“Dr. Marquis, I understand your apprehension given what’s happened, but I assure you, my team is sound. Let us help you. If these women are as dangerous as we think they are, then you need all the protection you can get.”
I shift my gaze to Damon. He shakes his head, signaling for me to stand my ground.
“Dr. Marquis…” Agent Ube probes. “Please consider the gravity of this situation. If for whatever reason Ms. Mancini locates your safe house, you’ll regret not having backup.”
I clench my jaw, my mind floating to the security measures tucked safely away in the nightstand. “We’ll be fine, Agent.”
“Will you? Are you willing to risk Ms. Jones’ life andyourlife on that?” he asks. “Those are the stakes, Dr. Marquis.”
Damon and I exchange a wary look. We can’t lose her. We can’t risk her being taken away from us again. It’s a double-edged sword. Both paths could lead to destruction. Is there a right choice?
“Fuck,” Damon grumbles under his breath. “Do it.”
I frown at him. “Are you sure?”
Damon sighs. “Better safe than sorry.”
“Fine,” I say to Agent Ube. “We’ll send you the coordinates.”
“That’s a wise decision, Dr. Marquis,” he says. “We’ll send agents out as soon as possible. I’ll call you if there are any more updates.”
“What now?” I ask Damon, hanging up.
He nods toward the steaming outdoor hot tub. “Now we continue to distract her.”
THE BUSY BRAIN
EMERY
Whoever decidedto run a study on the impacts of fresh air and nature on mental health is a complete bastard. I'm freezing my ass off, and all because it'sgoodfor me? I groan, struggling to hike up the semi-icy mountainside. Quin stands several feet above me, his arms crossed as he stares down at me in amusement.
"This is pathetic, darling," he muses. "We've only been walking for twenty minutes."
I shoot him a glare. "It's literally thirty-two degrees,Quinton. I can't feel my toes."
Quin rolls his eyes and holds up his hand to help me up a steep dirt path. "Come on, Emery. We're almost at the vista point. Trust me, it'll be worth it."
I reluctantly take his hand, pulling myself up and continuing to trudge up the narrow path. The crisp air bites at my skin, and I regret not wearing more layers. I glower at Quin as he acts completely unfazed by the cold, like he was born in the fucking arctic. Ridiculous.
“How’d you even find this place?” I grumble, avoiding tripping on roots and rocks.
Quin chuckles. “I’m a very early riser.”
“I’m learningsomuch about you,” I mutter under my breath as Quin merely laughs at my fickle attempt to appreciate the great outdoors. Well, at least he’s entertained.
As we hike up the rocky trail, the trees begin to thin out, revealing breathtaking snapshots of the Colorado mountains. I get why he brought me here. It’s beautiful.ButI'd appreciate it way more if my limbs weren't slowly turning into fucking icicles.
Finally, we reach the vista point, and I'm momentarily distracted from the cold.Wow. The view from this high up is stunning. Sunlight beams down in bolted rays on the sprawling valley below, highlighting each and every snow-covered peak.
Quin wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close against his chest.
"See? Worth it," he says with a grin.
I manage a weak smile, the frost still gnawing at me. "Yeah, yeah. It's beautiful.” I shiver in my boots. “Can we go back now?"
Quin chuckles, turning me around in his arms. His beautiful blue eyes glint with humor as he shakes off his jacket and drapes it over my shoulder. "You're not very outdoorsy, are you?"
I glare up at him. “You’rejustfiguring that out?” He reins in a grin, and I tilt my head, honestly amazed that he’s standing there in only a sweater, acting completely normal. “Are you even human?”
