Harper’s hand covers her mouth. Kayley pulls Aidan closer. The men go still. Rafe’s jaw flexes. Eli’s hand finds mine under the blanket someone draped over my lap. His fingers lace through mine and squeeze once. Hard. Steady.
I keep going. “I said no. He locked me in my room. Guards at the door. I waited until they got sloppy, climbed out the window, took the emergency cash I’d hidden, and ran. I drove north until the car broke down two miles from your gate. Radiator blew, I think. I’m not really sure. I couldn’t risk staying on the road. Iwalked into the woods, saw your lights, and kept going until I hit the call box.”
I look around the room. “I don’t know if they’ve found me yet. I ditched my phone in Idaho. Used cash for gas and motels. But Dominic has people everywhere. If he wants something, he gets it. I… I’m scared that when you hear his name you’ll decide it’s not worth the trouble. That you’ll hand me back because what Dominic wants, Dominic gets.”
Silence hangs heavy for a second. Then Rafe speaks. “We don’t hand people over. Not here. Not ever.”
Gavin nods. “Doesn’t matter who’s looking. You’re on our mountain now.”
Boyd leans forward. “We’ve dealt with worse than Garcia. He wants to play in our backyard, he learns the rules the hard way.”
Eli’s grip on my hand tightens. “You’re not going anywhere. Not until we know you’re safe. And maybe not even then.”
Harper stands and crosses to me. She kneels in front of the couch and takes my free hand. “You’re not alone anymore. We’ve got you. All of us.”
Tears burn behind my eyes. I blink them back. “Thank you. I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Emma says from her spot on the floor. “Just stay. Rest. Heal. We’ll figure out the rest.”
Fiona grins. “And eat. You look like you haven’t had a decent meal in weeks.”
Laughter ripples through the room. The tension breaks. Poppi toddles over and pats my knee with a sticky hand. I smile downat her. Something inside my chest loosens for the first time in months.
Eli stands and pulls me up with him. “She needs to rest. Ankle is still bad. I’m taking her back to the cabin.”
Rafe nods. “We’ll put extra eyes on the perimeter. Gates stay locked. Anyone comes sniffing, we know.”
Eli guides me toward the door. Before we step outside he stops and looks at Rafe. “She stays with me. No arguments.”
Rafe’s mouth quirks. “Wasn’t going to argue.”
Outside the cold bites my cheeks again, but Eli’s arm stays around me. We walk slow. Snow crunches under our boots. His cabin comes into view, smoke curling from the chimney.
Inside he locks the door and turns to me. “You did good in there. Told them everything. They’re on your side now.”
I look up at him. “You didn’t have to say I was staying with you.”
“Yeah I did.” His voice drops. “Because you are. Until this is over. Maybe longer. We’ll see.”
My heart kicks hard. “Eli…”
He brushes a strand of hair off my forehead. “Rest. I’ll bring you lunch later. And ice for the ankle. No arguments.”
I smile despite everything. “You’re very bossy.”
“Damn right.” He leans down and presses a quick kiss to my forehead. “Get in bed. I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
I limp to the bedroom and crawl under the covers. His scent is still on the pillow. Cedar. Soap. Him.
I close my eyes and listen to him move around the cabin. Dishes clinking. Fire crackling. The soft thud of his boots on the floorboards.
For the first time since I ran I don’t feel like I am running alone.
And that feeling is more dangerous than anything Dominic Garcia could throw at me. Because if I start to believe I could stay here, with these people, with him, I might never want to leave.
I pull the quilt higher and let sleep pull me under.
Tomorrow I’ll worry.
