Rose will be all alone here when I leave in a few hours. She’ll have three days to herself. We talked, and I told her that she should relax and enjoy the downtime, but she probably won’t.

I check the supplies to make sure there’s enough food and water. Heading outside, I see that the power is on, and the emergency gas generator works fine. She won’t have to leave this cabin for anything. Once I’m back, we’ll have a clearer picture of what her next move should be.

There’s a small dining table against one wall of the cabin. The morning sunlight streams in through the picture window above it, giving her red hair a fiery glow as she takes a seat.

“I should be out there,” she says pensively.

“We talked about that. It’s not a good idea.”

Rose lifts her GO-bag from the floor, unzipping the main pocket. The first thing she pulls out is the folded suede case where she stores her knives. Placing it on the counter, she opens it from the middle, revealing the set, each one with its own compartment.

“You’re really into your blades,” I tell her. “When I get back you should tell me the story behind it.”

She squares her shoulders, looking stoic as she runs her hand through her hair and brushes it away from her face. “You’re changing the subject. I’ll stay, but I don’t have to like it.”

“Do you need anything before I head out?” I ask and place my hand at the base of her neck.

She looks up at me and shakes her head but says nothing.

Lowering to her, I press a soft kiss on her lips. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Be safe.”

“I will.”

She slides out a small blade with its own leather sheath, and flips the handle toward me. “This one would tuck nicely into your bike storage. It’s a loaner, not a gift. So make sure to bring it back to me when you’re done.”

The depth of emotion in her voice makes me smile. I take it from her, sliding it into my back pocket. The other meaning to her gesture is crystal clear. “I’m coming back to you,” I assure her. “Don’t you worry.”

“I won’t,” she answers with a soft smile playing on her face.

Heading to the door, I glance back at her one final time and pull the door closed behind me, hoping it’s a promise I can keep.

* * *

What I know about wolves is they have a keen sense of when to go solo, and when to run with the pack. I’d like to believe that I have the same instinct. As much as I enjoy working alone, there are some battles that I won’t dare fight on my own. Freeing Rose from her past is one of those battles. It may require the intervening hand of someone powerful and influential, or the brute force of an army. Or both.

I start with the only influential person I know. An army buddy turned state senator with a lot of connections. After one conversation, I realize that, his connections are not the right ones to fix this problem.

So, brute force it is. More like a smart sit-down with Murphy, while bracing for the possibility of that meeting going sideways. Murphy is under lock and key. His team of lawyers convinced the court that due to his complex medical condition, he was not a flight risk. He was granted bail to the tune of a million dollars, put on house arrest, and now wears an ankle monitor. There was public outrage at the court’s leniency, but what the public doesn’t know is Murphy has stage three pancreatic cancer. A five percent, five-year survival rate, if so much. Murphy is living out his last days at an outrageously expensive mansion, with access to the best food, entertainment, and pussy-for-hire around. If the public knew the truth, that he’ll die before his case is heard, they’d probably demand that he be denied bail and received an expedited trial.

That’s the justice system for you.

And even with his fate so imminent, he continues to put contracts out on anyone who can take him down. The man is a monster.

In any case, if I want to meet with him, I’ll need access. I have an idea forming, but I need to act fast. I have to be ready to walk away from everything.

For Rose, I might do just that.

Fifteen fucking minutes after leaving Rose alone at the cabin, it all goes to shit. The bottom falls out of my plan before I’m out the gate. First, Bridges gets a message to me through one of my encrypted burner phones. He all but confirms that Dawn was working for some entity that protected Murphy. Murphy is still alive, and she’s dead. She must’ve seen something she shouldn’t have, or spoken up to the wrong person. If I can get close to him, I’d put this fucker in the ground just for that.

Next, my employer makes contact with me. They order me to confirm Rose’s and my locations. I don’t provide any information, but while we’re in contact, I request to negotiate safe passage for Rose.

It’s a negative. My request is denied.

Instead, they issue me a new order.

Neutralize my target.

Well, Rose is mine now. That’s not happening.

Someone with a lot of influence must have something to gain from a not guilty verdict for Murphy. That man is in bed with so many fucking political bigwigs, it can be anyone.

My refusal to follow the kill order is met with an immediate consequence. I’m burned before I even reach Murphy’s location. Excommunicated by my employer and cast aside for disobeying orders. I’m on my own now, and on someone’s kill list now. Dawn must’ve found herself in the very same predicament, and that’s why she’s dead now.

Both my options are off the table, and the situation’s worse than I thought. With no influence and no army behind me, I need an option three, and fast.

I smile when I remember one detail about the wolf.

Sometimes, to get what it wants, the wolf walks right in through the front door, dressed as Red Riding Hood’s grandmother.