She got to the park, and gave the leash more play so that Slayer could run with her following him. He kept her running, so she didn’t have time to think, thank God.
“Okay, done boy.”
She sat down on one of the swings, breathing hard. She tried not to think anything but the pretty Texas day. It sure was a pretty state. No, must consider Montana.
Slayer barked. She looked at eyes that were level with hers.
“Okay, is it Miller time?”
Slayer barked again. Apparently, it was. She got up from the swing. They could both use some water. She should have brought some with her. What was she thinking?
She took a sedate pace back to the house, talking to Slayer the entire way.
“So what do you think. Does Montana sound good. You’ve got a mountain of fur, you’d probably love the snow. Now that I’m feeling better I’m not cold all the time.” Still the idea of winter six months out of the year did not sound good.
Slayer barked three times.
“Well I guess you’re in agreement.” He barked some more, and that’s when she looked up and saw another car in the driveway. “What the hell?”
The garage door was open. She fumbled for her phone, and pressed in Zarek’s number. He answered on the first ring.
“Somebody’s at the house.”
“I know Cupcake. It’s me. You’re outside with Slayer, right?”
“Yes, I took him for a walk.”
“Stay outside. I’ll come out in a minute, okay?”
He sounded pissed off.
Before she could respond, he hung up.
What the hell?
Well, time for the old Chloe to step up. She sure wasn’t going to just stand outside with her thumb up her ass. Something was up. She peeked inside the sedan and saw the paperwork for the rental car agency in the backseat. She’d bet her bottom dollar that it was one of her family who was inside with Zarek. He was mad because she was being ambushed.
But she could handle Zoe, this was her sister and her problem, not his. She looked down at Slayer. “Come on boy. Time for you to meet my twin. Let’s see how you handle two of us.”
She went through the garage and started opening the kitchen door, and heard angry male voices. She cringed.
“You’ve put us off long enough.”
“If she wanted to see you, she would have called,” Zarek’s voice was icy.
“Look Post, if she were getting better like you said, she would have reached out to one of us. The fact that she hasn’t proves that you’re just letting her hide out and wallow. I know about PTSD. She needs a doctor. She needs a support system.” Even though Drake was practically yelling, she could hear the desperation in his voice. Her heart melted at the amount of caring in her big brother’s voice.
“Drake, I’m not going to argue with you. You’re her brother. I wished we could have met under better circumstances, but we haven’t. You’ll have to trust me that she’s getting better and she’ll tell you what she wants, when she wants.”
“Zarek, you have to understand why we’re here.” That was Evie talking. Chloe gripped the doorknob so hard she thought either the brass would dent or the bones in her hand would break. “We have to see for ourselves. We love her.”
“If you loved and respected your sister, you would have given her the time and space she wanted.”
“She would have been in my face if the positions were reversed,” Evie said quietly.
“I would not,” Chloe yelled from the kitchen.
Three heads swiveled towards her. Evie and Drake rushed forward and Slayer immediately jerked against his leash, barking like crazy. Drake halted, his hands in the air. When Evie continued moving forward Drake grabbed her.
“Settle!” Zarek commanded. He said it again, and this time Slayer must have heard him, because he immediately stopped barking, and sat down. Zarek took the leash out of her hand. “You did good Cupcake.” He dropped a quick kiss on her forehead.
He turned his attention to the dog, “Come Slayer.” He took him to the sliding glass door that led to the backyard. “Out.”
“Zarek, he needs fresh water,” Chloe said. “I ran him pretty ragged at the park.”
“He can wait a few more minutes. We still have a family reunion to get through.”
“That dog is a menace.” Evie said.
“Actually Evie, he’s really well trained. In his mind, we descended on his mistress and he went into protection mode. He responded perfectly.” Drake defended Slayer.
Chloe smiled at her big brother, then looked at Zarek for confirmation.
“He’s right. Russian Terriers are highly devoted to those people they consider theirs, and will go down fighting to protect them. I was happy for you to have that added layer of protection.”
“Well, she’s definitely protected with that dog around. You’re right to name him Slayer,” Evie admitted reluctantly.
Drake and Zarek laughed.
“I really didn’t want you to come,” Chloe said quietly. She looked at the floor, unable to look at either of her siblings.
“We were just discussing that,” Zarek said. “I asked you to stay outside and let me handle this.”
Finally, something besides her family, to focus on.
Chloe rounded on him. “I don’t need you fighting my battles.” She turned back to her brother and sister.
Zarek lifted his hand towards her, but she avoided his touch. “Chloe, I didn’t want you upset.”
“Well it’s too late for that. Poor little delicate Chloe is upset.”
“Hey, I don’t deserve that.”
Chloe let out a breath and sucked in another. “You’re right. I’m not mad at you. I’m sorry Zarek.” She turned to look at Evie and Drake. “I’m mad at you two. If I was ready to see you, I would have returned your million and one calls.”
“Sweets, your voicemail is full, I wasn’t sure I was getting through,” Drake said gently.
“Come on, you texted me twice a day. Didn’t you think that caught my attention?” Chloe said with her hands on her hips.
