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As it rings, I slip on my shoes. If I wait up here much longer, I won’t have time to escape.
The call goes to voicemail, and panic sets in further.
I have no choice but to leave.
Suddenly, my door swings open, and I blow out a sigh of relief when I see Easton with George’s cage.
“Holy fuck. We gotta go!” He holds out his hand, and I don’t think twice about taking it.
Easton leads me outside, and as we cross the street, the view of the building being engulfed by flames is almost too much to handle.
The shop is completely destroyed.
What’s left of our apartments will be covered in ash.
Sirens blare as fire trucks speed down the street and stop in front of us. As the firefighters rush out, Easton and I watch in shocked silence.
This couldn't have been an accident.
Deep in my gut, I feel like Justin had something to do with this. There are no coincidences when it comes to my ex seeking revenge. He knew Easton was lying and probably found out I lived above the shop.
I wouldn't put much past him at this point. He was always one step ahead of me, and now is no different. Even when I dared to fight back, he always had something worse to punish me with.
Guilt hits me hard at the realization that I’m responsible for this happening. Everything Easton's worked so hard for is gone.
He's still holding my hand, and I give it a squeeze. “I'm so sorry,” I lean in and whisper loud enough for him to hear over the chaos.
Easton turns and looks at me, his eyes red. “For what?”
I swallow down the knot stuck in my throat. “This is my fault.”
Before he can respond, an officer comes over. “Is there anyone else in the building?”
“No, sir. Not that I'm aware of,” Easton replies. “The shops next door were vacant above.”
People from the surrounding streets crowd the sidewalk. “We'll need you to provide a statement later, help us piece everything together.”
“No problem,” Easton says.
The officer barks at the people getting too close, and other officers set up barriers to keep everyone at a distance.
“I can't believe this,” Easton mutters, visibly upset, and my heart squeezes at seeing him so distraught. “Thank God you called me.”
“I was scared you had left,” I admit.
Easton sets George's cage down by his feet. “I would never do that.”
“I didn't think you would, but you weren't coming to the door or answering the phone.”
“I forgot to put new batteries in those damn detectors.” He shakes his head. “Thanks for making sure I was out. Who knows how long I would've been in there, maybe until it was too late. You probably saved me.”
I choke out a disbelieving laugh. “Do not thank me. This has my ex's name written all over it and wouldn't have happened if he weren’t looking for me.”
“You really think he did this? Regardless, don't you dare blame yourself.”
“It's too coincidental to be just a coincidence. He shows up asking for me, and the place goes up in flames the same night? I would be shocked if it weren’t his doing, honestly. That's how psychotic he is.”
“Well, maybe they can do some digging and subpoena the security cameras from one of the shops on the street. If it was him, he'll be seen on one of them.” Easton's jaw tightens, and I hate that he's now involved in my drama. “This isn't your fault, Tatum. Don't apologize for him. Ever.”
His voice is stern and final, and all I can do is nod. Suddenly, a chill swarms down my body, and I inch closer to his warmth.
“What if he's here watching right now?” I ask. “Checking if I came out or not? He probably hopes this will force me to go back to him.”
Easton wraps his arm around me, pulling me close to his chest. “Well, that's not gonna happen. You'll stay with me until we figure something out.”
I tilt my head and wrinkle my nose. “Where? We're both homeless at the moment.”
“My family has a beach house about forty-five minutes outside of town. You'll be safe there, I promise. It has security cameras and private access. In fact, maybe you should go now while you can sneak away. That way if he is watching, it'll be easier to slip out with the crowds.”
“Wait, what? You want me to go alone?” I search his face, not wanting to leave his side.
“I have to give my statement and information for insurance. The sooner they know there’s a suspect, the sooner they can start looking for him. I'll schedule an Uber and give you the code to get inside. You'll be safe there.”
My nerves are uneasy at the thought of going into a strange house and not knowing any of the surroundings, but I trust Easton. If he says it's safe, I believe him.
