“Give me a second.” I kiss her forehead and accept the call, walking to my office. “Hello.”
“Hello, Mr. Petrosian. You asked me to let you know when the place was clean and ready to be shown. I’ll have the keys sent over to you immediately.”
“Perfect. Thank you, Gloria.” Gloria is one of the commercial real estate agents I have on staff. She handles several of my properties that I buy, sell, and lease. One of my storefronts has become available and I think it would be perfect for Camilla to open her boutique. I know she wants to finish school, and she still can, but I don’t see why she can’t work on opening her boutique now. If she’s not ready, it will be there for when she is. I just want her to know I believe in her and support her one hundred percent.
As I’m walking back out to Camilla, my phone rings again with a number I don’t recognize. “Hello.”
“Hello, this is Atlas Security. We’re calling to let you know the fire alarm has been triggered at Chester Creek Commons. We’ve dispatched emergency.”
Are you fucking kidding me? I swear to God if this is James’s doing, we’re going to have a problem. I thought after the hefty fines he was served and the beating he took after going after Camilla, he’d learned his lesson. He’s been quiet these last several weeks, so I figured he’s smartened up. Guess not.
“Cam, I need to go check on something,” I tell her when I get out to the living room.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, instantly on alert.
“I’m not sure yet.” I kiss her quickly. “I shouldn’t be long. We’ll finish the cakes when I get back.” I kiss her one more time. “And then I plan to eat you for dessert.” I suck on her bottom lip and she giggles.
“The cakes are the dessert.”
“Fuck no, they’re not. Your sweet pussy is my real dessert.” I laugh when spots of pink tinge her cheeks. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Love you, meu amor.”
“Love you more.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CAMILLA
I’m taking a bite of the vanilla cream cake when it feels as though the building has shaken. Are we having an earthquake? is my first thought. Until the fire alarm goes off in the building.
I jump up, unsure of what’s going on, and call Isaac. He left several minutes ago, but maybe he’s still here. It goes straight to voicemail, so I try again, but it does it again.
With the fire alarm blaring in my ears, I grab my phone off the table and exit the building, taking the stairs in case there really is a fire. When I get down to the first floor and step outside, the overwhelming scent of smoke hits my senses. I rush farther out, trying to see where the source is. It looks like it’s coming from the parking garage. I call Isaac again, but it doesn’t ring, going straight to voicemail once again.
The weirdest feeling in my gut hits me, and suddenly I’m nervous. This isn’t the first fire that’s been set. Was this on purpose? Is Isaac okay?
I’m about to head for where the fire is to check it out, when a loud explosion rocks the ground I’m standing on. Red and orange flames, along with black smoke, billow out of the parking garage, and I gasp in horror as several explosions occur in quick succession.
With trembling hands, I call Noah, and thankfully he picks up. “Where are you?” I rush out.
“At home.”
“There’s a fire at the marina. I think it’s coming from the parking garage. I can’t get ahold of Isaac. He left a little while ago. It looks like it’s spreading to the main building.”
“Is the fire department on their way?”
“I don’t hear anybody…” The last time the warehouse caught on fire, they came immediately. “Should I call them?” I had assumed they would get the message from the alarm going off and show up like they did last time.
“Yeah, I’m on my way.”
“Do you know where Isaac is?” I ask, starting to panic as the flames grow higher, the heat intensifying. I’m standing several feet away from the garage, but I can feel the heat from here. Even if I wanted to go check it out, I would be burned trying to get past the flames.
“No, call the fire department.” He hangs up and I call, explaining what’s happened the best I can, since I don’t really even know what’s happened, and they assure me they’re sending trucks right away.
A few minutes later, they arrive, and I still can’t get ahold of Isaac. My nerves are on edge and tears of frustration are leaking from my lids. Noah shows up shortly after and stays with me while we watch the fire department put the fire out.