty-seven
Alexis
“I know that, but it kind of has a lot to do with everything.”
I take a moment to breathe. My heart is pounding and I feel like I’m going to pass out, but I need to confront him and find out if it’s true—is he an arsonist and a killer? If so, I’ll have to turn the man I love into the authorities.
It’s my worst nightmare come to life.
“Well, there’s been a string of fires plaguing the cities. I was the first to step up to my captain with my concerns about it being a serial arsonist. There were too many similarities between them.”
Donovan opens his mouth to speak, but I put my hand up to stop him. “Please let me finish everything I have to say before either of you comments.”
Dimitri doesn’t say a word, just sits there quietly, looking me straight in the eyes as all the color in his face washes away.
It’s a terrible omen that what I’ve found out is true.
“The captain called me into his office this morning and let me know there was another fire last night and that it fits the MO of our arsonist, except that he or she is escalating and that the building wasn’t empty and people were killed.”
I watch as both of their heads whip toward each other, confusion on them. But I need to finish this.
“Captain Olsson showed me pictures of the scene. It was horrible, similar but different from the ones before, if that makes any sense. But in the rubbish of the fire, you could see the containers the accelerant was held in, and there was a lighter. One that I’ve seen before. If it had been in an area that was impacted more by the blaze, it wouldn’t have been recognizable, but by a stroke of luck, it was spared. The lighter looked like the one you carry Dimitri. I saw it and others similar to it in your car. Are you the arsonist? It would make sense you disappeared from my bed on the very night it was set and your lighter’s there, unless you have it?”
I wait, praying he’s getting ready to prove me wrong about everything I’m thinking right now.
But he doesn’t immediately get angry at my accusation or profess his innocence. He just sits there with a dazed look on his face.
“It’s time Dimitri, tell her everything.” Donovan places his hand on Dimitri’s shoulder, then glances at me. “Please listen to what he’s got to say and, just as you asked, let him finish before passing judgment.”
“Okay.” I sit upright, bracing myself for what I’m about to hear.
“I love you so much, Alex. I never thought I would have to tell you any of this. But for you to understand my actions, I have to go back to the beginning. I don’t know if you remember a fire at an apartment building, but you saved me. I had made it out safely but went back inside to save a picture for one of my elderly neighbors of her late husband. You were on the unit that responded, and you saved my life.”
“I remember.” I couldn’t let him continue without knowing. Somehow I felt like he needed to know.
“Good. You were a vision, and I fell hard. When I managed to track you down, you were with someone else, so I let it go. But the fire sparked a need in me and looking for you filled that yearning that was inside of me, but when I couldn’t have you, it returned with a vengeance. I needed to feel something. One day I was at my father’s and I was helping the groundsmen burn some of the leaves.”
I adjust in my chair before taking a sip of coffee. Dimitri pauses, doing the same. I stay quiet, waiting for him to continue.
