Bride In Flames

Chapter: 5

Chapter Five:

"What men?"

Jayson's voice cut through the room.

Olivia stood frozen near the door.

For the first time since I had met her, she didn't look like the powerful woman everyone feared.

She looked scared.

"The men from the fire," she repeated.

Jayson stared at her.

"What do you mean, the men from the fire?"

Olivia swallowed.

"They've been found."

My heart slammed against my ribs.

I couldn't breathe.

Five years.

Five years of wondering who had dragged Jayson away.

Five years of remembering those masks.

Five years of hearing that woman's voice.

And now, one of them was alive.

Jayson looked at me.

"Emily, are you okay?"

I forced myself to nod.

"I'm fine."

Olivia's eyes remained fixed on me.

I could almost hear her thoughts.

But I couldn't expose myself yet.

Jayson picked up his phone.

"Where are they?”

"Who found them?"

"A private investigator."

"Who hired him?"

Olivia hesitated.

"I don't know."

Jayson narrowed his eyes.

She looked offended.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

He picked up his coat.

"I'm going there."

Olivia grabbed his arm.

"No."

He looked at her hand.

"Why not?"

"It's dangerous."

"That's exactly why I'm going."

He walked toward the door.

I stood.

"I'm coming with you."

Both of them looked at me.

Jayson frowned.

"You don't have to."

"I want to.” Olivia's face changed.

"No."

I turned toward her.

"No?"

She quickly smiled.

"I mean, this isn't something a business partner should be involved in."

I stepped closer.

"Maybe I'm interested in the story."

Her eyes hardened.

"Some stories are better left buried."

I smiled.

"Then perhaps someone should stop digging."

Jayson looked between us.

"Both of you, enough."

He turned toward me.

"Stay here."

"No."

"Emily."

"I said I'm coming."

He stared at me.

Then he sighed.

"Fine."

Olivia's face went pale.

The car ride was silent.

Jayson drove.

I sat beside him.

Olivia sat in the back.

I kept staring through the window.

My hands were cold.

I closed my eyes.

"Are you okay?"

Jayson's voice pulled me back.

"Yes."

"You've been quiet."

"I'm thinking."

"About the fire?"

I opened my eyes.

He was watching me.

I looked away.

"Maybe."

"Why?"

"I heard about it."

"Everyone did."

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

"My wife died that night."

The word hit me.

Wife.

I swallowed."I'm sorry."

He gave a bitter laugh.

"People always say that."

I looked at him.

"Do you still miss her?"

He didn't answer immediately.

"Every day."

My heart broke.

I wanted to reach out to him.

I quickly smiled.

We arrived at an old warehouse outside the city.

Several police cars were parked outside.

Two officers approached.

"Mr. Jackson."

Jayson nodded.

"Where are they?"

"Inside."

He looked at me.

"Stay close."

We entered.

One of the officers led us deeper into the building.

Then I saw him.

A man sat on a chair with his hands tied.

His face was bruised.

But I recognized him.

My breath caught.

He was one of them.

One of the masked men.

My heart stopped.

Jayson grabbed his shirt.

The man laughed nervously.

"What are you saying?"

Jayson grabbed him harder.

"Tell me everything."

"I can't."

"Tell me!"

The man shook his head.

"She'll kill me."

"Who?"

The man looked toward Olivia.

My blood turned to ice.

Olivia had followed us inside.

Her face was expressionless.

"Who will kill you?" Jayson demanded.

The man's lips trembled.

Olivia stepped forward.

"That's enough."

Jayson turned toward her.

"What does he mean?"

"He's clearly confused.” The man started laughing.

"Confused?"

He looked at Olivia.

She looked at me.

For a second, our eyes met.

And I saw it.

Fear.

Pure fear.

Then the lights suddenly went out.

Everyone shouted.

I heard a gunshot.

"Get down!"

Jayson grabbed me and pulled me to the floor.

Another gunshot rang through the warehouse.

People screamed.

Someone ran past me.

Then I heard a struggle.

When the lights came back on, the man was gone.

The ropes lay on the floor.

One police officer was injured.

Jayson stood beside me, breathing heavily.

"Are you hurt?"

I shook my head.

"No."

He touched my face.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

His eyes softened.

Then his gaze moved past me.

Olivia was standing near the door.

She was staring at the empty chair. Her face was terrified.

Jayson noticed.

"Mother."

She looked at him.

"Where did he go?"

"I don't know."

"You knew him."

"No."

"You knew him!"

His voice echoed through the warehouse.

Olivia flinched.

Jayson turned toward the officers.

"Find him."

That night, I returned to Monica's mansion.