To my surprise, Levi bends, encompasses my thighs with his gigantic hands, shoves his shoulder into my stomach, and stands.
Twice in one night.
What the hell?
The yelp that comes out of my mouth is anything but ladylike. “Levi!”
“There’s no messing around when it comes to your safety.” Levi’s declaration leaves no room for argument as he marches outside.
I catch Santiago holding in a laugh as he ambles behind us. I give him the middle finger, causing his laugh to burst free, and Walker smirks.
“Two peas in a fucking pod,” I mutter irately. Bear trots at Santiago’s side, and I give him a chastising scowl. “We need to work on your guard dog training.”
CHAPTER 29
BLAKE
By the time we left Moose Gap Lodge, midnight had come and gone. My muscles felt heavy in a way that had nothing to do with exhaustion.
I wasn’t just tired. I was wrung out.
Before we headed to Santiago’s home, Walker’s deputies collected evidence around my car as best they could, then made their way to my room. Levi and Santiago spoke with Mason for a time, then they shook hands and Mason ushered the remaining guests to their rooms. Walker moved about, directing Tessa and Ridge, speaking with the firefighters, and working the investigation.
When we pulled up, Falling Sky greeted us with a quiet stillness.
Snow blanketed the corrals, softening the ranch beneath the porch lights. The horses had long since settled into their stalls, and the wranglers were passed out in the bunkhouse. The only sound was the wind whispering through the pines.
I practically crawled up the stairs and right into Santiago’s shower. I don’t even remember taking off my clothes.
Bear followed me with a little more pep in his step, but stopped at the bathroom entrance. He sat down on his hind legswith his back to me like he was appointing himself to stand guard.
After washing away the smoke, ash, and dust, the hot water runs clear.
Stepping out of the shower, I wrap myself in one of Santiago’s oversized white towels. Steam fogs the mirror, causing my reflection to disappear.
When I reach for my clothes, my hand pauses.
I don’t have any of my things with me.
My suitcase, my sketchbooks, even my favorite sweater. Everything I brought to Evergreen Falls sits behind yellow crime scene tape.
Wonderful.
With damp hair and dressed in nothing but a towel, I exit the bathroom in search of the three brutes.
I don’t have to go far because they’re all on the staircase.
They’re carrying a mattress at an odd angle, making it look like it's about to topple over the railing at any moment. Santiago is in the front, walking backward as he pulls on the mattress with an awkward grip and barking directions. Levi is in the middle, doing what can only be described as a sideways crab walk up the stairs while in a half crouch, holding the bottom of the mattress. Walker brings up the rear, jaw tight as he muscles the entire thing upward like sheer willpower is fueling him.
I blink once.
Twice.
Am I hallucinating?
“What’s going on here?” I question loud enough for the struggling trio to hear as I lean against the railing of the overlook on the second floor.
“What does it look like?” Levi’s retort comes out as a grunt.
