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“Not alive,” he told us before jogging off, shouting directions at his men.
“There’s got to be another way out,” I said desperately, motioning to the road. “A back way.”
Johnny shook his head, but Noah answered. “No, this is the only way in and out. National forest surrounds the property.”
“You don’t think he,” I couldn’t complete the thought and Noah’s jaw worked.
“He had his secrets,” Johnny answered, rubbing his fingers together. “There’s no telling what he was hiding.”
“You think he did it intentionally,” I remarked more calmly than I felt. “He took his secrets with him.”
Johnny pointed at the flames. “This was no accident so yeah, I think he went out with one hell of a bang.”
“I need to close the road and setup detours,” Noah murmured, glancing at me apologetically. “I’ll be here a few hours at least.”
I folded my arms over my chest and nodded in understanding. “I’ll go home.” My gaze cut to the inferno before us. “I don’t think anyone is after me anymore.”
Noah cupped my cheek and kissed my temple. “I’m glad you’re okay and please don’t ever scare me like that again.” I felt his mouth curve against my skin and then he was gone, shouting commands and trying to bring order to the chaos.
“Need a ride?”
I nodded, accepting Johnny’s offer since I really didn’t feel like walking home. “Where’s Dale?” I asked him quietly, remembering Riley’s anguish. “Riley –”
“Will be taken care of,” Johnny interrupted. “Dale is doing one final good deed.”
I studied him, knowing it was pointless to argue because I was sure it had been done already. “How did you get the gun?” I asked, referring to Cal’s gun.
“A little birdie gave it to me,” he answered enigmatically.
“Did she now,” I murmured and he looked startled. My smile widened. “You’re not the only one with the ability to read people.”
***
I stepped out of the shower, feeling a million times better after having rinsed off the smoke and sweat. I dried off and slipped on some of Noah’s sweats since all my stuff was still in the RV.
I padded down the hall, only noting the silence when I’d stepped into the dark living room. “Nico?”
“77! 77,” Nico cried and I froze, cold dread creeping down my spine.
“I don’t remember that one,” I whispered, suddenly wishing I had my gun.
“Possible ambush,” a voice answered as the light flicked on and I gasped. “You really should learn the codes if you’re going to marry a police officer.”
“Dwayne.” He looked a little singed but he was definitely alive. “You’re alive.”
“The rumors of my demise were exaggerated.”
I swallowed, “Roy?”
“His not so much.” Dwayne stepped forward and it was all I could do not to step back. “He’s dead and everyone who was with him,” he promised, eyeing me with a familiar smirk. “I owed you my life remember? Consider it paid in full.”
“You want to stay dead,” I theorized and he tapped his nose. “Why?”
Dwayne wandered around the living room, picking up various things and putting them back down. “I got into some shit.” He paused long enough to meet my stare. “This is my way out.”
“Then why reveal yourself to me?” I asked, baffled.
He held up a key ring. “You didn’t think I’d let it burn, did you?”
I sat down abruptly. “The Car.”
“The Car,” he agreed. “It’s yours, remember?”
“Twenty years is a long time to keep a secret for someone you don’t like,” I replied, drawing my knees up and hugging them. “You loved her.”
Dwayne’s mouth twisted. “I respected her,” he corrected. “Much more difficult to achieve.”
I raised my shoulders and dropped them. “Still. All this time.”
He sighed hugely, glancing up at the ceiling. “Six years ago, Cal Harris found your mom’s car in my garage. He lost his mind, demanding to know what happened. He was obsessed and I owed him.”
“You told him,” I guessed and he nodded.
“I told him the make and model of the truck. I hoped your mom had gotten rid of it. That he wouldn’t be able to find her.” Dwayne shook his head. “I should have known better.” He inhaled, regret bracketing his mouth as he spoke, “I’ve done some shady shit in my life but that one never sat right with me. You don’t know how many times I wished I could go back and change what I did.”
“I’m not mad,” I told him, surprised to realize it was the truth. “A whole bunch of things could have gone differently, but they didn’t and here we are.” I nodded at him. “What are you going to do now?”
He smiled faintly. “Take the road less traveled.”
I propped my head on my knees. “You need a car to do that.” He stared at me for a long second, then lifted the keys in his hand. “You kept her safe for twenty years,” I smiled, “Seems like you should get a chance to drive her.”
