CHAPTER 86 MATT

86

Matt

JOSH CRIED

OUT.

A high-pitched, animal-like shriek, and Matt realized a tendril of flames from the Molotov cocktail that came through the window had reached him and the man's leg was on fire.

Matt shot up from his position at the door, jumped the growing fire in the center of the room, and grabbed the corner of Ellie's large fish tank. With a grunt, he yanked it forward, toppling the tank from the table—water, sand, fish, and a tiny castle splashed out, soaked his pants, and rolled across the floor like a mini tidal wave, quickly snuffing out most of the fire but missing Josh—he screamed even louder, batting at his leg, twisting and jerking, only making it worse.

From a nearby chair, Matt grabbed a throw pillow, dropped down next to Josh, and systematically began smothering the flames. He worked up and down the man's leg until they were all out, then used his weight to hold Josh still. "It's out, it's out," he assured him. "Stop moving; I need to see how bad …" His voice trailed off as he got a better look.

Some of the gasoline must have splashed on Josh's right leg. From his knee to just above his ankle, his khaki pants were black, smoldering. Some of the material had melted into the charred flesh below. Easily second- and third-degree burns. He needed a doctor.

Josh was breathing in short, quick gasps, sucking the air between clenched teeth.

"You'll be okay," Matt told him, knowing that was a lie. "Just stay still."

Matt had dropped the shotgun when he went for the fish tank, and he caught Josh's eyes flash to it a moment before the man lunged.

Matt brought his knee up and caught Josh under his chin. His teeth cracked together, and he let out another cry as Matt retrieved the weapon and rolled away from him.

Two shots came from the kitchen.

He remembered Gabby, then.

She'd screamed right before the firebomb came through the picture window.

He bolted through the kitchen doorway and found Gabby crouching behind the sink, the window above her gone, and smoke rising from the barrel of her gun.

"There's at least three of them out there," she quickly told him. "Same creeps Stu had with him earlier. They took cover somewhere, but I'm not sure for how long. We need to get out of here."

Matt's cruiser was in the detached garage.

"We can't get to my car without going outside. It's too dangerous. Josh is hurt. There's no way to move him fast." He quickly told her what happened.

"Fuck Josh. You shoulda let him burn."

"Matt!"

That came from Addie upstairs.

Gabby shook her head and turned back toward the missing window above her. "Just go."

"You know I love you, right?"

She chewed at her lower lip and refused to look at him. "I know you want to, but that doesn't always make it so."

"That's not fair."

"No," she replied softly. "It's not." She craned her neck to get a better look at the backyard. "Go. Make sure Addie is okay. I can take care of myself. I always have."

Matt didn't want to—this felt like the end of them—but he had no choice. For better or worse, he had a job to do. Against every fiber of his being, he rose, darted from the kitchen, and headed for the staircase.