Page 64 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus (The Exchange)

Chapter Thirteen

Anastasia

"It's only a twenty-minute drive," Rafe says, buckling me into the seat belt. He wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his strong chest.

"It's snowing," I grumble, glaring out the window.

I've got no idea what's going on. All I do know is Rafe and Vik bundled me up along with a ton of supplies. Vik's truck is packed with crap and there's even more in the back.

Apparently things didn't go according to Vik's plan, and I'm trying not to let pure terror take over. Wolfe is meeting us wherever we're going, but I'm anxious as hell.

"You promised me details," I snap at Vik as he climbs into the driver's seat.

"I did," he agrees, starting the vehicle and glancing around before pulling out of the spot.

"You're sure Wolfe won't get trapped at the lodge?" I ask. My hands are suddenly very fidgety. I don't know why, but it feels very important that he be with us. "It's snowing harder than it has since I've been here."

Rafe pulls me further into his hold and begins to purr softly.

"That's normal for this area," Rafe assures me. "We're in the mountains, so we get pretty solid snowfall from now through the end of February. Wolfe's truck has four-wheel drive, and he's used to driving in these conditions. He'll meet us within a couple of hours."

"Why would Connor make him work in this weather?" I whisper, and shake my head. It's a ski resort. This weather is their bread and butter. I know I sound like an omega off her rocker.

"You're a very sweet little omega when you want to be," Vik says, driving us away from town.

"Where exactly are we going?" I ask Rafe.

"The groundskeeper for the resort," Rafe says, running his hand over my back.

He's so tender and comforting some of my stress bleeds away the longer he purrs for me.

"He and his wife are getting older. They moved into the lodge last winter because their house was too much to keep up with.

They rent it out through the resort sometimes to larger parties of guests who want to stay together. "

"Okay. Why would they keep a groundskeeper employed who can't even take care of his own house?" I ask, confused as hell.

"They've worked there for ages. It's more out of loyalty than anything," Rafe says. "Connor hired new groundskeepers, but he would never fire Reynolds simply due to old age."

"And we're headed to their house?" I ask, frowning. "Because of whatever news or information that Vik got while we were in the nest?"

"That's correct," Vik says, driving us further up into the mountains. He turns down a driveway that I'd never notice if I wasn't explicitly looking for it. He drives another few minutes down the tree-lined road and there's another turn-off.

"If you keep going straight it'll lead you to Evie's house," Rafe says. "This way takes us to where we'll be riding out your heat."

"But why?" I ask. I'm starting to feel like a broken record. It's pretty clear my dad isn't handled and apparently we're at risk. If my father is on the war path then we should be leaving the state. A twenty-minute drive isn't nearly far enough away.

I ramble something to that effect and Rafe looks at Vik in the rear-view mirror.

"I wanted to wait until we settled in to tell you," Vik says, grimacing. "Your father is dead." The extreme rush of relief that I feel is quickly extinguished when Vik continues. "Dimitri Abramov is not."

"Fuck," I hiss. Dimitri is my father's second… or he was.

"There was a fire at your family home early this morning," Rafe says, holding me close. "Your father was confirmed…" He trails off, but I get the picture. "Dimitri escaped along with two others."

I hiss out a breath. That just fucking figures. That asshole has been obsessed with me since I was fifteen. He wasn't pleased when my father indicated I should seduce the lodge owners. I know Dimitri fully hoped I would fail and be given to him as punishment.

A shiver runs down my spine.

"And there's a risk he's coming after me?"

"We're not taking any chances," Vik assures me. "He knew your whereabouts at the lodge. Getting you out of there was the first step. If he shows up looking for you, the lodge security will inform us and call the police. If he somehow manages to track us here, well, then all bets are off."

The truck stops and my eyes dart around.

Trees line the property on three sides and there are no other houses within view.

It's beautiful and regal. It's two stories, maybe three?

I'm not sure, but it's got those tiny triangle-shaped windows that usually indicate an extra floor or possibly an attic.

Why is my brain thinking about this? Stress is giving me tunnel vision, that's for sure.

"Come on, Ana," Rafe says, unbuckling my seat belt. I scramble over into his lap and bury my face in his neck. I'm not sure why I need to be close to him, but I do. "Let me carry you inside. It's going to be cold until we get the heat running."

