Page 14 of Journey To Sunrise (Protectors of Jasper Creek #6)

I got up from my favorite chair and started to pace. Slayer, who had been lying on the floor beside me in the office, got up and walked at my side. I saw that his water dish was empty and I filled it.

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

When he woofed, I took that as agreement.

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

My mind whirled. I needed help. I needed comfort. The one person I had turned to when I had been hurting as a child, the one person who had been my surrogate mother was Trenda. I needed Trenda. But she was still mad at me.

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

I 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 I loved my 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?”

I 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 my outburst.

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

“Don’t cry.”

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

“Tee?”

“Yeah, sweetie?”

“I’m scared.”

“I’m listening.”

“I just figured out that Zarek has a dangerous job. He leaves on these twenty-four-hour shifts and he actually fights fires.”

I could actually hear my big sister listening.

“He could get hurt.”

“And that would hurt you? Wouldn’t it?” Trenda asked gently.

“This isn’t about me,” I denied vehemently.

Trenda didn’t respond.

“Did you hear me?” My question came out rough.

“Oh, I heard what you said, and everything you didn’t say. I’ve liked Zarek Post for years and years, but I actually loved him when he fought to take you to Dallas.”

That floored me. I was so sure that Trenda, for sure, was pissed as hell at Zarek. But then I thought about it. If she really hadn’t approved, she would have been on Zarek’s doorstep the next day. I grinned.

“So, you thought he could fix me, did you?”

“Oh God, you’re never going to let me live that down.

I’m so sorry I ever said that horrible thing.

Hell, Chloe, I think part of where I was coming from was the fact that I had to put myself back together after that whole fucking ordeal.

Evie was kidnapped in Turkey, you were held hostage and beaten, then Evie killed a man, then I was taken hostage and they threatened Bella. All of that was a nightmare.”

I stood up straight. Put like that, it made me realize that my whole family had been put through the ringer.

“But tell me about Zarek,” Trenda prompted.

“I’m just scared for him, Tee.”

“Just like we’ve all been scared for Drake and his job as a SEAL.”

I turned that information over in my head.

“Not quite, that seemed too distant. Drake’s been gone from home too long for me to wrap my head around the fact he’s been in harm’s way the whole fucking time.

But Zarek is here in the morning having breakfast, and then he leaves for a job where he could get killed.

” I hated the fear in my voice. I had just been coming out of my fear headspace.

“Didn’t you tell me he had to take some pretty serious training to get to his current level?”

I thought back to a conversation I’d had with my sisters at Pearl’s restaurant months and months ago, when I’d been bragging on Zarek. “Yes,” I admitted.

“So, he must be good at his job.”

“But I don’t know about his teammates. They could be morons.”

“Zarek doesn’t strike me as the type to put up with stupid people watching his back.”

I had to agree with that assessment. What’s more, he’d talked really highly of the three men he’d mentioned. Especially Luke and Allen.

“I think you need to talk to Zarek about your concerns. He’s going to be the best one to reassure you.”

“I don’t want him to think I’m just some weakling, when I’m just beginning to get strong again.”

“Honey, he’ll just think that you care. Something tells me, you admitting you’re scared for him will mean more than you can ever know.”

“I do care. Maybe too much.”

“Chloe, I saw a man ride in on a white horse to rescue you. I’d say he cares a hell of a lot too.”

I sucked in a deep breath. Trenda couldn’t be right. “I’m sick, Tee. Sick in the head. He can’t want me.”

“You don’t sound sick to me. You sound like a hell of a lot like the little sister I’ve always known and loved. Go kick some fireman ass!”

I barked out a laugh. “God, I love you, Trenda.”

“I love you too, Baby Girl.”

* * *

Zarek

All I thought about for the next twelve days was that last kiss. Chloe was keeping me at arm’s length, and I hated it. I didn’t understand it. Was it because I’d admitted I had feelings for her? Here I was in the waiting room again, and it seemed apropos since I’d been in a holding pattern.

Cut it out, Post. Give the woman some room. She has enough on her damn plate without you hounding her.

I picked up a magazine and then realized it was about golf and threw it back down on the coffee table. For God’s sake, didn’t they have something about cars or something good? I pulled out my phone. It was déjà vu all over again. The damn Avery family was going to be the death of me.

I had forty-five minutes until Chloe was due out of her appointment. I’d give Zoe a call, since yesterday she threatened to fly out to Dallas. I got up and left the waiting room and walked out into the hallway.

“You’re an asshole,” Zoe said when she answered the phone.

“It’s nice talking to you too,” I responded.

“I bought a ticket. I’ll be there tomorrow.”

I knew her too well. She was lying. Zoe would have just shown up. There was no way she would have told me her plans.

“Back off, Zoe. Give her more time. She’s getting better.”

“Bullshit. She hasn’t called any of us. She hasn’t even returned a text.”

That surprised me. She’d been in Dallas for over five weeks. I would’ve thought she would’ve contacted her family by now.

“Seriously, Zoe, you have to believe me, she’s doing better. She even cooked.”

I could almost hear her thinking. “What did she cook? Mac ‘n cheese? Because if all she did was boil water and squeeze cheese out of a packet that isn’t progress.”

“She made spaghetti, but before you bitch, she actually browned hamburger and cut up onions and celery and seasoned the meat to go into the sauce.”

“No way.” I heard the awe in Zoe’s voice. I didn’t tell her that Chloe had been supervised by a fifteen-year-old girl.

“She did.”

“Was there cheese?”

“Cheese garlic bread. It was burnt,” I admitted.

Zoe laughed. “That’s amazing. How did you get her to do that?”

I didn’t want to tell her about the therapist and the meds. That was Chloe’s story to tell.

“I think she needed some time.”

“We need to see her, Zarek. Especially Evie.”

“Why Evie?”

“I told her that Chloe said she hated me―”

“She didn’t mean it.” I interrupted.

“When I was able to step away, I knew that. Chloe will always love me. But part of her really does hate me for that day. We need to have a ‘Come to Jesus’ talk. Evie figures Chloe needs to see her too.”

“What are you talking about? Evie saved her life.”

“Evie watched while Chloe was beaten to unconsciousness,” Zoe said softly. The last four words I barely heard. “She let it happen.”

“Chloe doesn’t think that.” Or did she?

“Expect a visit soon. You’re good for Chloe—she’s going to need you beside her.”

“You can depend on it.”