Page 137 of Always Red (Chasing Red 2)

“Problem?” Kara asked, lifting her head from the couch to look at me.

I frowned. “Caleb says he forgot that he’d set up an appointment with the real estate agent tonight.” I checked the time. “And by tonight, I mean right now.”

“I thought he said the house hunting wasn’t till Friday. And what time is it?” Kara asked.

“That’s what he told me this morning,” I said. “And it’s half past six now. I’m going to call him.”

Kara rolled her eyes and turned back to the movie. I glanced at Beth as I dialed Caleb’s number. She was already snoring.

“He’s not answering. I think he’s there already. Probably talking to the agent.”

“Well, go. I bet you it’s a surprise something. Maybe this house has huge-ass counter space.” Kara cackled. “Is he picking you up?”

“He said he’s sending a taxi to pick me up—right now,” I answered as I texted him Kara’s street address to send to the driver.

Kara looked over her shoulder at me, winking. “I think Lockhart has something up his sleeve again.”

The taxi dropped me off at the address Caleb had texted. I looked up at the house, admiring it. It was Tudor style with big windows and a wraparound balcony on the second floor. Welcoming warm lights flooded the house inside.

I stood outside for a few moments, smiling. I could see us living here. Raising a family. Caleb talked about getting a dog. Maybe we’d have a couple of them running in the yard.

I could picture Caleb and me having breakfast on the balcony together, or sitting on the front porch at night talking about our day. An image of a little boy with copper-brown hair and green eyes flitted through my mind, and I felt something squeeze my heart.

“Daydreaming,” I muttered to myself, my lips splitting into a goofy smile. I realized I must have drank more of Kar’s rum and Coke than I thought.

The porch light flicked on as I stepped up to the front door and rang the doorbell. There was no answer. I looked at the house number again. It was the right address. Maybe they were somewhere in the house where they couldn’t hear the doorbell.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Caleb’s number. No answer again. I placed my hand on the doorknob and turned. It opened easily.

If Caleb had accidentally given me the wrong address and I was arrested for trespassing, I’d kick his butt to Timbuktu.

For a moment, I hesitated in the doorway. And then I heard something inside the house. Letting out a sigh, I stepped inside.

“Hello?” I called out, my voice echoing.

The house was beautiful inside. There was no furniture, providing an uninterrupted view of the large, open space where I could appreciate the wide windows and modern light fixtures.

“Caleb?” I called out again. Again, there was no answer. Something didn’t feel right. Uneasiness suddenly flooded me, some instinct telling me to leave. Before I could even turn around, I felt a presence behind me.

The sound of a gun being cocked froze my blood.

“Turn around,” the familiar voice said.

I held my breath, slowly turning around. Beatrice-Rose stood a few feet from me, a smug grin on her bloodred lips.

“Hello, Veronica.” She pointed the gun at my head, then lowered it to my heart. “Did you miss me?”

Chapter Thirty-four

Caleb

Driving around the area close to where your fiancée was spending her day with her friends wasn’t a sign of an obsessed stalker.

Definitely not.

I had already booked a showing with my agent on Friday, but it wouldn’t hurt to look at houses where it felt more familiar to Red.

The neighborhood was pretty good, quiet. Well-kept lawns, couples walking their dogs, families having barbecues in their front yard. When a small, pretty girl riding a pink Barbie bike waved at me, I shot her a grin and waved back.

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