Page 53 of Raging Inferno

“Routine structure fire.”

“Good.”

“There was a fatality.”

A hand covered her mouth. “Oh, no.”

He took out his phone and showed her the picture he’d snapped of the deceased, clearly evincing the jagged scar from the corner of his mouth to his ear, just as Tamera had described.

#

Presley studied the photo, relieved it was a man instead of a woman. She still mourned the loss of a life, but it wasn’t one of her old friends.

“Oh, good, not Jessie or . . . wait.” She grabbed the phone from Dominic’s hand and scrolled in. The man had obviously been murdered. Her mouth dropped open. She slowly looked up at him. “It’s the man Jessie and Tamera described, the one who has been asking about me.”

Dominic nodded and removed the cell from her limp hand. “Yeah.”

“Who was he?”

“No identification yet.”

“Text me the picture, and I’ll send it to my office. They’ll have an ID by morning.”

“Seriously? They’re that good?”

“Better.”

Dominic sent the snap to her, and her fingers flew over the keys as she forwarded it to Tyler Redmond. She had no doubt his crew would identify the man and produce his background quickly. Once she finished, she looked at Dominic. “This means it’s all about me. Someone killed Margy and Nancy, hoping to coax me to come home.”

“Why go to that much trouble?” Dominic wondered.

“Because it’s impossible to get to me where I live now. Our compound is completely secure. No one can get in, nor could they trace me. Someone wanted to lure me out into the open.”

Dominic brushed a strand of hair from her face, and she tried not to shiver. “Do you have enemies, Presley Parrish?”

“Apparently. You rack them up pretty fast when you’re a cop. People don’t . . .” A thought struck. There was one person who certainly had a vendetta against her. Ed Smith, her former boss. Though it hadn’t happened right after he’d drugged and attacked her, she was responsible for him being fired, courtesy of her boss, Luke Colton.

“Presley, where did you just go?” Dominic asked.

She shook her head. “Sorry. I was trying to think of people who might want to harm me.”

Dominic studied her. “There is someone. I can see it in your eyes.”

“It’s a long story, and it’s late. I need to get some sleep.”

Dominic glanced at his watch. “Me too. I need to drop Gia off at school and meet her friend’s mom to transfer Major and her things. You’re not off the hook. I want to hear that story in the morning.”

“Thanks again for letting me stay here. Goodnight.”

Presley started to turn, but he grasped her arm and slid his hands around her face. “You’re welcome.”

Then he kissed her again. As had happened last time, she was powerless to resist. He fogged her brain. If anyone asked her right now, she couldn’t recite her own name.

Presley wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for the ride, letting his masterful lips coax more and more from her, including a whimper when he pulled back and rested his forehead against hers.

“Good night, Presley.”

“Um.” It was all she could manage. Frankly, she wasn’t sure her noodle-like legs would hold her upright. Thankfully, they did, but she collapsed to the bed as soon as she shut the door to the bedroom.

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