Page 35

Chapter 34

Mila

A fter a morning of anxious cuddles, Jude headed to work to inform his siblings and call Parker.

It was time. I’d done my part. Now we would hand things over to the police and the prosecutors. Parker was a good cop and had connections from her state police days. It would be okay. I kept repeating that to myself. It would be okay because it had to be okay.

My job for the morning was to finish digitizing all the evidence. I’d organize folders and ensure we included everything law enforcement needed. Then I’d make copies and save it all to a secure cloud-based drive for potential future use. This way I could hopefully help make sure the chain of custody was clear for the trials that would happen for what was likely to be the next several years.

A calm I hadn’t experienced in years had set in. Maybe it was this house and the beautiful forest. Maybe it was the man who lived here. Regardless, after years of pushing, I finally felt like I could stand still for a minute. In fact, I felt like maybe I wanted to stand still.

As I crossed one more task off my list, I rolled my neck. Pain shot up my shoulder, reminding me I should put my sling back on. I’d progressed to going without it several times a day. I hated being injured, but the measurable progress helped keep me from wallowing in self-pity. And in some ways, maybe I was the tiniest bit grateful for it. After all, the injury had brought me here, to Jude, and if he hadn’t insisted on working with me, I never would have made it this far.

Suddenly Ripley, who had been lying on the floor by my feet, jumped up and growled.

Startled by her abrupt change in demeanor, I stood and padded to the window where she stood at full attention, her hackles raised. I drew back the shade and scanned the yard, but found nothing out of the ordinary.

Just as I’d chalked it up to a squirrel, I caught the sound of a low rumble. With every second I stood there, it got louder until there was no denying it was the roar of motorcycle engines.

My heart took off at a sprint and panic flooded my veins. Had they found me?

Hand shaking, I closed my laptop and grabbed my phone. Then I headed for the kitchen door, where I shoved my feet into my shoes and grabbed one of Jude’s jackets. Ripley remained at my side the entire time. When the noise was deafening, I crouched and peered out the window.

Sure enough three bikes were parked in the driveway, as well as a van with Phobos Management emblazoned on the side. The name, I was almost certain, belonged to one of the Huxley’s shell companies.

My lungs seized, making it impossible to breathe. Hands shaking, I sat on the ground, dropping my head between my knees.

They had found me. After weeks of hiding, I’d finally become hopeful that we’d make it out of this. Yet they’d tracked me down. My first thought was Jude. Was he hurt? In danger? I couldn’t even contemplate it.

For so long, I’d been doing it all on my own. And that was a risk I’d been willing to take. But Jude?

I looked at Ripley, who was watching me, her big doggie eyes full of concern. With my good hand, I stroked her fur. Only then, when I focused on the softness of each strand, could I take a full breath again. My mind cleared, and instantly, I knew we had to go. I could do it. I could escape again.

They were still in the driveway, so if we slipped out the kitchen door, the woodshed would block their view.

From there, I could head into the forest. I knew the trails well after walking them with Ripley and Jude for the past few weeks. I pulled Jude’s jacket tighter around me, hugged the laptop to my chest, and gently turned the doorknob.

“Okay, girl,” I whispered to Ripley. “We’re gonna make a run for it. Straight to the woodshed, okay?”

As I pushed the door open a crack, it squeaked slightly, but the engine noise from the driveway was surely loud enough to drown it out.

“Let me go first,” I said to her.

Eyes closed, I took a deep breath. Then I slipped out the door and motioned for her to follow.

I was safely behind the woodshed when they dismounted and walked up the porch steps. There were more of them now, and a black SUV had pulled in behind the row of bikes.

When I peeked around the corner, Razor was banging on the door while a few of the other guys were circling the house.

Shit. The tree line was close, but not close enough. Probably twenty yards. But it was open grass, and they’d see me. My hands shook as I tried to find cover.

I squeezed my eyes closed and prayed for some kind of distraction.

As I scanned the woods, my gaze snagged on a dark pair of eyes at the edge of the trees. My heart stopped. Holy shit. It was a moose. A big bull, by the look of it. Frozen, we stared at one another and I swear I saw a glimmer of recognition in his massive dark eyes.

