“I’m her fuckin’ husband, I…”
“You need to move out of the way, brother.”
He steps to the side, and I meet Harper out front of the house when we’re both done.
“Leo Jackson! Don’t you do what I think you’re about to do. Are you crazy?” Mom shrieks from her porch.
Maybe I am but who the fuck cares if it helps someone I love. I’d do it for anyone. Nothing is permanent in this world, and everything can be rebuilt. Harper needs to know that. I won’t let her get stuck in a place that causes her pain.
I light a cigarette, ignoring everyone. I take a couple of pulls and hand it over to Harper.
She pulls on it once and as she exhales, she tosses it in the gasoline trail. Flames lick up across the grass and then up the porch steps. JJ falls to his knees, yanking on his hair as his house goes up in flames within seconds.
Harper takes a shuddery breath, and I wrap my arm around her.
“She wanted to die, now she truly is dead.”
“Her ghost can’t follow you now,” I promise her.
JJ stands and demands to know, “And where the fuck was she gonna follow us to? We’re fuckin’ homeless now!”
Harper slips out from under my arm and goes to her husband. She doesn’t speak, she leans up on her tiptoes and presses her lips to his. He doesn’t deny her and when she pulls back, she tells him, “You don’t need to worry about me anymore.”
“I think you’re wrong, but I won’t argue with you.”
“We need to call the fire department,” I hear Zach say.
Harper spins around to him and shakes her head. “No. It needs to burn to the death.”
Zach looks to me for the final decision, hoping I’ll go over her.
“You heard her.”
They can’t say they want Harper to be well and want the best for her if they don’t listen to what she needs.
Arms wrap around my waist and Holly rests her head against my back. I hold onto her gloved clasped hands and watch the flames roar with anger.
“You’re a good brother but this wasn’t what I meant when I told you to check in on her.”
I hear the amusement in her voice and chuckle.
Harper stands in Jay’s arms, watching her first ever home burn, but she’s never looked so at peace.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Annie
Before I left town, I bought myself a notebook and a pen. Excitement courses through me and when I settled in at the kitchen table in the main house, I set pen to paper and began to design the house. Though I fell in love with it as soon as I stepped inside, the furniture wasn’t to my taste. It needs a little modernising.
If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s designing fantastic spaces. It’s going to be the perfect home for us.
I’m working on the main bedroom when Shane walks in. One day he’ll kiss me when he comes in, but I can wait, as long as he doesn’t keep me waiting long.
It doesn’t take long to figure out something is off with him. Especially when he begins pacing the kitchen.
“Did something happen with the other club I saw coming your way you haven’t told me about?”
He’s been quieter than usual over the last couple of days.
