34

34

Lauren blinked, trying to clear her vision. Her throat was on fire and she coughed, wanting nothing more than relief from the burning sensation.

Something was strange. Why wouldn’t her vision clear?

Smoke. The place was filling with smoke.

“Lauren!”

Aaron. He was somewhere nearby. Lauren raised her head, it felt extremely heavy, but she made the effort.

Strong hands gripped her shoulders and gave a little shake.

“Lauren! Lauren, you alright? Look at me!”

Lauren blinked again. There was way too much smoke. “Aaron... what’s happening?” Her voice was nothing more than a rasp, but he heard her.

Satisfied that she was at least conscious, Aaron stood, lifting Lauren into his arms.

“We need to get out of here. I managed to put the fire out, but there’s too much smoke.”

Her mind swayed back into place and Lauren remembered. Of course. The town’s people had formed an angry mob. They’d tried to burn down Aaron’s house.

Lauren struggled in his arms as her strength returned. “Hey, where’s your mom? She went to bed—”

“Gray’s got her out back. We left the house and I thought you were right with me. I told you to stay with me, but you had to go and pass out in the smoke.” He looked down at her as he nudged the kitchen gate open. “Scared the living shit outta me, Lauren. Don’t do that again.”

She swallowed. “I’m sorry I scared you.”

Aaron said nothing but held her closer.

“Let’s get out of here first.”

Lauren saw Grayson appear out of the dark, rushing toward them.

“Lauren, you alright?” She nodded and Gray turned to Aaron. “Got momma in the Jeep on the side of the house. They're trying to break in, but the sheriff’s on the way, they won’t do much more damage. Go on, y’all, get outta here.”

Lauren felt the tension in Aaron and looked up at him. He didn’t want to leave, to him it was like running away and Aaron Spencer was no coward. She could see him trying to think of a way to stay back in Woodfair.

Before Aaron could argue with Gray, Laure gripped his arm. “No, Aaron. Think of your mom. The most important thing right now is to get Selena to safety, we can come back later.”

When he clenched his jaw, she tightened her grip. With a curt nod, Aaron finally gave in. Lauren’s heart eased in relief. The last thing she wanted was for Selena to get hurt by that insane crowd.

They were more than insane, they seemed possessed! Who throws a burning bottle into someone’s living room? Who?!

Considering everything she’d learned and experienced since she’d arrived in Woodfair, including tonight’s main event, Lauren was nothing short of disgusted.

The people of Woodfair disgusted her and she hoped she never had to see any of their pretentious faces ever again.

Aaron, you can put me down,” Lauren murmured. He ignored her.

“Grayson, get home and stay there. Alright? I’ll call you.”

Gray nodded and Aaron headed around the side of the house.

Lauren inclined her head as Aaron settled her into the backseat, trying to avoid the sight of the yelling crowd.

“Dearie, are you alright?”

Lauren turned to Selena who was sat in the backseat, knees tucked up against her chest, a blanket draped over her shoulders.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m okay. You alright?”

“Of course, hun. A little shaken, but okay,” said Selena, inching closer to Lauren and sharing her blanket.

Aaron got into the front seat and started the car.

“How are we going to get out though?” Lauren asked. “The gate’s closed and the mob... they’re all over the street out front.”

Aaron met her gaze in the rearview mirror and Lauren swallowed. There was a sharp fierceness about the way he glared past her at the front gate.

“If anyone gets in my way,” he said, his voice coldly calm. “I will assume that they’re tryin’ to harm my mother or you and they’re gonna find themselves under the tires of this car.”

Lauren blinked and glanced at Selena who looked just as shaken.

Aaron revved out of the driveway, the tires screeching in an insanely loud pitch. Throwing her arms around Selena, Lauren held on tight.

She heard the crowd go silent and then a sudden uproar burst out as they realized that their targets were getting away.

The car slammed back into the gate, throwing it open and Lauren saw a number of men leap out of its way, trying to at least keep their limbs intact after attempting murder.

Aaron was turning the wheel powerfully and Lauren thought for a second that he looked like a professional drag racer.

He tore down the street at full speed and she became convinced at this point that he really didn’t care who he ran over.

The crowd’s yells grew further and further. They’d stopped running after the speeding car. Lauren sighed. Thank God.

Blue and red lights flashed past them along with the whining of police sirens. Lauren threw a glance over her shoulder before she turned back and settle into her seat with a sigh.

They’d barely made it.

*****************

“That bastard.”

Lauren looked up at Richard, mentally agreeing that yes, Marcus was indeed a bastard. Richard had been cursing steadily since they arrived at Hutson’s thirty minutes ago. He held onto Selena like she was about to turn to ashes. It made Lauren smile.

Aaron had wanted to drive them to his house, but when he remembered that it was in the same town, he decided to bring them over to Hutson’s so Lauren could see her mother again.

She glanced at her mom now and smiled. They were seated in Hutson’s cozy library. Lauren had chosen to sit cross-legged on the thick carpet by her mom’s sofa while everyone else sat here and there around the warm room. Except for Jason and Higgins Jnr who were said to sleep like the dead.

Heavy rain had begun pouring outside, giving the entire night a ghoulish goosebumps feel.

Catherine sighed.

Lauren snorted into her coffee mug. “I’m fine,” she insisted with a wry grin. “Stop looking at me like I’m some wet puppy.”

Cathy leaned on an elbow towards her daughter. “My poor baby.” An angry glint entered her eye. “The people of Woodfair are still as brainless and heartless as they’ve always been. Little surprise there.”

