Page 17 of Journey To Sunrise (Protectors of Jasper Creek #6)

Chapter Twelve

Chloe

It was an hour and forty-five minutes past the time when we ordered dinner that my 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.”

“Yeah, I heard on the scanner.” I managed to keep my voice level.

“Gotta go.”

“Be careful. I have something to say to you when you get back home.”

There was a long pause. I thought the connection had been lost.

“I can’t wait.”

“In that case, keep my man safe.”

“I will.”

The phone went dead and I looked at my brother and sister.

“So, he’s your man, huh?” Evie asked.

“Damn straight.”

I thought Evie’s grin might split her face.

“Good choice, little sister.” Drake nodded his head, tipping his beer in my direction.

“Mine was better,” Evie said smugly.

“I know Aiden. Zarek I’ve just met. My vote’s with Zarek,” Drake said.

Even though my brother barely flinched, I was pretty sure that Evie kicked him underneath the dining room table.

* * *

Chloe

I had the TV on. The fire blazed across the screen, and it scared the piss out of me. It had started with one warehouse, but after an hour it had jumped to the neighboring warehouse.

I jumped when the screen went dark.

“You don't need to be watching that shit.” Drake held the remote.

I sprung off the couch and grabbed for it. “Give that back.”

“No.” He held it out of reach. “Obsessing over the fire isn't doing you any good.”

My gaze swung to Evie. “If you could watch one of Aiden's missions, wouldn't you want to?”

Evie gave me a long look, then looked at Drake.

She shook her head. “No. I have to trust that Aiden and Drake know what they're doing, and that they do it well.

I guess it does help that I got to see Aiden in action while we were in Turkey, but still, I know that every one of his missions is going to be different.

I'll believe in him, his team members and in God’s will, that he'll come home safe.”

For the last couple of months, it had been hard for me to believe in God. But I was getting back there. Zarek had told me about his training. There had been a lot. I'd also met three of his co-workers, and him having Luke by his side gave me comfort.

The scanner crackled. Somebody called out Zarek's last name.

My blood froze. Drake's hand tightened on the remote.

“Turn it back on.” My voice came out strangled.

Drake hesitated, then clicked the TV on. The helicopter view showed ladders pressed against the three-story warehouse. Firefighters climbed them like ants. I couldn't tell who was who. My heart hammered against my ribs.

A section of roof collapsed.

“No!” The word tore from my throat.

Drake grabbed one of my hands. Evie grabbed the other. Their grips anchored me, but I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.

Please God. Please God. Please God. Say that no one was in the building .

One of the firefighters disappeared through a third-floor window.

“Eight people.” My voice shook. “The news said eight people are still inside.”

“They'll get them out.” Evie squeezed my hand harder.

The helicopter shifted, showing both warehouses engulfed in flames. So many firetrucks. So much fire. How could anybody survive that?

Drake's arms came around me, but my eyes never left the television. Another firefighter climbed into a window. That had to be Zarek. Or maybe Luke. Or both of them going into that inferno.

The scanner crackled again. Static. Then nothing.

“Why aren't they saying anything?” I pressed my fists against my stomach.

“Radio silence during rescues.” Drake's voice stayed steady, but his arms trembled.

“How the hell would you know?” I hissed at my brother.

“I just know.”

I turned back to the TV, the scanner clutched in my hand. Minutes crawled by. The flames grew higher. More sections of roof sagged.

Another window. Another firefighter going in. Not coming out.

“How long has it been?” I couldn't recognize my own voice.

“Ten minutes.” Evie's whisper barely reached me.

Ten minutes. How long could someone last in there? How much air did they have? The heat alone would...

Calm down, Zarek told you about the suits they wear. It’s going to be okay.

I bit down hard on my lip, tasting blood. The scanner remained silent. The TV showed only flames and smoke and tiny figures moving through hell.

“Come on, Zarek.” The prayer escaped before I could stop it. “Come on.”

* * *

Chloe

“The fire has been contained.” The news anchor's voice cut through the room.

I shot off the couch. “We need to go to the station.”

Drake already had his keys out. “Let's go.”

We ran for his rental car. I yanked the passenger door open while Evie dove into the back. Drake peeled out of the driveway before I even had my seatbelt on.

“Take a left at the light.” My voice cracked. “Station 22 is on Mockingbird.”

Drake's hands gripped the wheel. “How far?”

“Fifteen minutes. Maybe ten if you run the lights.”

“I'm running the lights.”

The scanner had gone silent after that announcement. No updates. No names. Just that the fire was contained. Four hours of hell, and now nothing.

My phone stayed stubbornly quiet in my lap. No texts. No calls. Nothing from Zarek.

“He's fine.” Evie leaned forward between the seats. “You know he's fine.”

I couldn't answer. My throat had closed up completely.

Drake blew through a yellow light. The speedometer climbed past sixty. Residential streets blurred past the windows.

“There.” I pointed at the red brick building ahead. “That's it.”

The parking lot overflowed with cars. Families crowded the entrance. Drake pulled into a loading zone.

“Go.” He threw the car in park. “We'll find parking.”

I ran. My sneakers slapped against concrete as I dodged between groups of people. The glass doors loomed ahead. Inside, chaos. Wives clutching phones. Parents pacing. Children crying.

Gus stood near the dispatch desk, surrounded by desperate faces. His uniform hung limp with sweat. Dark circles shadowed his eyes.

I pushed through the crowd, Evie and Drake catching up behind me. My heart hammered so hard I thought it might explode.

“Gus.” His name came out strangled. “Where's Zarek?”

Gus's face changed when he saw me. He held up a hand to the other families and pulled me aside.

“He's at Parkland Hospital.” His voice dropped low. “Rosie Fletcher worked on him at the scene.”

“What happened?” The words barely made it past my lips.

“Three of them got caught when the roof came down. They all made it out.” Gus wiped sweat from his forehead. “Zarek walked out on his own, then collapsed twenty minutes later.”

My legs turned to water. Drake's arm shot around my waist, keeping me upright.

“Rosie's one of our best paramedics.” Gus grabbed my shoulder. “She rode with him in the ambulance. Said his vitals were strong.”

“How long ago?” Drake's voice stayed calm while mine disappeared completely.

“Maybe thirty minutes. They're probably still doing intake.”

Thirty minutes. He'd been hurt for thirty minutes and I didn't know. Thirty minutes of tests and needles and God knows what else while I sat at home watching TV.

“Which hospital entrance?” Evie already had her phone out, pulling up directions.

“Emergency room. Tell them you're family.” Gus squeezed my shoulder harder. “Rosie will still be there. Blonde hair, tattoo sleeve on her left arm. She'll give you the real story.”

Drake steered me toward the door. “Let's go.”

“Wait,” Gus called after us. “He saved four people tonight. Four workers trapped on the second floor. Him and Luke got them all out before the collapse.”

The information bounced off me. I didn't care about heroics. I just needed him breathing.

The parking lot felt miles wide. Drake practically carried me the last few steps to the car. Evie climbed in back, already calling out directions to Parkland.

“Fifteen minutes.” She leaned between the seats. “Drake, go fast.”

He didn't need the encouragement. The engine roared as we tore out of the lot.