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I stay silent and glance around, trying to find anyone watching me.
“If you walk into that police station, whatever happens next is your fault.”
“Trey?” I question.
His evil laughter sends a chill up my spine. “No, Ember, this isn’t Trey. He works for me.”
“Why are you doing this? I have nothing to do with Natalie.”
“Unfortunately, she says differently.”
“I don’t have ten-thousand dollars.”
“Plus interest, which brings it to roughly twelve.”
“There’s no way I can come up with that money.”
“I’ll give you two more weeks, but then someone will be in touch for half.”
I look back up at the building, thinking about hanging up and running inside.
“So you know, I have a lot of reach, and that means connections. If you decide to go to the police again, I’ll know.”
My breath hitches as my throat closes. I walk back to my car with the phone still at my ear, waiting for what he says next. A familiar face catches my eye, and I gasp when I realize it’s the man that came into the store last week. He stares back at me and grins widely then types on his phone.
“Ahh, my man tells me you’ve decided to be smart. You have a week.” The phone disconnects. I push the redial button, but all outgoing calls are blocked.
My instincts are screaming at me to tell someone about this, but something is holding me back. What if this man is a maniac and follows through with his threats? It would be my fault that someone I love gets hurt, and I couldn’t live with that. My body starts to shake as fear consumes me. Flashbacks of my teenage years run play in my mind. I’m finally living the life I only dreamed about. There’s no way I can jeopardize it. Realization sinks in- I’m screwed.
The moment Robbie walks into the store, I know something’s wrong. He doesn’t say anything but yanks me to him, fisting his hands in my hair.
“Bad news, babe, there was a fire at the house today. Fire Inspector thinks it started in the kitchen. They got there in time, but the back of the place is completely destroyed. It will be months before it will be repaired.”
“That’s terrible. Was anyone hurt?”
“No, everyone was out. The neighbors called the fire department when they saw the flames. It’s being labeled an electrical fire.”
My stomach sinks. This was no accident. Somehow, this is my fault for trying to go to the police. Whoever is blackmailing me knew about our interest in the house. A few tears escape even as I try to hold them in.
“Hey, you okay?” Robbie lifts my chin. I bite my cheek hard so I don’t sob at the disappointment in his eyes. “We’ll find another place, and until then, we’ll be fine at mine.”
I’m scared to speak. The need to tell him that this was probably arson is on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t. His safety is at risk.
“Maybe we can make a deal with the owners that we’ll hold off and go through with our offer when they get their insurance money. They may be willing to work with us to re-do the kitchen to your specifications.”
“That would be good.”
He dips his head and kisses me lightly before backing away. “I got a call from Raven today. They’re coming home next week. She asked me to pick her up at the arena because Declan has sound checks and shit.”
“I’m glad they’re coming home. Jenna and James are so excited.”
“Yeah, something else, too. Finn and Tripp are moving into the condo next to us.”
“That’s awesome. Maybe we should put off buying the house for a while.”
He looks at me with concern. “Why?”
“I think it may be fun to live next to those guys,” I try to joke. “And just think, all those late nights you work, I’d have company.”
