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Cyrus howled and alerted throughout the entire walk. As they drew closer to their parked cars, the air grew sultry. And smoky. Sizzles and snaps rustled in the brush nearby.
“Vi, you better call nine-one-one. There’s a fire.”
She hurriedly dug out her phone. “It must have just happened.”
A car started. Silas ran the remainder of the path to the driveway. Vi followed at a slower pace, trying to contain Cyrus, who barked and lunged at the end of his leash.
Silas ran back to Vi, taking Cyrus’s leash. “Have you got nine-one-one on the phone? We need a fire truck and an ambulance.”
Vi’s fingers shook as she touched her phone screen. “Why?”
Through the haze, Silas’s dark eyes pierced hers. “The car that took off belonged to Rory—but he wasn’t driving.”
Cyrus broke the leash with a yelp, dashing toward the house. In a wobbly voice, Vi answered questions and gave specific directions to the 911 dispatcher. Silas balled his fists and stamped around the property, hollering Rory’s name.
Sirens blasted their way within minutes.
A wet nose nudged the back of Rory’s neck. It snuffled around his jaw. With effort, he rolled over. His eyes stung. He coughed, trying to breathe. A relentless tongue licked his face.
Rory squinted. “Cyrus. Good boy.” The words came out rough. Thick smoke filled the air. Hot, Rory panted and dry-coughed. The back of his head radiated with pain. His body wouldn’t cooperate when he tried to sit up.
He coughed again. Everything went black.
Firefighters unwrapped heavy gray hoses. The underbrush popped and sputtered. Paramedics tramped around, shouting for Rory and to each other. Cyrus barked in the distance.
Silas returned, putting his arm around Vi. “They’ll find him.”
Despite the heat, a chill enveloped Vi. Rory had to be incapacitated, or they wouldn’t have taken his vehicle. She’d called Tavo. Thankfully, Silas knew more about cars than she did. He filled Tavo in, then described the make and model of Rory’s car.
Louder shouting ensued, and two men rushed a stretcher into the scrub brush. Minutes passed. Spray from the water hoses hissed. The stench of burning brush filled the air.
The minutes seemed endless until the men returned with the stretcher. Instinct pushed her away from Silas. He caught and held her. “No, Vi. Wait!”
Vi struggled against Silas, kicking at his legs. It had to be Rory on the stretcher, but Silas’s arms were bands of iron wrapped around her stomach. “Let me go!”
A blur of black flew at them, snarling. Silas released her and gripped his arm. Red seeped through his fingers.
“Cyrus, down!” Vi shouted. Still growling, the dog backed off and sat.
The ambulance doors slammed shut. She yelled to Silas, “Take Cyrus,” and ran to her car. When the vehicle lumbered away, she followed.
Vi needed Rory alive and well, even if he didn’t want her anymore.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Last night, Vi had slipped away when the hospital staff wouldn’t allow any non-family members access to Rory. When she left, Jesse had ensconced himself in a chair outside Rory’s door, pestering anyone who left the room for an update. He and Rory had been through so much together it was only natural. It gave Vi comfort, but she intended to see Rory today, rule or no rule.
Sleep proved elusive, except for a vivid dream about Daddy. He wore a different flannel shirt and a pair of jeans worn to threads at the knees. Between the dream and her own restlessness, Vi had formulated a plan.
An immovable force pulled Vi to Rory despite yesterday’s trauma. Her mind fog had cleared, leaving one stark fact glimmering with light.
Vi loved Rory with all her heart.
Her original perception of him as a die-hard flirt had nothing to do with the real person. The man beneath the charming exterior had burrowed into every facet of her life.
During the endless night and Cyrus’s snores, she’d read the texts Rory sent after the first terrible text. He’d sounded upset and frantic. As if he needed her help to deal with his father. Then all communication stopped. Nothing.
The break-up text didn’t fit with anything. Vi wanted desperately to believe those mean, flippant words hadn’t come from him.