“And mine? Did they catch your attention too?” Evie asked in the same soothing tone as Drake, only it grated like nails on a chalkboard. Chloe flinched, and Evie caught it.
“It would have been okay if only Drake were here, wouldn’t it, Sis?” This time Evie’s voice had a bit of a bite to it.
“Slayer needs water.” Chloe picked up Slayer’s bowl off the floor and went to the tap to fill it up.
“I’ve nailed it, haven’t I?”
Chloe started walking past everyone to put the bowl out on the patio for Slayer when Evie stepped in front of her. Some of the water spilled on the tile floor.
“Look what you made me do!” Chloe cried out.
“Talk to me.”
“No.” She just needed to keep it together for a few more minutes, then Evie would be gone.
“Zoe told me what you said to her. If you feel that way about her, you have to hate me ten times worse.”
The bowl trembled, more water spilled.
“Evie, don’t do this. It’s better we don’t talk. Just leave it,” Chloe said hoarsely.
“We are not going to shove this under the carpet,” Evie said fiercely. “If it hadn’t been for me, you would never have been held hostage. Don’t you ever think of that? I do.” Evie was shaking. “I should have been able to figure out a way to keep you from getting hurt.” Chloe watched helplessly as tears ran down Evie’s face.
“It’s not your fault.”
“Yes it is.”
“It’s not,” Chloe insisted. “But―”
“But you hate me anyway,” Evie said tiredly.
“I’ve hated you so much,” Chloe whispered in horror. She gulped a sob. Her eyes flashed. “I’ve been so mad! I’ve been mad at you, and then I’ve been mad at me for being mad at you. I’ve been so messed up.”
More water spilled.
Evie opened up her arms. “Come here baby. L
et me give you a hug.”
Evie dropped the bowl on the floor, uncaring that the water spilled all over the tile. She launched herself into her older sister’s arms.
“I’m so sorry for being mad,” Chloe sobbed.
“Shhhh. It’s all good.”
“But Evie.”
“Chloe, do you honestly think I care if you’ve been mad at me? Or if you thought you hated me?” She stroked back Chloe’s hair and touched the scar on her forehead. “The only thing that has mattered to me is you, and your well-being. It’s been ripping my guts out that you’ve been so sick.”
“I’m getting better. I’ve actually been seeing a shrink,” Chloe admitted.
“Are you happy about that?”
“I’m pissed that he has me taking a pill every day. I’m even more pissed that I think it’s helping.”
Evie laughed, then Chloe started laughing too.
“I’ve missed you Chloe. I haven’t been able to eat a cheeseburger since you stopped talking to me. I’ve only eaten hamburgers. What’s the point of having a hamburger without cheese?”
She looked at her smart-ass sister and grinned. She felt like a three hundred pound weight had been lifted off her chest.
“Cheese is life,” Chloe responded.
“Dude, are you going to get that?”
She turned to see what Drake was talking about, and realized that Zarek was looking at his buzzing phone. Seeing the strained look on his face, she realized something was wrong.
“What is it?”
“I have to go. We have a big one. This is my day on duty, I need to get back to the station house.” He gave Drake a significant look.
“I’ve got her, Man. Do what you need to do.”
“How bad is it?” Chloe asked.
He glanced at his phone. “There are multiple stations involved. I’ll know more when I get to the scene.”
“Where is it, we’ll go with you,” Evie said.
Chloe shook her head. “That’s not how it works. We go to the station house and wait. Isn’t that right Zarek.”
“That’s what you do if it is a really long fire,” he agreed. “But just because we’re hitting it hard to begin with doesn’t mean it will last long.”
Chloe looked at him. He was lying to make her feel better.
“If you don’t text me in an hour, we’re going to the station, is it a deal?”
“Make it two hours. It takes time to suit up, and then load and unload.” She eyed him. That sounded plausible.
“I’m not bullshitting you, I promise.”
“Honey, all the gear they have us wearing takes at least a half hour to get in and out of,” Drake inserted.
“You guys are both full of shit, like you don’t do drills getting suited up,” Evie stated.
“Two hours,” Zarek stated again.
Chloe nodded. “If I don’t hear from you in exactly two hours, I’m going to the station.”
“We’re going,” Evie said.
That made Chloe feel better.
A horn honked outside.
“That’s Luke, I’ve got to go.” Zarek put one hand on her shoulder, and the other he used to tip up her chin. “I’m coming back safe and sound. We’ve got unfinished business.” He gently pressed his lips to hers, her flesh melted, her bones seared, and her hair caught on fire. The man could kiss. Her eyes were still closed and she felt the smile on her face when he whispered in her ear. “I have something important to tell you when I get back.”
Her eyes popped open to look into his jade green ones.
She was a molten puddle on the floor and she didn’t have the wherewithal to respond. He gave her a heart stopping grin, then was gone.
“Earth to Chloe.”
“Huh?”
“You’ve been standing there looking at the door for three minutes. Are you sure you’re better? I’m thinking you might have some new symptoms, like the kissing disease. Are you suffering from Zarek cooties?”
She shot her sister the bird.
Drake laughed. “Is there anything to drink in the house?”
“Help yourself to whatever is in the fridge.”
