As Liam’s hand wrapped quietly around the handle to the front door, I couldn’t help but wonder.
Would there come a time when I wasn’t afraid? Would there come a time when everyone around me wasn’t in danger?
Would life ever be normal again?
Would I ever truly be free?
Was I doing the right thing by staying here?
All the questions swarming my mind instantly vanished the second he pulled open the door and glanced back.
“Please be careful,” I whimpered.
“I’ll be right back.”
I wanted to scream after him as he stepped out into the snow. Didn’t he know that was the worst thing he could say? Every person on every horror movie in the history of horror who said, “I’ll be right back,” never came back!
Screw his headache! I wasn’t just going to stand here. If he was going out into the snow like a bonehead, then by God, I’d be a bonehead, too.
I paused in the midst of marching toward the door. It occurred to me that either one of us being a bonehead was… well, boneheaded.
Well, at least we weren’t alone in it.
Wintry wind kissed my cheeks when I crept out the door. It wasn’t a good kind of kiss either. Not the kind like Liam gave. It was more of the kind your eighty-five-year-old grandma gave you right before squeezing your cheeks and telling you how adorable you were.
Instantly, my exposed skin stung a little, but I ignored it and tried to keep the snow from crunching too much underfoot.
The sky was lightening, but the sun wasn’t totally up yet. The white layer of snow outside did offer some sort of brightness so I could see. Squinting against the snow flurries flying wildly around, I sought out Liam.
He wasn’t far, standing behind a large bush near the corner of the cabin, gazing out toward the snowmobile that cut quickly over the snow.
A few moments later, Liam stiffened, seemed to lean toward the person approaching, and then stepped out from around the concealment.
I gasped and went rushing forward. What was he thinking? It could be the men coming back to finish the job.
“Liam!” I yelled, rushing through the snow.
He turned abruptly. “I told you to stay inside.”
“If you’re going to act like an idiot, then I am, too!” I burst out.
I would have laughed at the look on his face, but this wasn’t funny. He had to know what kind of risk he was taking.
“I’m not being an idiot, sweetheart,” he countered. A small smile pulled at his mouth. “But later, we’re going to have a talk about you following me into a potentially dangerous situation.”
I made a face. He was one to talk, Mr. I-followed-you-and-two-men-with-guns-up-a-mountain. “Isn’t that what you did last night?”
His face darkened. “That’s different.”
“Don’t you pull that sexist crap on me.” I warned, planting my feet into the snow, ready to argue.
The snowmobile engine cut off, and someone yelled out, “Liam!”
I winced, remembering this was not the time for an argument.
Liam lifted his hand and waved, then started forward. After a couple steps, he stopped and held out his hand to me. “Come on, then.”
I hurried to catch up. “Is that Alex?”
“Sure is,” he quipped, pride in his voice.
Alex jogged over the snow, looking way more graceful than I ever would. “Seriously, man, I have been worried sick,” he said, barely out of breath.
“I told you to search if I wasn’t back by morning,” Liam said as they one-arm hugged each other.
“Sun’s almost up. I couldn’t wait any longer.” Alex glanced at me, his eyes resting on the bruises I knew covered my face. Then he looked back at his best friend. “What the fuck happened?”
“Long story,” Liam muttered.
“Short version will work for now,” Alex retorted.
“Some bad men are trying to kill me. Liam intercepted them, and their gunfire set off an avalanche last night. We almost died.”
Both men turned their eyes on me.
I shrugged. “What? You wanted the short version.”
Alex glanced at Liam. “When you said you thought she was in some kind of trouble, I thought you meant lost her job or was hiding from an ex.”
“I wish,” I muttered.
Alex barked a laugh. “Well, how about next time you give a guy a heads-up on what he’s dealing with.”
I blinked. That was it? That’s all he had to say?
Liam saw my shock and chuckled. “We aren’t the kind of men who run from trouble.”
Alex made a sound of agreement.
“How about mobsters with big guns?”
Alex pursed his lips, but it didn’t take long for him to shrug. “Them either. What do you think we are? Pansies?”
I made a choked sound, but the guys turned toward each other to have their own conversation. Frankly, I thought it was rude.
“A report came in about an hour ago about an avalanche on this side of the mountain last night. Since you haven’t been answering your phone, I knew I had to come out here. I remembered this place, hoped you might come here if you needed somewhere.”
“Good looking out,” Liam told him, holding out a fist for a bump.
Why did guys always do that? They might as well just beat their chests.
“We were just about to hike it back to the resort.” Liam continued.
