I shook my head.
“Okay. Just remember that no one else knows that. Holding a gun can be just as menacing as using it half the time. I don’t think we’ll run into anyone, but you never know.”
I nodded and placed the gun in the holster I’d snatched from one of our captors. His pants were too big for me, but his belt helped a bit. Once we were ready, we headed out the front door and down the porch.
The snow was thick and heavy as we trekked through, and I could feel my toes getting cold after only a few minutes. Clenching my teeth, I reminded myself to stay strong. There would be warmth at the end of our very long hike, and I needed to be mentally tough to reach it. If we were lucky, we’d find cell service, make contact with Michael, and I’d be back in a warm bed by tomorrow.
We didn’t talk much as we walked so we could conserve energy, and there was something comforting walking behind Nick and his broad shoulders. He projected an aura of strength, and I knew he would stop at nothing to get us to safety.
Several hours in, we stopped near a large rock to take a break and eat some beans. I chewed them slowly, hating the taste but knowing I needed the energy. When we were done, Nick glanced at me as I sat on the snowy rock.
“Ready, princess?”
Sighing, I nodded. “Yeah.”
He lifted the cell phones high, searching for service but finding none.
“Let’s go. We’re making progress.”
We continued to wade through the snow as the cold seeped through my bones and my toes began to burn. They were wet, even with the layers of garbage bags, and I wondered how long it took to get frostbite. That didn’t set in for days, right? Or was it hours? I had no idea, but didn’t say anything since I knew Nick was probably freezing too.
The sun moved across the sky as we walked, eventually nearing the horizon as the day grew dimmer. Worry set in that we would have to continue in the dark, and I wondered if I would make it. Every part of my skin was so cold I could barely feel it, and my toes had stopped tingling ages ago. My legs seemed to be working on autopilot now, but I knew I would eventually have to rest. I didn’t want to complain, especially since Nick seemed to be doing fine. And besides, what would complaining do? We were in the middle of nowhere with no shelter in sight.
Just as the sun kissed the far-off mountains, Nick stopped and pulled out the cell phones. His eyes grew wide as he uttered, “Yes!”
He dialed a number and lifted the phone to his ear. “Michael? It’s Nick. We’re in Upstate New York.”
I heard a deep voice on the other end, but couldn’t make out the words.
“Yes, I’ll drop a pin so you can send to Joaquin. I have no idea how close we are to a road.”
He listened intently and nodded.
“Okay, got it. This phone has forty-seven percent battery, so we’re good for now. Talk soon.”
He turned to me, excitement across his face which was reddened from the cold. “Joaquin is going to find us. We’re almost there—”
His words faded as my eyelids fluttered, and I felt myself sway back and forth. Closing my eyes, I tried to speak, but words were impossible as I began to fall...
And then, the world went dark as I slipped into unconsciousness.
Chapter 16
Nick
My heart leapt into my throat when I saw Alexis collapse, and I rushed toward her. Gently smacking her cheek, I tried to wake her.
“Alexis? Alexis! Come on, princess.Fuck!”
I lifted her in my arms, positioning her against my cold body as I continued down the route. Her head and legs hung limp, and fear coursed through my veins. Her lips were slightly blue, and I wondered why she hadn’t said anything. If she’d been that cold, we certainly could’ve stopped and tried to warm her up.
Furious with myself for missing the signs of her obvious distress, I walked as quickly as I could. Several minutes later, I heard a horn beeping incessantly in the distance, and I knew it must be Joaquin.
I rushed toward the sound, breathing a sigh of relief when I saw the plowed road appear at the exit of the snowy woods. Jogging toward the SUV, I opened the back door as Joaquin stepped out from behind the wheel.
“What happened?”
“She fainted,” I said, gently placing Alexis in the back seat and crawling in to rest her head on my lap. “Get us to the cabin as soon as you can.”