“I’d never expected them to change,” Richard murmured. “That Marcus lad is much worse than Vince said. To orchestrate somethin’ of this kind is diabolical.”

“It runs in his blood,” Catherine muttered.

From where she was tucked into Richard’s arms, Selena chuckled. “Y’all two sound like vengeful priests.”

Lauren laughed, ignoring the slight ache in her throat. “I know right.”

“What do you mean?” said Cathy. “Listen to your voice! That’s damaged tissue, hun. You inhaled smoke because of those slimy sons of—”

“But I’m fine now,” said Lauren. “And I get to see you again. I think this night ends well.”

Catherine sighed, but couldn’t help the smile that curved her mouth.

Aaron walked in and went straight to Lauren. She watched him as he crouched down to her level.

He brushed a gentle hand through her wet hair. Running from the car to the front door had gotten all three of them drenched to the bone.

“You alright?” he asked softly.

Lauren nodded. “Yeah.”

Catherine suddenly chuckled. “What is this? Are you in love with my daughter?”

Aaron threw her a startled look over his shoulder. “What? C-can I not simply show concern? It is called Humanity, Cathy.”

“Never heard of it.”

Aaron fought a grin. “Clearly not.”

“Good evening.”

Everyone looked up. Montgomery Hutson strolled in with his shiny wooden cane.

“Evening, Mister,” said Lauren and he glanced down at her smile.

“Happy as a lark then, are you?” he asked and Lauren laughed, nodding.

Hutson’s mouth tilted at the corners in the slightest smile ever known to man.

“Well, then everyone...” he said. The room grew silent as he looked all around at them, adjusting his wire-rimmed glasses on his nose. “I cannot say... how content my heart is at this sight. I...” When he hesitated, Lauren looked up and was stunned to see tears in old tough-as-nails Hutson’s eyes. “I ... am an old man now. And... I said to myself twenty years ago... that I would not die. No, I wouldn’t. Not until I looked upon all of you reunited this way.”

Lauren gulped, feeling tears fill her eyes again.

Hutson turned to her. “Lauren,” he began. “I do hope you can forgive me for keeping you and your mother separated all this time. I had no choice, we had to keep her hidden. Only when Abigail Burns was out of the way could I even approach you. I’m sorry, my dear.”

Nodding, Lauren took the old man’s weathered hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’m not even angry, Mister. Hell, I’m grateful.”

Hutson smiled tiredly and hung his cane along his arm so he could use his other hand to pat hers.

Letting go, he strolled over to his desk and sat. “I’ve brought a visitor.”

Lauren sat up straighter. "Who?"

To answer her question, the door to the library opened and in strolled a tall, handsome middle-aged man who she’d never seen before.

Who was he?

“Vince,” said Richard as he stood up. Lauren stared at the man. So he was the Deputy Mayor that she’d kept hearing about.

He must have been around forty-six years at least, Lauren thought.

The tall, handsome man strode right to Richard and embraced him. “You alright, Rick?” he asked.

Richard nodded and clapped the man on the back. “Alright, Vince.”

He stepped aside and indicated Selena who, Lauren noticed, was staring at Vince with narrowed eyes of interest.

Vince inclined his head at Selena in what was almost a bow. Lauren didn’t blame him. She’d nearly bowed herself, the first time she’d seen Selena. She was a beauty.

“Mrs. Spencer,” said Vince. His voice was strong and powerful. Perfect for a politician, thought Lauren. “Such an honor to meet you.”

Selena took his outstretched hand and shook it, still eyeing him. “Likewise. But... haven’t we met before?”

Vince smiled at her and slowly shook his head. “I don’t think so, ma’am.”

She nodded and he finally turned around, facing the rest of them. The moment his eyes landed on Catherine, Lauren saw his face go pale. But he recovered quickly and approached to shake her hand.

Lauren looked at her mother to see if she knew the man, but Cathy gave no indication that she did. She shook his hand and Vince quickly moved on to greet Aaron and then Lauren.

She stared up at him, convinced that his hand had lingered on hers. That his eyes had softened as he looked down at her.

She eyed him when he turned away.

Leaning over to her mother, Lauren whispered. “Saw that?”

Catherine nodded. “Mm. He gives me a strange feelin’.”

Lauren watched as the man sat in an armchair beside Hutson. “You think... think he recognizes you?”

Cathy sighed and shook her head. “No, he’s not... he’s not from Woodfair, is he? I don’ know, honey.”

Vincent Krowski lowered himself onto a chair and prepared to address them. He nodded at Aaron first.

“Young man, I apologize for what happened back in Woodfair earlier tonight. I should have been quicker to contain the situation. I assure you that all damages to your property will be compensated for.”

Aaron lifted a hand off Lauren’s shoulders to wave the concerns away. “Don’t worry about it. Nobody was hurt and as for the house, its being damaged doesn’t bother me much.”

Vince studied him for a moment and gave a curt nod. “Well, then.”

Hutson leaned forward. “What is to be done about this unpredicted turn of events, Vince?”

“Well,” said Vince. “There is only one thing I have decided will be the best solution. Every single person in this room has been on the receiving end of Woodfair’s unjust treatment and tonight’s event shows that those people haven’t changed one bit. As Deputy Mayor, I’ve got the power to destroy that town, to turn it to ashes.”

Lauren leaned forward with wide eyes. “Will you? Will you turn it to ashes?”

Vincent looked at her and smiled. “I could. But I won’t. I won’t become what I’m trying to kill.”

She sat back with a nod. True. That town wasn’t worth losing your soul over.

“So what are you going to do?” Aaron asked.

Vincent’s mouth curved again.

“Here’s the plan.”