The Misadventures of the Laundry Hag 00 - Swept Under the Rug

Valentino, stop at the store so I wouldn’t arrive home empty-handed and avoid another confrontation with Neil. Nothing to discuss with anyone else.
    Having never been to the Valentino’s at night, I drove slowly, not wanting to miss the turn. Those damn headlights were gaining and I considered pulling over to let the vehicle pass. Some buried instinct kept my foot on the accelerator. I scolded my imagination for working overtime as I pulled up in front of Valentino’s mansion.
    The headlights followed me and an involuntary shudder ripped through my body. I grabbed my tote and climbed from the car. What were the chances that Valentino would receive another visitor at this exact moment, so late at night? Maybe it was the man himself, yet I couldn’t picture Valentino driving anything that big . Eyeing the distance to the front porch, I was set to run when a door slammed behind me. A stream of obscenities caught on the wind along with my name spat like a bitter pill and I spun to face my doom.
    “Just going to the store? For chrissakes, Maggie!” Neil thundered as he closed in on me. My mouth opened and closed a few times, but I couldn’t force a sound out. I didn’t realize I was backing up until my butt hit the side of the car. Large evergreens obscured the moonlight and a predator stalked through the shadows. Though Neil would never hurt me physically, I knew I’d pushed him too far.
    His hands clamped down on my arms and I winced, even though it didn’t hurt. His eyes blazed with fury as his grip tightened.
    “Do you have a goddamned death wish? Why the hell can’t you leave it alone?”
    “I have to give him the money back,” I whimpered, but my excuse only enraged him further.
    “Mail it to him, then! Fed Ex, UPS, hire a fuckin’ courier for all I care! You have plenty of reasonable options, yet you choose this!”
    With a muttered expletives he dragged me into his arms. His embrace held more anger than relief, his body trembling at the contact. I remained stiff, waiting for the next wave of rage to knock me on my ass. It didn’t come, and he pulled back, then dragged me toward the open truck door. He’d left the engine on, ready for a swift getaway.
    “Wait, my car!” I squealed, but he didn’t slow his forward progress.
    “Screw the damn car. It’s a clown car anyway.”
    “Hey!” I lashed out with my foot. Nobody insult my Mini—even if he was rightfully beyond furious— and got away with it. The toe of my boot connected with the back of his shin and he grunted, but continued on, undeterred. There was a high probability that once Neil had me in the truck, he’d lock me up for the foreseeable future. I glanced at my car, and at Valentino’s front door, wishing for an out. I squinted at the house; sure my eyes were playing tricks on me.
    “Neil, wait—”
    “Stow it Maggie, I don’t want to hear it.” His words held a warning which I stoutly ignored.
    “But Neil, I see—”
“Get in the truck Maggie, or I swear I’ll hogtie you in the bed for the ride home.” He was serious, and unaware of what was happening right behind us.
    “Listen to me, damn it! I think Valentino’s house is on fire.” I blurted before he could toss me headfirst into the cab of the truck.
    He blinked twice, his jaw making an awful cracking sound as he ground his molars together and I pointed frantically to the smoke billowing out of the open front door.
    “Christ Almighty!” He shoved me into the truck anyway and hollered, “Stay in there and call 911!” before slamming the door with enough force to rock the vehicle and sprinting toward the house.
    “No!” I shouted, even as I fished out my cell phone. Punching in the number, I watched my husband mount the steps and push the door open. Smoke billowed out around him before he disappeared. God, what was he thinking? We didn’t even know if someone was inside the house!
    “911, what’s the nature of your emergency?” A dulcet voice queried.
    “The Valentino’s house might be on fire and my idiot husband is inside playing hero!” I screeched.
    “Might be on fire?” The operator asked.
    “There’s smoke coming from the front door.”
    “Ma’am, are you within the residence?” She asked the question with a bit more urgency.
    “No, I’m outside but my husband just went in.”
    “Okay Ma’am I need you to stay away from the structure in question.”
    “Of course I’m going to stay outside. Contrary to popular opinion, I don’t