"Thank you," I whisper as he climbs out of the truck carefully to make sure neither of us bump anything on our way out the door.

We head toward the log cabin and it's more incredible the closer we get. It has a full wrap-around porch that's made of the same dark wood as the cabin. It's a beautiful home, that's for sure. I'm a little intimidated by the forest. It's like there's no one else around.

No one to come to our aid or even report our screams.

The inside of the house is as breath-taking as the outside. It's not huge like the house I grew up in, but it's got five bedrooms and it's cozy.

Rafe is still carrying in supplies. He got the lower level fireplace going immediately upon arrival. I've been wandering the house for the last twenty or thirty minutes, but honestly, I feel pretty out of it.

I'm terrified what could happen if Dimitri shows up. I don't know which men escaped with him, but some of my father's men were especially awful. I'm sure they're the ones who survived. It's always like that, isn't it? The monsters manage to come away with barely a scratch.

Rafe comes in the door with a huge black duffel bag. The unmistakable sound of metal rubbing against itself draws my eyes. The bottom of the bag bulges with the weight of whatever is inside.

Rafe grimaces and takes the few steps over to the stairs. "I thought you were going to check out the nest?"

"I did," I tell him, biting my lip and trying not to obsess over the fact I'm pretty damn sure that bag is filled with guns. All three of the guys are former military.

At least they know how to use them.

I steel myself and desperately try not to freak out about the fact that we left the lodge.

It's completely at odds with what Vik said about Evie's men being able to protect her. I get that I'm the target and they don't want me close to any guests. It makes sense what Vik said about how security can call the police and let us know if they spot Dimitri.

My stomach feels queasy when I think about it. It's scary as hell with my heat coming up. The guys will be vulnerable if they're wrapped up in my pheromones.

Dimitri is a lunatic. It's not hard to believe he would want to take over my father's import business. In addition to the clubs he owns to launder the money he makes illegally. Or, rather, made.

Shit, that is weird.

A strange warmth fills my chest. I feel like a horrible person for being so gleeful that my father is gone.

I continue down the hallway, through the kitchen, and spot the back door.

It leads to another small porch on the back side of the house.

The kitchen has been updated recently. The rest of the house has an older-style log cabin vibe, but the kitchen has newer appliances and sleek black cabinets.

Somehow it still matches with the dark log walls, and the effect is actually really neat.

I spot movement outside the kitchen window and head closer to see what's going on.

My jaw drops open.

About twenty feet away is a stump. Vik has an ax and is chopping wood like a legit lumberjack. My lady bits most definitely enjoy the view. It's freezing, although the snow has stopped for the moment.

There's a huge tarp lying on the ground at Vik's side. His muscles flex as he grabs a huge chunk of wood and sets it on the stump.

His expansive shoulders flex as he lifts the ax and slams it into the chunk of wood. It immediately splinters, falling into two smaller pieces. My eyes track his forearms as he grabs the pieces, tossing them onto the other side of the tarp before repeating the process.

I'm moving before I can stop myself. I'm in a long-sleeve sweater dress, but my legs are freezing as I step outside.

I'm drawn to Vik with an intensity that disturbs me.

I shiver as I approach, but Vik is finally done with the wood on the tarp.

He drags it across the ground, back toward the open barn door about ten feet away.

I shamelessly follow him. He slams the door open even wider and drags the tarp inside. It's extremely thick plastic. It would have to be not to rip with all that weight on it.

I step inside to find him stacking the wood in a giant pile along one wall.

I had no idea what the tarp was for, but with the snow on the ground it suddenly makes more sense. He's keeping the wood dry—or as dry as possible, considering.

Vik's leathery tobacco scent floods my nostrils as he bends to grab more of the firewood.

His jeans ride low on his hips and the wings on his shoulders flex as he moves.

The eagle is massive, crossing his strong back and down his shoulders over the tops of his arms. There's a storm with thunder and lightning in the background.

Its talons look punishing, like they're poised to attack and rip apart any prey in its path.

I step over to the heavy door, pulling it closed. It makes a squeaking sound and Vik spins around to face me.

"It's cold, princess," Vik growls.