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The thud of Freya’s heart had to be damaging her ribs. Her hands shook—whether from cold or fear, she couldn’t tell. She jammed her shaking fingers in her pockets, not wanting Abe to see. He had enough on his plate.

“What now?” Thank God. Her voice sounded level.

“We get out of here.” He moved to the back of the rocky outcropping, squeezing through a cleft in the rocks. On the other side, the land rose steeply. “Up the volcano.”

“That’s a stratovolcano,” she blurted, her mind racing. “It has a classic cone-shaped peak.”

The intensity of his gaze could level a volcano.

“Sorry.” Freya studied her toes, her voice quiet. “Force of habit. My brain works a particular way.”

Air whistled between his teeth, but he remained silent, studying the lay of the land.

“Chances are they’ve disabled my SUV. But maybe we can find some alternative transport.”

“Such as? We’re in the middle of nowhere.”

“We lead them away from the house. Circle back and take their car.”

“That sounds too easy.”

“Don’t dismiss simple. It often gets overlooked.” He held up his mobile phone. “No damn signal.”

The sound of voices not too far away drifted in the night air.

“Let’s move.” He tugged on her arm and urged her onto the scrappy path that led up the volcano’s flank.

Voices shouted.

Her heart lurched. “They’ve spotted us.”

“Good.” His reply was terse as he picked up speed. “That’s the plan.”

Freya followed, working her legs hard to keep up with him. Breath sawed in and out of her lungs. She wasn’t used to this kind of aerobic exercise, while at her side Abe cruised along, barely out of breath.

The uneven terrain was a challenge as they climbed. Uneven rocks kept catching her feet and if it hadn’t been for Abe’s steadying hand, she would have face-planted several times already.

“You okay?” Genuine concern laced his tone.

“Yes.” Her breathing had reduced to short gasps as they approached the rim of the crater. Loose fragments of dried lava skittered beneath their boots, vanishing into the depths below. The sound echoed briefly before being swallowed by the approaching night. One misstep here, and it was all over.

Abe eyed the dark crater as he paused and caught his breath. Steam billowed from unseen vents, turning the air white and bringing a metallic mineral tang. “Is this safe?”

“It’s okay. It’s dormant.”

“You sure?”

“Sure.” The trembling in her hands had subsided. Or maybe it was just Abe’s comforting presence. Despite the danger they faced, being close to him made her feel safe. “This volcano has been dormant for over three thousand years. I’ve read up on the local area in the evenings, and I’ve hiked this path a few times in daylight. It runs parallel to the rim and exits on the far side. From there, we can descend to the road and make it back to my house from the other direction.”

“Not much else to do?” His teeth flashed white in the gloom.

“Something like that,” she muttered under her breath, suddenly excruciatingly aware that she was reciting geological facts while they were running for their lives.

She directed him to the narrow path that wound around the inside rim of the crater. At least here they were out of sight for a while. “The last significant seismic activity was recorded in 1789, but it was minor and didn’t lead to an eruption. The magma chamber is currently stable, with no signs of imminent activity.”

Clearly, she was incapable of shutting up.

“You can’t see them in the dark, but there are over fifty seismometers placed around the crater, capable of detecting even the slightest tremors. In the past decade, around this volcano alone, they recorded an average of only 2.3 micro-earthquakes per year—all below magnitude 2.0 on the Richter scale.”

“Is that right?” His hand remained steady around hers, guiding her as she navigated a treacherous section of path, loose scree shifting under her boots. “Nothing like a bit of geological trivia to ease the tension.”

“Right.” His touch sent contradictory signals through her body—comforting and unsettling all at once. “I could tell you about the optimal temperature for roasting marshmallows over molten lava instead.”

“Do you have stats for everything?”

“Statistics make everything better. They’re perfect—unlike people and emotions. They can’t betray you or lead you astray.”

Abe kept his gaze forward, but surprise colored his voice. “You trust numbers more than people?”

For the first time, she understood how he might see things—that she was hiding behind data.

“Science follows rules. It’s predictable and reliable. People are messy and chaotic. You never know what someone is really thinking or feeling. With numbers, I always know where I stand.”

“And what about me?” he asked.

She glanced at him, her heart pounding not just from the climb but from the intensity of his scrutiny. “Well, you’re an anomaly. But guess I’m learning to appreciate the unpredictability a little.”

“Maybe that’s a good thing,” he breathed. “Sometimes, it’s the unpredictable moments that make life worth living.”

As they rounded a bend in the path, the exit on the other side of the crater came into view, a welcome distraction from discussing her quirks. “That’s our way out,” she said, relief flooding her voice.

Abe nodded as he scanned around them, vigilant for potential threats. “Good.”

Stones rattled nearby.

Abe halted abruptly, his hand crushing Freya’s. She sucked in a sharp breath. His grip verged on painful. But even as her fingers protested, a part of her registered the strength in that grip and its promise of protection.

Flashlight beams bobbed above them, cutting through the damp air.

Abe grabbed hold of her and pulled her down behind a large rock, positioning himself over her, shielding her body with his own

She was sandwiched between hard volcanic rock and the solid presence of his body. The contrast was absolute—cold stone at her back, and the living warmth of Abe pressed against her front. The unexpected intimacy of their position made her breath catch.

Abe’s breath brushed across her cheek, warm and slightly ragged. “They can’t see us here.” His lips were so close to her ear, the vibration of his words danced across her earlobe.

“Are you sure?” Her eyes closed of their own accord as sensation cascaded through her.

“As sure as I can be.” His voice was a low rumble that triggered raw heat low in her belly.

She had always prided herself on her focus, her ability to remain rational and clear-headed. It was her strength, her shield against the emotional fragility that had destroyed her mother. But Abe was derailing her in ways she hadn’t believed possible. And seemingly without even trying.

The voices faded.

But their dwindling presence allowed her to focus once more on the man pressed against her. The ones whose muscled arms bracketed her, his body a living shield.

“They’ve gone. Let’s not lose our advantage. The exit will take us back to the road?” His hand took hers once again as he released her. Cool air rushed her exposed skin.

She nodded, grateful for the distraction.

We need to move and escape.

So, what did it say about her if part of her wanted to stay in that moment just a little longer, safe in the cocoon of Abe’s protective embrace?