Hearts on Fire 1: Serefina(8)
“Further apart?”
“Don’t act so surprised. Marco’s death hit us hard. I understand your reasoning behind watching over us, but we’re not your responsibility.”
“Sure you are.”
“You need to let go. You need to put behind what happened to Marco. It wasn’t your fault. He should have confided in one of us, or even the chief. He didn’t and he’s gone. You can’t bring him back.”
Bull’s words hit him hard. He wasn’t trying to bring back Marco. He was protecting the last two brothers he had. They had always done everything together. They even joined the military together. Marco and he stayed on longer, but eventually they got into the fire department and wound up in the same station house. Was he really causing a wedge in their relationship? Shit.
They drove in silence and Ace wondered how he was supposed to just stop protecting his brothers when that was his responsibility in life.
Chapter 6
Duggy walked into Denis’s room without knocking.
“Hey. Do I fucking walk into your room without knocking first?” he yelled as he closed up the laptop along with a thick book Denis always had with him. Duggy stared at him.
“Are you thinking about the job? Have any ideas about how we’re going to pull this shit off without getting caught?”
“I’m working on something.”
Duggy had seen the image on the computer screen before Denis closed it up. His brother was obsessed with that damn fire from nine months ago. It was like he meant for it to be worse, or was dissatisfied with the end result. He wanted to stay in North Carolina, but heading here, getting away from the scene was a smart move. Plus, Kent Frederickson paid for all expenses.
“What are you doing now? I saw the picture on the screen.”
“So what? I can do whatever the fuck I want to. I’m not stupid, you know?”
His brother was becoming agitated and that wasn’t a good thing. He knew that Denis wasn’t exactly dealing with a full deck, but to most people he would appear attractive, businesslike, and intelligent. Duggy knew the other side of him.
“Calm down. I just don’t want you surfing the net exploring the fire from Carolina. The Feds and shit have that kind of stuff monitored.”
“Not with the programs I have installed in here. They can’t follow shit. I’m smarter than all of them. Don’t you know that by now?”
“Whatever. Just keep working on a foolproof plan to burn down that condominium complex without getting busted. It might be our last job before we disappear from here forever.”
“Disappear? You’re on that again? I’m not going anywhere else. I like it here,” he said, and Duggy got angry.
“Tough shit. When this job is over, we’ll be sitting on a beach somewhere sipping tropical drinks, flirting with pretty ladies, and living large until we die. I’m going to start cooking the steaks.” He walked out of the room.
* * * *
Denis watched his brother leave, closing the door behind him. He stared at the closed door.
“I’m not going anywhere. Not until it’s done.”
That’s right. Don’t listen to your brother. Go after the target. You can make it yours and no one else can ever have it but you. Maybe take it with you. It represents everything we’ve been fighting for. It’s got power, beauty, and control. It can fight against the fires. You need it. Go after it. Make it yours.
Denis rocked back and forth in the seat with his eyes closed. He clenched his fists, and then thought about the treasure. He could have it all. He could take it with him and Duggy, but not share it.
The burning one will be mine. I’ll find it, capture it, and make it my possession forever.
* * * *
“So have you thought about any possibilities for jobs?” her mom asked as Serefina walked with her down the boardwalk. They had lunch at home then decided to take a stroll and maybe stop for coffee at Sullivan’s Café.
“Not really. I looked into some of the part-time jobs in local offices but I’m not sure I want to do that. I still have my connection to freelance writing online, but my heart just isn’t into it yet. I guess I lost my mojo.” She looked out toward the water. She felt her mom touch her arm, and she turned to look at her.
“You’ll get it back. Maybe if you just try to write, it will all come to you?”
“I tried. The creativity just isn’t there.”
“What about the job with the local theatre group you used to belong to? I heard that Mary has her hands full, especially with her little guy and another baby on the way. You would be great helping onstage.”
“Not sure about that one.”
“It’s only for a few hours on weekends, and then of course for shows you would have to be available. Tasha mentioned calling Mary to find out more. What do you think? I think Mary would love the help.”
“I’ll think about it.”
They walked closer to Sullivan’s and saw that it was pretty crowded.
“This is the place the guys were talking about least week?” she asked.
“Sure is. Great people own the place. Your father has known them for years.”
“It’s pretty cool. They own both the café and the restaurant next door?”
“Yep. But it looks really busy,” her mom stated as they walked inside.
“Hi, Angelina, how are you?” the woman at the hostess station asked, and she look frazzled.
“Good. We’re just interested in having coffee. Is that okay?”
The woman smiled. “Sure thing, you can take that table over there by the window. I’ll be with you soon. Two of my girls didn’t make it today. One is sick and the other a no-show. Can you believe it? Crazy.” She hurried toward a table to take an order.
“That’s terrible. How can people just not show up to work?” her mother said as they walked over to the last open table.
“Is it me, or do people looked annoyed?” Serefina asked her mom.
Her mom cringed as the sound of a coffee cup crashing to the floor echoed around them. “Damn it,” one guy said as he bent down and quickly cleaned up the mess he made.
The woman approached the table a while later.
“I’m so sorry. What can I get you, Angelina?”
“Oh, just two mocha lattes please.”
“This must be Serefina? Your mom told me that you were moving back home.”
“This is ridiculous. We’ve waited over an hour for our meals,” a man stated as he stood up and threw his napkin down on the table.
“Excuse me.”
The woman turned around and tried to calm down the patron, but he was pissed off. Some other people started complaining and the woman looked so upset.
“I think they need help, Mom,” Serefina whispered.
“Then we should help. We’re not doing anything but hanging around today anyway. What do you say? Do you remember how to serve tables?”
Serefina smiled. “Remember? It’s what made me all that extra spending cash through college.”
They stood up and placed hands on the woman’s shoulder.
“Florence, hand over the aprons. We’re going to help you.”
Florence looked like she had tears in her eyes. “Are you serious?” she asked and looked at both of them. Serefina and her mom smiled.
“We’ve done this before and we’re friends. You need help and we’re just hanging out. So let us help you out.”
“Oh God, this is great. Al is working on getting back up servers in here as soon as possible.”
“No worries. We’re here for you.”
* * * *
Two hours later Angelina stood by the coffee bar next to Florence watching Serefina talk with a group of firefighters who just got off work. She had taken care of double the tables Angelina had with perfection and a smile. She hadn’t seen Serefina smile in a while. The sadness hit her eyes and Florence touched her arm.
“She’s a very beautiful young woman. You and Marty have done well.”
Angelina smiled. “I appreciate that. I’ve been so worried about Serefina. We all have.”
Florence smiled. ‘That’s understandable. After everything she went through, it’s good she’s here. It’s great that she offered to help. She’s really friendly and a hard worker.”
Angelina turned toward Florence. “Those replacements never showed up, huh?”
“Damn girls are lazy and hate to work hard. Meanwhile the tips are great. The people are friendly. I don’t understand it. There’s no work ethic today like what we used to have.”
“I know. We’ve been lucky with our sons and daughter.”
“We have been, too. Ace, Ben, Ivan, and Marco are wonderful men.” Florence had her own tears in her eyes and this time Angelina comforted her.
“Marco was a wonderful man and a great son. It’s so hard to lose a loved one. That’s why we’re trying to help Serefina get through this process. She’s very sad and depressed. It’s hard to get her excited about anything.”
Just then they heard her laughing and then saw her point at one of the firefighters and reprimand him. As she turned to walk away, they were all checking out her daughter.
“She’s comfortable talking to people. Do you think she’d like to work here?” Florence asked.