“Because that’s the only way I’m going back to him this time,” he declared. His voice dripped with a curious mix of determination, fear and resignation.
Before I could respond, I heard the girl yell, “Ethan!” and then she was coming at me, though her moves were sluggish as she continued to struggle to catch her breath. I easily caught her arm asshe took a swing at me and I shifted off the man in one swift move and dragged the girl back against my chest, pinning her arms by wrapping one of mine around her.
“No!” the man shouted and he struggled to his feet, though he swayed wildly once he managed to stand. “Please,” he whispered.
The girl struggled in my grasp. My patience was nearing its end and I snapped, “Be still.”
I had no idea what the fuck was going on and I was freezing my ass off.
“Please,” the man implored. “Don’t hurt her…just…just leave her here and I’ll go back with you. Tell…tell Eric I won’t run again. I swear it.”
“Ethan, no,” the girl cried out.
“Sweetheart, stay still, okay? It’ll be over soon.”
The girl was shaking her head against me and I could hear her crying. Frustration coursed through me as I tried to ignore the girl’s anguish and the terror in the man’s eyes as he silently begged me.
I was about to explain to both of them that I wasn’t whoever it was they believed me to be, but the man – Ethan – suddenly lost his balance and crumpled to his knees. His eyes rolled backwards just as the girl shouted “Ethan!” and I quickly released her and lunged forward to catch him before his head could make contact with the ground. The girl was by my side in an instant, tears streaming down her face.
“Ethan,” she cried as she brought her hands up to his face, but seemed to struggle with where to put them.
“Lucy,” I said as I tucked my gun in my waistband and lifted Ethan enough so his face lolled against my chest. “Lucy, look at me,” I said when the girl didn’t respond.
Her wet eyes lifted to mine and I felt my gut clench at the unspoken plea there. Whoever this man was to her, she obviously cared about him a great deal.
“I’m not here to hurt either of you,” I said as I put my free arm beneath Ethan’s legs. While I knew it would be easier to carry him over my shoulder in a fireman’s carry, I didn’t want to risk injuringhim more. “I need you to open the door for me,” I said as I motioned to the cabin. “We need to get him warm and dry.”
I didn’t wait for her to answer as I lurched to my feet. Ethan wasn’t a small man and with my numb hands and the deepening snow, I knew it would be a struggle just to get him the short distance to the cabin.
Lucy hesitated and then ran towards the cabin, glancing over her shoulder at me every few seconds. I followed at a much slower pace and dropped my eyes to Ethan’s battered face, hoping like hell he’d wake up.
But he didn’t.
And I was fucking clueless what to do next.
Chapter 1
CAIN
It feltlike hours had passed before I managed to carry Ethan over the threshold of the cabin. Lucy was standing just inside the door, her jeans and tennis shoes covered in snow. I scanned the living room that the front door opened into and saw only a couch and chair in front of the fireplace. A small fire was burning in the hearth, but it looked like it was going to go out any minute.
“Where’s his room?” I asked as I used my hip to nudge the door closed since Lucy seemed frozen in time.
“The rooms are back there,” she said after a moment and then pointed to a hallway just beyond the small kitchen. “But he’s been lying on the couch because the heat isn’t working.”
I debated for a moment as I glanced at the too-small couch and then strode towards the hallway. I entered the first bedroom I found and ignored the chill in the air as I said, “Pull back the covers.”
Lucy did what I told her. I was about to put Ethan down when I realized his clothes were covered in snow. I debated for a moment and then carefully laid him down by the foot of the bed so his body was on top of the decorative quilt covering the bed. “Ethan,” I said as I gave him a gentle shake, but he didn’t respond. My fingersshook as I searched out his pulse and I sighed inwardly at the strong beat I felt beneath my fingers.
“Is he…”
I’d forgotten Lucy’s presence. Her shaky voice had me lifting my gaze to her. “He’s alive.”
She nodded, but didn’t seem relieved. I couldn’t really blame her since Ethan hadn’t woken even once since he’d passed out. Ethan’s chilled skin reminded me that I needed to focus and I quickly began undressing him. It took a little bit of effort to work the shirt off over his head and I heard Lucy gasp when the man’s chest was exposed. Angry bruises covered both of his sides, proof that he’d taken multiple kicks to the ribs. His stomach was also bruised.
“Ethan,” Lucy whispered brokenly just before a sob tore free of her throat.
I ignored her and began working Ethan’s pants loose. I didn’t miss the fact that as distressed as Lucy was, her cheeks colored when I pulled the pants down to reveal Ethan’s briefs and she turned her back on us. I’d had the brief and disturbing thought outside that maybe the young girl was in an illicit relationship with the older man, but her behavior had me reconsidering. If they were lovers, she certainly wouldn’t be embarrassed to see him in any state of undress.
