Loving Ashlynn (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 55 - Frosty Predicament, Bozeman Christmas (Samson Conrad POV) Pt. 4

Chapter 55 – Frosty Predicament, Bozeman Christmas (Samson Conrad POV) Pt. 4

Scrunching my nose up, I gaped at the screen, reading the words that sent Imogen into a crying mess. However, sliding my gaze over from the words I focused on the woman, arms crossed against her chest.

Local news reporter.

I only just think, was there no other picture of this woman, why is she smiling? When Luca gasps, taking two steps backwards, his lower back colliding with a box of cooking utensils. Loudly, they crash to the floor, echoing noisily in the concrete house.

"That – that's not – they – it," Luca stammers, breathing shallow, gasping between each word. Putting the spoon I was currently holding down, I take a step towards the table, then another until I was holding one of the untraceable phones in my hand.

Unaware of what is wrong, Fatima enters the room teary-eyed. Glancing between Luca and her, I immediately head towards Fatima, "What's wrong?" she asks even though I can tell she's in some pain.

"There was a fire or explosion at Lucas' parents' house, thirty dead so far," I whisper at her ear, though I know Luca could hear me easily.

My arm around Fatima's shoulder, I lead us closer to a devastated, in shock and frozen Luca, that's just gaping at the screen Imogen was holding. She sets it on the gray concrete polished counters, attempting to go to Luca, but he is unaffected by her touch or pleas.

"Luca, call Raf," I say pushing the burner phone towards him. "Ask him who is Robert Delaney first though," Fatima adds before resting her head on my shoulder.

He holds the glassy glazed look for long minutes, before inhaling and shaking his head mixing it up with nodding.

"If – if we can trust him," I start thinking, "it's not just about the book," I tilt my head to the side, not understanding from what Imogen had found. Taking the laptop and flipping towards me, "I don't understand how this was done so quickly," I dig a bit deeper but the articles and news coverage leaves me unsure.

Grabbing another burner phone I dial my parent's.

"Luca?" dad answers immediately. Clearly that is whom he was expecting. Frowning I take a moment to gather my thoughts, does dad know about the house fire?

In a soft tone, I respond. "Dad it's me Samson." A sharp intake of breath sounds before dad jumps to make any other sounds.

"Samson," he says with carefulness coloring his tone. "Are you – how are you?" he stumbles at first, but he ends strong.

What Taylor did, I can ignore it, leave it simmering; however the minute dad asks it's as though the emotions are ready to boil right over. Fatima curled up against me though keeps me from wanting to jump out of my own skin to avoid even the slightest turn in conversation.

"Dad did you see the news? About the fire in Bend?"

"No," he says, and maybe pulls the phone away because I hear him in lower – muffled – volume instruct my aunt Angela to look up Bend news. "What are you talking about Samson?" dad says impatiently.

"There was a fire at the Romas house, so far the body count is at thirty," I whisper the words again, knowing a bit of what Luca was living through right now.

"I doubt those are the families that stayed with Nick," I hear a voice that I cannot truly identify. "Dad who is that?"

There's a bit of static and I can hear as Luca's heartbeat speeds up. "It is Naomi, she has been-" Luca comes forward, tilting his head towards me to hear what is being said on the phone.