Page 69 of Snowbound

I growl at her because she’s only stalling at this point, and I’m not going to be her distraction. “I don’t care about other writers. I care aboutyou.”

The words make time stand still for a brief moment, and I know it isn’t just me because her throat bobs when sheswallows hard. “Alright, then.” Her eyes twinkle at me, hopeful. “Same rules?”

“Same rules, young lady,” I tell her, standing to fetch her laptop and mine. “You know exactly what happens if you don’t hit your word count.”

“Mmm,” she says with a smirk. “And what do I get if Idofinish?”

I lean in, brush a strand of hair off her forehead, and tuck it behind her ear. “I’ll lay you down and eat you out until you scream my name.”

I love the little choked sound she makes.

“Deal!” she shouts at my retreating back.

I consider staying in the room to check my email. I don’t want to risk her being privy to my work, even for a second, but when I look over at her, she’s happily typing away at her laptop. She does this thing when she types—screwing her face up with the utmost concentration. I watch as she mouths words, pauses to draw things in the air with her hands, then giggles to herself at a line she just wrote.

I don’t want to work. It’s highly entertaining watchingher.

But duty calls. With a sigh, I open up my email with the smallest browser window I can possibly manage. I work quickly, my fingers flying over the keys illuminated in the laptop light, as I work the secrets that pay my bills: fake IDs, ghost companies, maps and schedules that are untraceable by anyone with a badge. I build a veritable labyrinth for the McCarthy family, and when they want a job done without questions, my phone will ring.

And there are very few lines I wouldn’t cross.

Outside, I think I hear something. Is that a voice? I turn my head to look out the iced-over window, but see no light. Emma doesn’t even pause, happily tapping away at her keyboard without a care in the world.

And I know then, while the wind threatens frostbite and dangers lurk right outside this door, that I’ll do anything,anything, to keep Emma safe.

I go back to my work and finish a few jobs in record time. A text comes in from Seamus McCarthy, the McCarthy family boss.

Seamus McCarthy

Well done, Owen. Will you be by at the weekend to discuss what we’ll need for next month?

I pause before I respond. Will I? What would McCarthy do if I say no? They call him The Undertaker, and he’s earned that reputation. He seems cordial enough when you meet him face-to-face, but he’s ruthless as fuck. He once shot a motherfucker dead for not standing when his wife walked in the room. He escaped a notorious Russian prison, then personally eliminated damn near an entire crime ring of his own because they betrayed him.

No onefucks with Seamus McCarthy.

Thank you. This weekend is tricky for me. I have an out-of-town guest

Seamus McCarthy

I see. Perhaps it’s best I find someone else to do the job

Goddamn it.I knew he’d pull something like that.

No, sir, that’s not necessary. I’ll make sure she’s secured before I come to see you

I shake my head when another text comes in.

Seamus McCarthy

Bring her with you. My wife would love to meet her.

Bring my woman to the wolves’ den? Oh hell no.

I’m sorry, but she has other plans. I’ll come myself.

McCarthy

Next time, then. See you this weekend. You know where to go.