Page 38 of Tempting Fire

The next twenty-four-hour shift Zarek had Chloe found herself worried for him. It was the first time she was out of her own headspace enough to consider the fact that he was a fire fighter and he could be hurt on the job. She’d watched him get into his truck in his blue uniform, a steel mug of coffee in his hand. He was smiling. How could he be smiling when he would be risking his life?

She booted up the computer, but could care less about solitaire, she started looking up all kinds of statistics on the hazards of fire fighters. What she read both reassured her, and scared her. Statistically the number of deaths were less than fishermen in Alaska, but still when she read about all the hazards like smoke inhalation, structural collapses and burns, it scared the stuffing out of her.

She knew where Station 58 was located because her doctor’s office was close to it. There were a lot of old abandoned warehouses, what happened if one of those caught fire? He would be at the mercy of the men and women he served with and Chloe had never taken the time to meet them, sure Zarek had told her a little about them, but she didn’t know if they were good people or not. Were they qualified to keep Zarek safe?

She googled fires in Dallas, and immediately got chills. This time she knew her sweatshirt wouldn’t warm her. The last four alarm fire had been two weeks ago a huge fire blazed at an old factory East of Central. Seven engine companies and four ladder companies were called and it included Station 58. It turned out that homeless people used the factory for shelter, so it was critical that fire fighters go in and clear the building.

Now that she thought back, there had been a night that Zarek had been stressed and on the phone a lot. But it hadn’t really registered for her.

How was she going to know if he was all right? She thought back to the cupcakes that he had brought home. He’d said that a wife of one of the guys he worked with had made them. Some woman named Skye. Another quick search of cupcakes, bakeries, Skye and Dallas netted her a catering company website. She immediately placed a call, but got an answering machine. Chloe left a message, explaining who she was and asking for a call back. Hopefully this woman Skye would be able to tell her more about what was going on at Station 58.

Chloe got up from the computer and started to pace. Slayer, who had been lying on the floor beside her in the den, got up and walked at her side. She saw that his water dish was empty and she filled it.

“Your master is going to be all right. This is what he does for a living, right boy?”

When he woofed, she took that as agreement.

Dammit, why wasn’t Skye calling her back. If the woman was running a business, shouldn’t she call potential clients back in a timely manner?

Chloe’s mind whirled. She needed help. She needed comfort. The one person she had turned to when she had been hurting as a child, the one person who had been her surrogate mother was Trenda. She needed Trenda. But she was still mad at her.

She let out a watery laugh. “Fuck it all.” How many times had she been mad at Trenda for trying to be the boss of the Western Hemisphere? That was who she was. She wouldn’t be her big sister otherwise. She needed her.

She punched in Trenda’s number.

“Merciful Heaven. Chloe Baby, I’m so sorry. I love you so much. Please forgive me. You’re perfect the way you are. What do you need? I’ll be right there.”

And that was why she loved her sister, unconditional love and unconditional support.

“Can you not tell anyone I called. I still don’t want to deal with the Avery Avalanche.”

There was a long pause. Secrets and Trenda didn’t usually mesh.

“Please sis. I still need space.”

“All right. I’m here for you, whatever you need. I promise to keep my mouth shut. Now how can I help you?”

“I’m scared.”

“We can get through this. Just tell me what’s scaring you. Are you in a safe place? Should you call 9-1-1?”

Chloe gave a weak laugh.

“I’m physically fine. I’m in Zarek’s house. I’m actually seeing a shrink and on some meds. I hate admitting it, but they’re helping. I fucking hate taking a pill!” Slayer whined at her outburst.

“Hey, you need to be gentle and kind to my baby sister. They have that medicine for a reason, and if it is helping you, I thank God for it. Oh my God, it is so good to hear your voice.” She heard Trenda sniffle.

“Don’t cry.”

“I promised not to tell anyone about this call, I didn’t promise not to cry.”

“’T’?”

“Yeah, sweetie?”

“I’m scared.”

“I’m listening.”