fire, that's what happened,” Asher barked as he moved past Miles and dropped his bag by the stairs.
"It was probably Jason." Jessica grimaced. "I really pissed him off yesterday."
"Whoa, whoa. Hold on." Zeke turned back to Asher. "Start at the beginning."
I stepped off the last step and stood beside Zeke. "Start with the fire."
Asher turned back to us, the muscles in his neck rigid. "About three hours ago, I was dead asleep when glass shattered. The smell of smoke got me out of bed. The kitchen was on fire, so I grabbed Jess and got us out of the house."
"What started the fire?" Miles ran his hand through his messy hair.
"Fire department says it looks like someone threw a Molotov cocktail through the kitchen window." Asher turned to Miles. "Can we stay with you for a while? The investigators and insurance people will only talk to Dad about repairs to the kitchen."
"Of course." Miles didn't hesitate. "Though, I don't know which room to give Jessica."
"She can take my room," I offered. "I'm rarely in it anymore."
Jessica's eyes snapped to me.
"Ally, can you help get her settled?" Asher asked.
"Sure." I gestured for Jessica to follow me and turned to go into the long hallway.
"Wait a minute," Jessica snapped. "I didn't agree to sharing a room with her."
"It's that or the couch, Jess," Asher said in a tone that I rarely ever heard from him.
Jessica debated it for a heartbeat before she let out a breath and followed.
I led her to the bedroom on the first floor and opened the door for her.
"Isn't this Miles' mom's room?" Jessica asked as she walked in and set her bag on the bed.
"It was, but since she's not coming back, Miles gave it to me," I explained as I went into the bathroom and pulled out several towels. "Here's some towels, and feel free to use any of the soap or conditioner you need."
I was on my way out the door when she asked, "Why don't you sleep in this room?"
I came to a complete stop and turned back to her. "What?"
She raised an eyebrow. "You said you rarely use this room anymore. Where do you sleep if not in here?"
Oh shit. Me and my big mouth. "Feel free to take the empty drawers in the dresser, I'll see you later." I shut the door behind me and mentally cursed myself. With Jessica around I was going to have to be much more careful about what I said. And I'd probably have to crash with Jessica from now on. Fuck that.
I walked into the living room where the others were sitting spread out over the couches.
"So, what does Jason have to do with the fire?" Miles asked Asher.
Asher clenched his fists as I sat beside him. "Apparently that shit came over to the house and threatened Jess yesterday."
My eyebrows shot up. "He threatened her?"
Isaac nodded. "He was trying to get her back and thought that using their sex tape would be the best way to do it."
Asher burst to his feet then began pacing in front of the fireplace.
"That piece of shit." I spat the words out.
"You'd have been proud of her. She stood right up to him and blackmailed him into handing over his memory card so he couldn't post it anywhere." Isaac smirked.
"What did she blackmail him with?" Zeke leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his thighs.
"Apparently Jason's been using steroids and she threatened to tell his football coach." Isaac wore a wide, unapologetic grin now.
"Good," I muttered.
"I gotta go for a run." Asher turned and left the room in long strides. The back door slammed shut hard enough that it was a miracle the glass hadn’t shattered on impact.
Ethan cringed. "Probably shouldn't have mentioned his sister's sex tape."
Isaac shrugged. "Hindsight."
"So, you guys think Jason did this?" I asked the group.
"He's got motive," Miles said. "And it doesn't take a genius to put gas in a bottle and light it on fire."
"Well, it's the cops’ problem now." Ethan leaned back on the couch. "They know about the argument with Jason and they'll question him about it. All we need to do is lay low until he's in jail."
“Does anyone else think it’s strange that Asher’s house caught fire after Ethan was attacked?” Zeke asked the group.
The twins exchanged looks while Miles cleaned his glasses.
My phone rang. Groaning, I checked my phone. It was the funeral home. Great. “Hello?”
“Hello, may I speak with Miss Alexis Delaney?”
“Speaking.”
“Hi Miss Delaney, I’m so sorry to be calling