Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 629

The fire at the little Victorian house hadn't spread far. Since it was ruled an accident, hardly anyone paid attention-just a couple of short blurbs in the local news that no one really read.

Ryan stumbled back home, completely lost. How was he supposed to break this to Clara? He rubbed his temples, thinking maybe he should just drive over and see her. Right now, she needed someone. He should be there for her.

He didn't know that Clara had already made her way to the scene, almost as soon as he left.

She stood under the old trees, watching firefighters move in and out. People passing by whispered to each other, "Burned alive—no family showed up. Probably just some homeless guy."

"This place has been empty for ages," someone else replied. "Never saw a single light on. Guess some vagrant snuck in and... well, that was it."

"Such a shame. Only twenty-six. So young."

Clara leaned against the trunk, eyes blank, hand curling tighter at her side. What little color she had left drained from her face. She turned and walked away, disappearing into the street as if she'd never been there.

Her clothes were still the ones from last night, mud splattered up her jeans, looking worn down and exhausted. She found her car right where she'd left it, got in, and started driving back. But she barely made it ten miles before her car clipped a rock by the side of the road.

Clara took a shaky breath, grabbed the water bottle on the passenger seat, and tried to calm herself down. But her heart felt like it was being ripped apart, the pain so sharp she could barely breathe.

to the little roadside motel. Lying on the bed, she couldn't help it

It was like he'd disappeared off the face of the

no one would ever remember him-except

had to disappear on the one day she felt the

stomach twisted with pain so bad she broke out in a cold

his voice way too cheerful

at the scene-nobody died in that house. Your boyfriend's definitely

mouth, but nothing came out. She just hung

never been able to lie to

sweat soaking the sheets, her stomach in knots, her head pounding, her

like she was losing her

from the pain.

the city

hadn't she called

Ryan bring the news-why hadn't

her, leaving her drenched in