Page 222 of Savior
“She does blame me, doesn’t she?”
“The Chief said it was the candle. Looks accidental.” Dean replies, releasing my hand now to start the truck.
“So, I lost my job and my friend, all in the same night.”
“If you lost a friend, she was never a real friend.” Dean says, backing the truck out of the parking space and throwing it into drive. We pull out of the parking lot and head down the road. “Give her a little time to process this. I’m sure she doesn’t blame you. And as far as the job, you have me. You don’t need it.” I glance at him in time to see his slight crooked smile as he looks back at me. “To be honest, I was hoping you wouldn’t go back. That you’d stay home and raise our kid.”
“I kinda figured that.” I sigh, reaching for his hand again. He strokes the back of my fingers with his thumb as he holds my hand between us, resting against the seat. “Dean, I know I didn’t leave that candle burning.”
“I believe you.” He says, shifting his focus back on the road. “They’re going to do a thorough investigation. Don’t worry about it, doll.”
I stare out into the darkness as we ride home in silence. An uneasy feeling stirs in my solar plexus.
“Legion did this, Dean.”
“I know, baby.” I barely hear him say.
Now I need to know why.
“You sure you’re feeling alright, doll?” Dean asks, concern evident in his searching eyes. It’s been about a week since the fire. The conclusion of the official investigation, reiterated the preliminary theory, that it was a candle left burning in the main foyer. All the blame resting neatly at my feet. Filed away as an accident, no charges pressed. Case closed. The only actual fact in all of this, is that Legion framed me…
I force what I hope comes across as a content smile, back at Dean. “Yes, I’m fine. Go man your shift.”
I need him to leave…
“What will you do tonight?” he asks.
I casually shrug. “Watch a movie. Go to bed. Practical Magic is free on Prime right now.”
“Alright.” Dean wraps his arms around me, pulling me closer to kiss my forehead. He lingers for a moment, and I know he’s at a loss for words at this point, beyond, “I love you.”
I force a little laugh. “I told you, I’m fine. Go. You’re going to be late. I love you, too.”
He kisses my lips this time, before he leaves for his six hour block of guard duty. I watch him mount Serene from the front door, strapping on his helmet as he looks back at me. I blow him a little kiss and wave him off. When I can no longer see the tail lights of his bike, I turn to fetch my cellphone from the kitchen island.
My insides are trembling as I lower myself into a dining room chair. I’m torn right down the middle, warring with myself over whether or not, this is the right thing to do. Whether or not, this is an act of betraying Dean, or protecting him…
Bringing up Legion’s number, I take a quivering breath and touch the green call icon on my screen. I can hear the faint ringing as I slowly lift the phone to my ear, and wait…
The line picks up, but there are no words.
“Legion?”
“This call took a lot longer than I anticipated it would.” His tone isn’t as calm and collected as he usually sounds.
“Well, I’m calling now. We need to talk… This needs to stop… please… Legion… tell me how to make all this stop.”
“Meet me.”
“I can’t… Dean would-”
“The Queen protects the King… Do you want to protect him, Vanna? Protect your little prince as well?”
“Yes.”
“Then meet me... I require more than a fucking moment of your precious time. That’s phase one.”
“How do I know you won’t hurt me to hurt him?”
