You Shouldn't Have Come Here(63)

“Don’t matter. Doesn’t change anything.” He shook his head and backed away from me.

“This place should have burned down the first time.”

“Maybe it changes everything,” I said.

He eyed me cautiously, and I thought he was going to reveal what Charlotte had told him, but his face twisted up.

“You shouldn’t have come here, Grace.”

I swallowed hard.

From his back pocket, he pulled out a small plastic bottle. Joe stumbled into the living room and looked around for a moment—almost as if he were taking it all in, one last time. He staggered to the large bay window adorned with thick, floral drapes. His head lolled to one side and then the other before he started dousing the curtains with the bottle’s cloudy-colored liquid.

Turning back toward me, he chuckled. “This Airbnb is out of business.”

I pulled myself from the wall and took a couple of apprehensive steps toward Joe, trying to see what he was doing. He slid his hand into his pocket and faced the window again. Click. Click. Click. The drapes burst into flames. He clicked the lighter again and the other curtain caught on fire.

“What the hell are you doing?” I yelled.

Joe ignored my question and burst into a manic laugh. He tried to light the couch on fire, but it wouldn’t take.

I bolted to the kitchen, tearing through the cupboards in search of a fire extinguisher. When I couldn’t find one, I grabbed a bowl and filled it with water. Back in the living room, I felt arms wrap around me just as I was about to toss the water onto the burning curtains. The bowl slipped from my hands and fell to the floor, soaking my feet.

“Let it burn, Grace,” Joe whispered into my ear as he held me tight against his body. His hot breath irritated my skin. I stomped on his foot and tried to wiggle loose, but he was too strong. He held me firmly, laughing as the curtains burned.

“You’re hurting me.”

Joe ignored my words but loosened his grip enough so I could squirm out of it. I raised my arm, moved my hip to the side, and swung my fist into his groin. He groaned and crumpled to the floor. When I tried to run away, he caught my ankle, sending me crashing to the floor with him. I kicked with my other leg, struggling to free myself from his grip again. A cloud of smoke blanketed the ceiling. My breaths were quick and uncontrolled, and I was inhaling too much of it as a result. The smoke stung my eyes and burned as it entered my lungs, sending me into a coughing fit.

“I’m saving you, Grace,” he said. “From Calvin.”

My mouth dropped open, and he finally let go of my ankle, allowing me to scramble away.





40.

Calvin


I saw the fire as soon I pulled into the driveway. A flame danced in the living room window. I sped up, pressing my foot firmly against the gas pedal.

“Whoa, what’s the rush?” Albert asked as he sipped on his bottle of Jack, completely clueless. Some of the liquid dribbled down his chin and spilled onto his shirt.

“I told you not to drink that in here.”

He gathered the liquid from his chin and pushed it back up to his lips with his pointer finger.

I slammed on the brakes. “Grace,” I yelled as I jumped out of the truck and ran toward the house.

Inside, I found Grace crawling away from the burning drapes. The fire spread to the wall and ceiling, and the room was cloaked in smoke. Immediately, I sprinted to the kitchen, leaping over her. From beneath the sink, I snatched the fire extinguisher.

Just as I stood and turned, something whacked me in the face. Blood pooled from my nose, and it took me a moment to realize Joe was standing right in front of me, seething with balled-up fists. He was dirty and bloody and didn’t look anything like my brother. Thick, angry veins covered his neck and arms. His eyes were black like two pieces of coal had been shoved into his face.

“What did you do?!”

“What I should have done a long time ago,” he said, winding his arm back.

When he swung, I blocked it with the fire extinguisher. His knuckles cracked against the metal. He cried out in pain and tried to shake out his hand. His fingers wouldn’t straighten, and I knew right away, several had broken. I thrust the fire extinguisher into his jaw, reeling him backward. Joe collapsed to the ground, and the back of his head slammed against the floor. He was out cold. I stepped over him and ran toward the living room. Grace was gone. Albert coughed on smoke while swatting the curtains with pillows.

“Stand back,” I yelled.

He looked over at me, dropped the pillows to the floor, and moved out of the way. I swept the fire extinguisher back and forth over the curtains and the wall, not stopping until the fire was completely out. I wouldn’t let this place go up in flames again.

Dropping the fire extinguisher on the couch, I heard the floor creak behind me. Joe leaned against the kitchen table, barely able to stand on his own. His eyes were so narrow, a piece of paper wouldn’t fit between his lids. I wasn’t sure he could even see me.

“Calvin the golden boy always saving the day.” Joe shook his head and let out a huff.

I threw my hands up. “What the fuck are you doing?” I took a few steps toward him, squaring up, ready to beat his ass again.

“It should have burned down the first time,” he said.

I tried to look him in the eyes, but it was like he was looking right through me. “How could you say something like that, Joe?”