***
I glance at the GPS and note that we’re nearly at the first stop, a small cabin Knox rented for us. “Twenty minutes to go,” I tell Vivienne, keeping my eyes on the road and fighting everything that calls for me to look at her.
“God, I haven’t had sleep like that in forever.” She yawns. “And in front of a stranger, no less.”
I pretend to be offended. “I’m completely harmless!”
“Harmless?” She chuckles, but the sound is dry. “No one in the Steel Rebels can be considered harmless.”
I frown. “I don’t know what Knox has told you about the Rebels, but—”
She cuts me off. “He’s never told me anything. I didn’t even know he was part of a motorcycle club, let alone the Rebels.”
“Then how do you know about the Steel Rebels?”
She shrugs. “I’ve just heard about them.”
Something about the way she says it raises even more questions in my mind, but before I can pursue that line of thought, she lets out a gasp.
“Oh my God, look at the view!” she cries out as she peers out the window. There’s snow on the ground around us now, the clear sky and surrounding mountains making the scenery truly spectacular. “Wow, where are we?”
“Utah,” I tell her, but it doesn't escape my notice that she’s just as elusive as her brother. How would she have even heard about the Steel Rebels, especially enough to form such a negative opinion of us?
And what have her mother and this Rick asshole done to her to make her jump every time her phone vibrates? I recognize the kind of fear I see on her face.
I glance at the girl next to me who’s still transfixed by the passing scenery. She doesn’t have any visible scars on her. Not the bruised eyes or the broken lip I’ve seen one too many times on the women at the shelter, but…I know better than to judge scars by their visibility. I have some of my own that I hide.
With a sigh, I keep my focus on the winding road, one that curves into the mountainside. As the car climbs, the world opens up. The air is crisp, carrying the scent of pine. Sunlight dances through the trees and glints off the snow, dappling the road in shifting patterns of light and shadows.
“Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?” Vivienne whispers as she leans on the dashboard and stares ahead.
You, I resist the urge to say. The woman seated next to me is stunning in her own right, but she’s right—the view comes pretty close. Initially, it’s glimpses through the trees—flashes of a turquoise lake, a distant mountain peak. But as the road switchbacks higher, it all unfolds and even I can barely hide my surprise.
“Wow.”
The lake before us, a vast expanse of shimmering blue, reflects the sky. Mountains loom in the distance, their ridges softened by the haze.
“What is this place?” Vivienne whispers, her voice light and dreamy.
“Knox booked us a cabin near Fish Lake Regional Park for the night.”
The car crests a final hill, and the cabin comes into view. It’s nestled amongst the trees, a cozy single-story structure built from rough-hewn logs with a stone chimney rising from the roof. The porch wraps around the front, complete with a rocking chair and a weathered swing. I pull up to the front and cut the engine.
“This place is so pretty, I want to look around,” Vivienne says excitedly, opening the car door and jumping out before I can stop her.
My hand is already on my gun as I step out to follow her. Knox had someone deliver a gun to me at the airport with enough ammunition to fight a small army. The duffel bags Pope provided us held even more ammunition, so I’m prepared for anything. Though I’m not sure exactly what I’m supposed to be protecting her from, other than this Rick asshole, since neither she nor her brother have been forthcoming with the truth about her situation.
Still, after the fear I heard in her voice from the other side of that motel door when she thought I was her mother’s boyfriend, I’m prepared to use a few of these bullets on Rick if he dares to show up.
Vivienne is delighted with the cabin. “I’ve only ever seen places like this in the movies. I can’t believe this was only a drive away from LA.”
“Eight hours,” I say, trying not to sound grumpy, but it was such a long fucking drive and we’re not even halfway home. “That’s quite the distance if you ask me.” A small lock box is mounted on the side of the door, so I pull up Knox’s text for the code. When I enter the numbers, I hear a satisfying click and the box pops open. Inside, nestled on a small hook, are the keys to the cabin.
“I probably couldn’t come here on my own since I don’t drive, but even if I could, Rick would never have let me drive offwithout…” Her voice trails off and her panicked eyes turn to look at me. “I…I mean…uh, open it. I want to see the inside. Do you think they have a hot tub? It would be cool if they had one, right?”
It’s tempting to push the truth out of her. I don’t suppose it would take much to ask her about her past, but the thought of Vivienne in distress as she relives painful memories twists something inside my chest and I find myself unlocking the door without a word.
We step inside and we’re greeted by the warm, inviting scent of wood and cedar. The interior is rustic but comfortable with large windows that allow soft sunlight to stream in. A large, open living area features a plush sofa, a few armchairs and a wooden coffee table. I glance at the small kitchen as I head toward the three doors I assume hold bedrooms and a bathroom.
