Finally Us (Next Generation #5) - J.M. Walker Page 0,95

the smoke detectors going off and the house on fire.” I swallowed hard. “The police are investigating.” After Vince and I had shown up at the hospital, they arrived shortly after and asked me a bunch of questions. Vince needed extensive care since his lungs were damaged from the smoke more than mine were. But once the doctor gave the go-ahead, the police asked him questions as well. When it was determined that neither of us had anything to do with starting the fire, the officers left. But I still hadn’t seen Vince since we were separated from the start.

“Have you seen Vince?” I asked my parents.

“Not yet. Creena and Stone are here though,” Mom told me, petting a hand over my head. “You sure you’re good?”

“Yes.” I gave her a smile for reassurance. “Just a little freaked out.”

“That’s understandable.” Mom looked up at Dad. “Angel, stop.”

He huffed. “I’m not fucking doing anything.”

“You’re plotting.” She wrapped her arm around his middle. “Let the police do their job.”

“Someone set my baby girl’s house on fire while she was in bed. Add to the fact that she’s pregnant with our grandbaby. We’ve been through a lot, princess. But this…” Dad pulled away from Mom and started pacing. “I just need a moment.”

“I’m fine, Daddy. I promise.” I cupped my stomach. “We’re both fine. The doctor gave us a clean bill of health.”

Dad rubbed the back of his neck, his shoulders tense. “I know you’re fine. I see that you’re fine but it’s not making me feel any better.”

“How are you feeling?” I asked, remembering the accident he had a few weeks ago that freaked us all out.

“I’m fine.” Dad dropped his arm to the side. “Your mother has been my rock and I’ve even started wearing glasses while working.” But he wasn’t wearing them at that moment. He scowled. “I’ll start wearing them regularly. I swear you two have the same brain.”

Mom and I laughed.

A knock suddenly sounded at the door.

Stone peeked his head inside the room. “Can we interrupt?”

“Of course,” Mom told him.

“Someone was ready to kick some ass to get to you,” he said, giving me a smile and coming farther into the room.

Creena pushed Vince into the room in a wheelchair.

Before I could say anything, he was up and out of the chair and in my arms like I needed. He sat beside me, pushing his face into the crook of my neck. “You good?” he asked, cupping my stomach.

“Yes,” I whispered. “We’re good. Are you?”

His dark eyes met mine. “The doctor said that I’m good to go. My lungs will be tender for a few days though.”

“But are you good?” I asked, turning toward him.

“She knows him well,” Creena pointed out.

“Vince.” I grabbed his hand. “Answer me.”

He leaned toward me, his mouth brushing over the shell of my ear. “I want to skin the person alive who set your house on fire and risked your life and our baby’s life. Does that answer your question, Queenie?”

I shivered at the image he put in my head. “You don’t think it was an accident?”

“Nope.” He kissed my cheek. “Not at all, babe.”

“But they would have seen our cars. Do you think they wanted us to be home?” I swallowed hard at the thought that someone would deliberately set my house on fire, hoping we would be home at the same time.

“I…” Vince hesitated. “I don’t think it was an accident,” he said again.

While our parents talked, I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe Vince was right and that someone did set the house on fire. But I wasn’t sure why they would do that. What could they possibly get out of burning my house down? Was it a random person or someone we actually knew? Either way, it didn’t make sense but if I knew our dads, they were already trying to figure out a way to get the answers I was looking for without me even having to ask them.

I looked at my dad.

His gaze locked with mine.

He nodded once.

I swallowed hard.

I almost felt sorry for the person who tried to hurt Vince and I but then again, maybe they deserved whatever was coming to them.

Vince

After leaving the hospital, we headed back to Gigi’s parents’ place. My mom and dad offered to take me back to theirs and as much as I appreciated that, I wasn’t leaving Gigi. Ever. Luckily, I had to just say no once, and they understood. Dad shot me a look that meant he knew