Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 106090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
“Looking forward to it,” Liam says.
“So am I,” I tell him, and I mean it as a threat, but it comes out sounding like something else.
“The cabin’s locked down tight,” Liam says, breaking eye contact. “Steel-reinforced door, triple-pane windows. I’ve been over every inch, and we’re not walking out without outside help or divine intervention.”
“How long have you been here?”
“No way to tell. No clocks, no phones. We don’t even know how long we were out from whatever they drugged us with.”
I move to the window and look out at nothing but trees and snow and gray sky. “Security at the resort—I counted twelve on the perimeter before they grabbed me. Armed, coordinated, professional. There’s serious money behind this operation.”
“They brought you up by snowmobile?” Hailey asks.
“Twenty-five minutes from when I woke up, uphill most of the way, dense forest throughout.” I turn back to them. “We’re miles from anything.”
No phones. No way to call for help. And a collector who’s willing to hold us here indefinitely until she gets what she wants.
“Christ.” I rub my face with my hands.
“How did you even find us?” Hailey asks, her voice careful, like she’s bracing for the answer.
I hesitate. “You really want to know?”
“Knox.”
“I put a tracker in your boots.”
Nobody says anything for a long moment.
Liam lets out a low whistle. “Wow.”
“Three months ago.” Might as well get it all out. “In the sole. You never take them off, so I figured—”
“You put a tracker in my boots.” Hailey’s face is unreadable. “Three months ago.”
“Yes.”
“That’s . . .”
“I know what it is. Believe me, I’ve had plenty of time to think about what kind of person does something like that.” I hold her gaze. “But it’s also the only reason I knew something was wrong. The only reason I’m standing here right now instead of back in New York wondering why you won’t return my texts.”
She stares at me for a long moment. Then, incredibly, she laughs. It’s not a happy laugh—more like the sound you make when the universe has gotten so absurd that crying seems pointless.
“I can’t decide if I should be furious or grateful.”
“Can it be both?”
“It’s definitely both.” She shakes her head. “We’re going to have a very long conversation about boundaries when we get out of here.”
“Fair enough.”
Liam watches us, jealousy plain on his face now and directed squarely at me. “So let me get this straight. You stalked her for months, put a tracking device in her shoes, and followed her to the Arctic. And she’s . . . okay with this?”
“She’s processing,” Hailey says.
“It’s a lot to process,” I agree.
“You two are perfect for each other.” He keeps his voice light. His jaw tells a different story. “Jesus Christ.”
“Problem?” I ask.
“No problem.” But his eyes say otherwise. His eyes say he remembers that night too, and he’s not sure anymore which one of us he wanted.
Good. Let him wonder.
The three of us stand there in thick silence.
My ex-squadmate who I never let myself want. Hailey, who turns out to be an ex– jewel thief. And me, zip tie marks still fresh on my wrists, stuck in the middle of whatever the hell this is.
Liam catches my eye, and something passes between us—not friendship. Not anymore. Whatever this is, it’s been sitting too long. Gone sour.
“Just like old times,” he says.
“Not even close.” But there’s gravel in my voice, and from the way his lips curl, he notices.
I turn away before he can see anything else on my face. Because sitting around waiting for a psychotic collector to decide our fate isn’t an option. And standing here trading loaded looks with Liam Calloway isn’t getting us any closer to freedom.
“Okay,” I say. “Tell me everything. From the beginning.”
Hailey starts talking. Liam leans against the wall with his arms crossed, watching me watch her.
This is going to be a problem. He’s going to be a problem.
And the worst part is, I’m almost glad he’s here.
Chapter Eighteen
Hailey
The screen above the fireplace comes to life, and Marlena actually squeals. “Oh my god, you’re all together! Look at you!” She’s clapping her hands like a kid at a birthday party. “I’ve been watching the feeds all afternoon and I just—I can’t get over it. The three of you. In one room. This is even better than I imagined.”
Knox stands rigid beside me. He’s been pacing the cabin for the last hour, checking windows and door frames he’s already checked twice, burning off the restless energy of a man who’s used to solving problems and can’t solve this one.
“Mr. Bishop.” Marlena turns her attention to him, pressing both hands to her chest. “I have to say—I pulled your service record after my team brought you in, and wow. Just wow. Two Bronze Stars? That thing in Fallujah?” She fans herself dramatically. “I got a little flushed reading it, if I’m being honest. Very heroic. Very sexy.”