“Evie, want to help me make something for dinner?” Drake asked.
“We could order pizza,” Chloe said.
“That is not healthy,” Drake admonished.
“She needs to gain weight,” Evie reminded him. “Look at her. She’s still skin and bones.”
Chloe flinched and hunched over.
“Way to go, Evie.” Drake came over and put his arm around Chloe. “You look gorgeous. You always stood out as the most attractive Avery girl.”
Evie and Chloe laughed. It was an old joke since all of the Avery girls looked alike, then there was the fact that Zoe and Chloe were identical.
“I vote for pizza too. Extra cheese,” Evie chimed in. Drake looked thoughtful, then turned to Chloe. “Is there someplace local, not a chain?”
“What changed your mind big guy?”
“Karen’s not around. I’m being supportive to her nutritional needs right now, so we’re eating healthy things. But yeah, if we could order pizza, a steak, a fully loaded baked potatoes, some chicken wings and ice cream, I’m in.”
Chloe’s stomach growled. She wasn’t sure if it was in hunger or protest.
“Zarek keeps menus in a drawer in the kitchen.”
“Oh yeah, Chinese food too,” Drake mentioned.
Evie rolled her eyes.
Chapter Twelve
It was an hour and forty-five minutes past the time when they ordered dinner that Chloe’s phone rang. It was Zarek. There was so much noise in the background, it was hard to hear him. “It’s going to be a long night, Cupcake.”
“We’ll meet you at the station.”
“Nah, get some sleep. We won’t be done until morning.”
“So, we’ll wait until morning.”
“Sleep!”
“I hear you,” she said.
“Good.”
“Be careful. I have something to say to you when you get back home.”
There was a long pause, she thought the connection had been lost.
“I can’t wait.”
“So keep my man safe.”
“I will.”
She hung up the phone and looked at her brother and sister.
“So he’s your man, huh?” Evie asked.
“Damn right.”
She thought Evie’s grin might split her face.
“Good choice little sister.” Drake nodded his head, tipping his beer in her direction.
“Mine was better,” Evie said smugly.
“I know Aiden. Zarek I’ve just met. My vote’s with Zarek,” Drake said.
Even though her brother barely flinched, she was pretty sure that Evie kicked him underneath the dining room table.
“Come on, we’re going to the store, then to the Station.”
She liked the fact that neither of her siblings had to ask why they were going to the store first. They knew she would want to pick up food for the others who would arrive. She called over to Sheryl’s house and made sure the Slayer was taken care of, and they left.
***
When they arrived at the station, there were already about twenty people milling about. She couldn’t keep up with the names and the faces, but everyone knew who Zarek was and had a kind word to say about him.
A woman named Mrs. Leonard had them sit down next to her and her husband. Their son Ian had become a fire fighter last year. Apparently Zarek had taken him under his wing. They thought the world of him. They produced a picture of Ian and Zarek. Chloe wished she knew something about the young man, but Zarek had never mentioned him. Hell, it seemed like most of their time had been spent focusing on her stuff.
She looked at Evie who seemed to be able to read her mind.
“Let’s get some coffee for everyone,” she suggested.
“How come I don’t know them?” Chloe moaned as they stood near the coffee pot. �
�I should know their son.”
“How long have you been here? Has it even been a month yet?”
“No,” she admitted reluctantly.
“Cut yourself some slack.” Drake came up from behind and picked up two of the cups they had poured. “I don’t tell Karen a lot of what goes on at work. Work is work, and home is home. If the guys come over, then we talk about it. The same will be for you and Zarek.”
Chloe bit her bottom lip. It was a pretty big assumption that there would be a future for her and Zarek. Hell, they’d only shared a couple of kisses.
An older man strode into the room. “Listen up.” Everyone left their tables and gathered around him.
Mrs. Leonard sidled up to Chloe and said, “he’s Gus.” Chloe remembered that was the man who had taught Zarek how to cook.
“They haven’t been able to contain the fire to just one warehouse, it jumped to the adjacent building. People were inside despite orders to evacuate.”
“Mother of God,” one woman gasped.
“Are they stupid?” Another man said angrily.
“We have multiple stations working the fire.”
“I found it! It’s right here on Channel Six!” Everyone turned away from Gus and rushed to the television that was now showing the out of control fire that was being filmed from a helicopter.
“Jesus.”
“That’s our guys! Look!”
Chloe frantically scanned the scene in front of her, but she couldn’t tell who any of the miniscule personnel were. What she could see is that ladders were pressed up against the three-story warehouse building and men were climbing them. She reached out both hands, Drake grabbed one, and Evie grabbed the other.
Before her very eyes, one of the sections of the roof collapsed. Please God. Please God. Please God. Say that no one was in the building. There was a hush in the station house.
One of the people on the ladders went into the third-floor window. She heard someone behind her gasp.
“Turn that off.”
“Leave it on.”
Chloe couldn’t move a muscle. The helicopter shifted and then they were seeing the two warehouses. So many firetrucks, so much fire. How could anybody be expected to survive. She must have cried out or something. The next thing she knew, Drake had his arms around her, but her eyes never left the television.
Dallas Fire & Rescue: Tempting Fire (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 8
