Love Song

The Fire Part II

    When I wake up, I’m still laying down, but I’m no longer in the back of my security SUV. I’m lying on a soft bed, not as soft as my king bed at home, so I know I’m not there, but still soft. I glance around the room, not wanting to move my limbs until I know where I am. The room is dimly lit. A desk and chair are in front of me beneath a wide window that’s covered by a curtain. I move my eyes counter clockwise. A dresser. A closed door. My back is facing the rest of the room, so I don’t know what’s behind me.

    The clock on the bedside table reads 9:15, but I can’t tell if that’s AM or PM.

    I roll over slowly. There’s no one else in bed with me, and I realize I’m lying on top of the covers still in my pajama shorts and top. I try to strain my ears to see if I can hear anything coming from the other room.

    No sounds are coming from outside the door, at least that I can make out.

    I sit up, and finally stand up and walk over to press my ear to the door. The quiet sound of a TV is coming through, but just barely. I twist the doorknob and peek through the crack in the door. It’s dark in the next room as well, dark enough that the light from the TV shines bright through it.

    Two of my security officers are planted in front of it, their backs to me. I can’t see anyone else, but I also don’t have a great view from this vantage point. I decide if my guards are out there, it’s safe enough to come out. 

    The room I was asleep in is located at the end of a short hallway. This must be one of the safehouses my security company uses. As I get closer to the living room where the TV is playing, I notice the news is on. They are reporting on my house.

    My house that is on fire.

    I run around the couch to get a better view, startling the two security guards. They both move into a crouching position, as if they were about to stand up. When they see it’s me, they sit back down on the couches.

    “Mrs. Ferrera,” one of them says. I think his name is Frankie.

    My eyes are trained on the screen. The north wall of my house is up in flames. The sound is so low, I can’t hear what the reporter is saying.

    “Turn it up,” I demand.

    The guard I think is named Frankie uses the remote to turn the sound up. It’s the same female reporter I was watching in the car. She has the same concerned look in her eyes, but her voice is meant to sound reassuring. So, my mind is caught between being scared and feeling comforted.

    “...been going on for over four hours now. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze soon after it began, only to have an explosion exacerbate the situation about an hour ago. The explosion looks like it may have been caused by a gas line in the backyard, but we have yet to receive any confirmation from anyone either in her family or on her staff. As we mentioned hours ago, Sapphire Rose was escorted off the property shortly after the fire began. She is being held at an undisclosed location. As soon as we have more information, we will be right here on the scene. Amber Neils reporting, this is Channel Five News.”

    The channel cuts to a commercial. I can’t be sure, but I think I may be going into some kind of shock.

    “Mrs. Ferrera,” Frankie says again. “You should sit down.”

    He guides me over to the couch.

    “What happened?” I whisper.

    “We’re still investigating. Obviously, we won’t be able to get a definitive answer until we can get a team on site. But right now, that’s just not possible,” Frankie replies.

    “It just started out of...nowhere,” I say, still looking at the ugly carpet at my feet.

    “We believe it might have been...an intentional fire,” the other guard says.

    “Intentional? You mean like a hit on me? Someone purposely set fire to my house?” I ask.

    “As I said, we’re not one hundred percent certain,” Frankie throws a glare at the other guard, as if to shut him up. “As soon as we know more, you’ll be briefed.”

    I look around the dark room.

    “Where the f**k am I?” I snap.

    “You’re at one of our safehouses. Don’t worry, only a few of us know your current location, so you’re safe,” Frankie puts his heavy hand on my shoulder.

    “Where’s Justin? And Ca--” I cut myself off. I can’t say too much. I don’t know if I can fully trust everyone on my security team.

    “Your husband is still at the property monitoring the fire. He asked us to tell you he will be here as soon as he can. And that he loves you.”

    “What could he possoibly still be doing there?” I snap. “Why didn’t you make him come with me? He shouldn’t be there! He doesn’t know anything about fighting fires!”

    “He insisted. And, frankly, Mrs. Ferrera, we are only paid to protect you. Your husband isn’t our priority,” the guard I don’t know pipes in.

    “With the amount of money I throw at your team, I expected more,” I say angrily. “How the f**k did this happen that my f*****g house is on fire?” I yell, my voice shaking slightly.

    Frankie inhales a deep breath through his nostrils.

    “We’ll give you some privacy. We will be right outside if you need anything,” he says, standing up.

    Both guards step outside the front door, closing it firmly. And I’m left alone in the dark. I unlock my phone, scrolling through dozens of text messages asking if I’m okay before I find several from Helena. 

    Did you make it to the safehouse okay?

    Where are you??

    Text me back when you get this.

    No, call me.

    I checked my missed calls. Helena had tried calling seven times. I should be calling Justin. Or Cal. But right now, I’m more angry that they left me alone.