And then he was running, full speed toward the driveway, his thousand pound frame cutting intimidatingly across the grass. As he came out into the open, the telltale scar across his flank became visible.

Clive.

I let out a long breath. Maybe sharing the carrots with him wasn’t a bad idea after all.

As he barreled out of my line of sight, the men broke into panicked shouts.

This was it. My only chance.

Crouching low and clutching the laptop to my chest, I ran as fast as I could down the hill toward the tree line. Halfway there, I glanced over my shoulder. Several guys had taken off on their bikes while others were still stomping around the front of the house.

Even a big tough biker was terrified of a giant bull moose, and with good reason.

As I got close to the edge of the forest, I waved at Ripley. Like the incredible companion she was, she darted down the path.

I could hear shouts and crashing noises from the front of the house. It sounded like Clive had knocked over the row of bikes parked out front and was causing all kinds of mayhem.

Relief washed over me as I crouched behind a fallen oak. We’d gotten out.

That put me into overdrive. I took off, stumbling down the path, avoiding the main trail to the state park and veering off toward the mountains. They’d be less likely to look for me in these dense woods. Ripley followed, quietly traversing the rough terrain with a lot more ease.

I tripped a few times but didn’t fall and didn’t reinjure my arm—a small miracle, I was sure. Thank fuck I’d grabbed Jude’s jacket. The chilly air stung my face as I ran.

Stopping to catch my breath under a thick canopy of trees, I dropped to my knees and let out the sob I’d been holding on to.

They’d found me.

There was a good chance this was the end.

I had to warn Jude. Signals were weak out here, but I’d have to take a shot.

Trouble:

Guys showed up at the house. I ran out the back with Ripley and the laptop. In the woods now. Warn your family. Call Parker.

When my phone vibrated in my hand immediately, I sent up a silent thanks to the entities listening but declined the call. I couldn’t risk talking on the phone right now.

Lumbersnack:

What the hell is going on? Are you safe?

Trouble:

Yes. Hiding out in the woods. warn everyone!

Lumbersnack:

Okay. Where are you? I’ll come get you.

Trouble:

I stayed off the main trail and went up toward Mountain Spring.

Lumbersnack:

Drop a pin, find cover, and stay warm. I’m leaving now.

Trouble:

Don’t worry about me. Protect your family and call Parker.

Lumbersnack:

You are my family. I’m coming for you.

I made my way farther into the densest part of the forest in this area and found a small copse of downed trees that provided a decent wind break. Once I ensured the ground was dry, I sat. I’d barely gotten settled when Ripley curled up next to me on the hard ground and put her head on my lap.

With a deep breath in, I dropped a pin. Then I hugged my knees to my chest, wrapping Jude’s coat around me while Ripley huddled next to me for warmth.

This was my fault. I’d gotten too comfortable. I’d been playing Scrabble and eating pizza while my brother was in a hospital bed. I’d let my guard down and let Jude in. And now he was in the crosshairs too.

My feelings for him were mixed up with a dangerous cocktail of guilt and uncertainty. As much as we’d fantasized about riding off into the sunset together, or at least lounging on a Hawaiian beach together, that was not going to happen.

And I had to prepare myself for that.

By the time he arrived on an ATV that looked like a tiny pickup truck, I was a sobbing, freezing mess.

“It’s okay.” He pulled me close and held me for a long moment, letting me cry into his chest. “You’re safe.”

“But we’re not. They know, and they went into your house. There’s no way they didn’t find the evidence wall, and now everyone is in danger.”

“Shh.” He opened the ATV’s tailgate and patted the bed, and Ripley jumped in. “We’re gonna be okay. Parker’s on it. My brothers are on it. You and me? We’re getting out of here.”

My heart stuttered. “There’s nowhere we can go where they won’t find us,” I hiccupped. “I’m as good as dead, and we’ve lost the element of surprise.”

“Trouble,” Jude said, cupping my cheeks and staring deep into my eyes. “We’re in this together. Until the end. And I will not let anything happen to you. Now get in. We’ve got a flight to catch.”