Page 6 of Tempting Fire

Chapter Two

Zarek got out of his truck and followed Zoe up to the doorstep of the modest sized rambler house. He was happy to see that it sat back from the street, it would make things easier.

“When did you two stop living together?” Zarek asked.

“She moved out after the incident at the lake. She said she needed space. I shouldn’t have let her go.”

Zarek looked at Zoe and could see waves of guilt flowing off her.

“Chloe’s a grown woman, you couldn’t have stopped her.”

“She wasn’t thinking straight. It was my job to take care of her.”

“Do you have a key to the house?”

“She changed the locks after Trenda and I let ourselves in to check on her three weeks ago.”

“Shit.” Zarek gave his childhood friend a considering look. “You should go sit in your car. I think it would be best if this was just between Chloe and me.”

“But…” He watched as Zoe’s shoulders slumped. “Maybe you’re right. Please help her.”

“I will Sweetie. I promise.” He watched as she walked slowly down the path towards her car, then he turned towards the door and knocked loudly.

“Chloe! It’s me, Zarek. Open up!” He put his ear to the door but didn’t hear anything. There was a small decorative window beside the door. He hated those damn things, they were a burglar’s wet dream.

He pounded on the door again. “Chloe Rose Avery, answer the damned door!” He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He pulled out his phone and called her number. He didn’t hear it ringing from inside. It went to voicemail.

“Dammit Chloe, you better answer your damned door, or I’ll break it down.” Logically he knew she wasn’t listening, but still…

He counted to sixty. She might be in the shower. She might be in the bathtub. But she might be in real trouble, and he wasn’t waiting another fucking minute. He unbuttoned the shirt he was wearing and pulled it off then folded it up into layers and pressed it up against the small window, then he slammed his fist through the glass. He pushed out the broken glass with his shirt, reached in, unlocked the door and opened it. As soon as he stepped into the house, he announced himself.

“Chloe, don’t freak, it’s me, Zarek. I just broke into your house.” He paused.

Nothing.

“I come in peace.” He stood there in the front hall, waiting for some kind of verbal response.

Still nothing.

His heart clenched.

“Chloe! Answer me!”

He was met with silence.

No fire that he’d ever covered had been worse than this moment.

Please God, let her be okay.

His training kicked in, and he moved forward, his eyes checking every nook and cranny as he headed into the main area of the house. He saw that there was an open area that connected the living room, kitchen and dining room. The dining room table was overflowing with paper that he soon realized was unopened mail. The kitchen looked like a frat party kegger had taken place with all the red plastic cups littered about.

“Chloe!” he roared.

That was when he saw them, bloody footprints marring the creamy tile in the kitchen. He sped up. They were faint on the carpet down the hallway towards the bedrooms.

He slammed open the first bedroom door, it was being used as an office, and it was empty except for the plates and cups strewn about the desk.

He backed out. “Answer me, Chloe Rose.” He pushed open the next door and winced when he saw the smashed mirror and broken glass on the floor of the bathroom. There was a lot of blood on the floor, and it hopefully explained where the bloody footprints originated. He stepped in further and looked in the bathtub. No Chloe. He let out a sigh of relief.