“I wasn’t sure what I’d find when I got out here,” Alex said, his voice low, revealing some of the torment he’d obviously been going through.
“I’m sorry I just ran off like that, man. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay.” He looked at me. “Both of you.”
Alex’s genuine concern touched me. I forgot what it was like to have people around who cared.
Liam reached for my hand. “C’mon, we need to get the hell off this mountain.”
“Think the sled can handle three of us?” Alex asked as we moved toward it. The sky was growing lighter, and a beautiful shade of orange streaked just above the treetops.
Liam grunted. “I’ll drive.”
“What about your knee?” I worried. “You should let Alex drive.”
Alex swung around, staring immediately at Liam. “You hurt your knee?”
Liam nodded, a dark look crossing his features.
Something passed between the two of them. Something that made me squirm around in my boots. Obviously, there was more going on than I was privy to. I wanted to ask. I wanted every detail.
Now wasn’t the time, though, and I didn’t like knowing I had to wait.
“I’ll drive.” Alex’s voice was gruff. “You just hold on to your girl.”
Liam nodded again.
“How come you don’t argue with him?” I wondered, slightly disgruntled.
“Don’t be jelly.” Alex teased. Though, I couldn’t help but wonder if he could sense that maybe I was a little jealous. His obvious close relationship with Liam and the sort of loyalty and trust they shared was something I wanted as well. “Not everyone has the power of persuasion like me.”
I rolled my eyes, and Liam made a rude sound. “Dude. No.”
Alex swung his leg up over the sled. “Thank you, Alex,” he cracked. “I appreciate you coming out here at the ass crack of dawn to search for me, Alex.”
I smiled and leaned over to peck him on the cheek. “Thank you, Alex.”
His piercing blue eyes flew to mine. He hadn’t been expecting that, and for a second, I’d rendered him speechless. Something I think probably didn’t happen very often.
“I’m grateful Liam has such a good friend in you.”
He lifted the thick scarf around his neck and patted it against his eyes. “This damn wintry air is making my eyes water. Shoulda brought my shades.”
I giggled.
Dropping the fabric, Alex smiled, reached over and tugging on one of my messy braids. “Anytime.”
“You two can bond later,” Liam muttered. “On the sled, Bells.”
I climbed onto the snowmobile behind Alex. “What about you?” I asked Liam.
He straddled the machine behind me, carefully sliding me forward until I smacked into Alex’s back. “It’s a tight fit, but we can make it work.”
Alex peered over his shoulder at us. “Hey, look at that. A Bells sandwich.”
Liam smacked Alex in the back of the head. “You are not part of any sandwich that involves my girl.”
Liam’s arms slid around my waist, and my body shifted back into his. “You need to hold on to Alex, sweetheart.”
After what he just said, that was literally the last thing I expected to hear.
“Come on, then, girl. I have some driving to do,” Alex quipped and patted his side.
I glanced at Liam, and he nodded, so I slid my good arm around his side and anchored it at Alex’s waist.
“Hold on,” Alex called out over the engine as he revved it.
The next thing I knew, we were flying over the snow down the mountain and cutting through the trees. Alex was a horrible driver. Like my life flashed before my eyes. I was kinda tired of that happening.
The feel of Liam’s arms tightening around my waist gave me a greater sense of security, and I leaned into him again, the arm around Alex sliding loose. Liam scooted closer against me, using his body to pin mine more firmly between him and his best friend.
After clearing one of the last hills, the resort came into view below, and I nearly cried in relief. I knew I wasn’t actually safe yet, but just seeing BearPaw after I honestly thought last night had been my last made me incredibly grateful and sentimental.
Alex slowed to a pace that actually felt more normal and glanced behind him at Liam. Mirrored goggles covered his eyes, but I felt them drift over me before settling on the man I was leaning into.
He didn’t even say a word, but he didn’t have to. Liam knew what he wanted to ask.
“My place!” he yelled, and my body jolted back when Alex shot forward without any warning.
My hand dug into Alex’s coat, and the rest of me knocked into Liam. His arms tightened, and the sound of his low chuckle over the motor filled my ears. He hadn’t even so much as jostled when Alex sped off like a demon!
Alex cut away from the resort, and I forgot about his hellish driving because I realized we were heading to Liam’s cabin. A place I had yet to see.
As anxious as I was to discover a new piece of the man I loved, I couldn’t help but worry. I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder as we drove on, scanning all the pristine snow for anyone who might be following.
We might have made it out of the avalanche, but I knew better than anyone that I was still far from safe.