A grunt woke me. The sound was a low growl in my ear, pulling me from the darkness.
“Princess…” Nick groaned in his sleep, his tone desperate.
I’m right here…I answered. But the words never reached my lips. Instead, it took me a heartbeat to remember.
Nick.
Nick was beside me.
I reached out, my cold fingers touching his warmth. I exhaled as the bed shifted behind me, drawing me to the heat. Caleb was here as well, huddled on the other side of the massive bed. I searched for him, brushing his chest, my touch lingering for just a moment, my thoughts dreamy and slow. We were together. We were safe…until the memory of Tobias hit me.
His screams followed, tearing me from the comfort. I shoved upwards, scanning the gloom. My heart hammered as everything hit me. Tobias…Tobias in the bathroom of the diner. Tobias as he crumbled and fell…How could I have forgotten? How could I sleep without him?
I shoved against the pillow, moving to the foot of the bed before leaving the two sleeping forms behind. The moment my feet hit the icy wooden floor, I caught my breath. A shudder tore free as I wrapped my arms around my middle and searched the room.
I didn’t think. I just moved, stumbling forward until I hit a wall and searched for a handle. My fingers hit steel. One twist and I was out. The hinges squealed, making me wince. I held my breath and gently closed the door behind me.
All I cared about was finding him…
Come on…I searched along the wall in the dark until I found another handle, then turned. The faint beep of a monitor made me still for a second. I breathed in the sharp tang of antiseptic, then slowly stepped in.
But there was only silence.
He was still alive.
I knew that.
But still, I didn’t like the quiet. It made me feel…alone.
“Tobias?” I whispered, moving further into the room and closing the door behind me.
There was no answer. I took a step, then another, reaching out so as not to hit the machines, until the hoarse whisper came through the dark. “Scurry… scurry, little mouse.”
I jumped, my pulse pounding. “You scared the shit out of me.”
In the faint glow of the monitor, I caught the curl of his lips. “Can’t sleep?”
I moved closer. “I did a little. But I can’t now.”
He gave a nod, stilled for a second, then gripped the edge of the bed and shifted to the side, enough for me to lie beside him.
Because it was always for me.
I was careful as I climbed up and swung my feet, but I bumped his leg and he stiffened. I winced, searching his face. “Sorry.”
He gave a nod, then he lifted his arm, letting me curl against him.
“Sleep, Ryth,” he murmured, closing his eyes. His voice was etched with exhaustion.
I did, drifting…
But I didn’t for long, opening my eyes to the darkness. Peace slipped away, leaving me to listen to Tobias’s heavy breaths. I loved that sound…I craved that sound. It was the sound of life, of comfort, driving away all the things that had happened to us. Everything hit me all at once. Mom. Dad…I lifted my gaze to T’s peaceful face. Him. I’d almost lost him…I almost lost…
I shoved the image of him lying on the ground outside the diner aside and slowly rose, making sure I didn’t wake him. Instead, I slipped from the bed and padded out of the room.
It took a second for my eyes to adjust as I headed out of the hallway and stopped. Moonlight spilled through the kitchen window. The soft glow was enough for me to find a light switch. Overhead lights blinked on. I looked around, taking in the wood and stone of the sleek, expensive rustic kitchen. The entire cabin was like this, well maintained, neat, and earthy. I traced my fingers along the gleaming countertop, stopped at the sink, and stared out into the night.
It was still early, too early for me to be awake. The moon was low and ripe in the sky, spilling through the edges of the forest. I looked down at the dirty dishes in the sink and almost sighed with pleasure to have a purpose. I set to work, filled the sink with water, and started washing.
I opened cupboards, searching until I found a pot and ground coffee. Before long, the heavenly, heady scent of fresh coffee filled the air. I poured myself a cup, warming my hands on the mug before sipping, oblivious to the thud of steps behind me until someone carefully cleared their throat. I spun, eyes wide, and found the doctor from last night…Lucas…right behind me.
“That smells good.” He gave a weak smile and nodded to the machine. “It’s unusual to find somebody up earlier than me.”
I smiled, swallowed my damn heart, and slowly nodded. “I couldn’t sleep,” I answered, turning to pour him a mug before handing it over.
“That’s understandable.” He took a sip, then closed his eyes. “Oh, that’s damn good.”
“I figured we’d need it strong.”
He opened his eyes and nodded. “It’s a staple of any doctor’s diet.”
I watching him, his hands, his demeanor, remembering how careful and focused he’d been last night working on Tobias. “I never said thank you.”
He smiled and shook his head. “No need. It’s my calling. He’s okay now?”
“Asleep,” I answered.
He gave a nod, sipped his coffee, and slowly lowered his cup. “It seems you’ve made quite the impression with my sister.”
Kit. She was a damn blinding light, making me smile as I drank. “As she has with me. She’s lovely.”
He nodded carefully. “She is.”
“And she’s lucky to have someone like you looking out for her.”
He said nothing, just drank, thinking about that. “As are we. We would’ve—we would’ve lost him without you,” I continued.
His brown eyes darkened. There was an ache there, one that hit me hard. “It’s a very dangerous game you’re in. I’ve seen far too many deaths.”
My dad.
My mom…
Creed. Jesus…Creed. “You saw him, didn’t you?” I searched the hallway, just in case, then went on. “That’s how you met. You were there when Creed died.”
“Yes.”
I nodded slowly, sipping the coffee that now tasted bitter. “I don’t want this, this helplessness.”
I leaned against the counter, listening.
“I feel like I…” My chest ached. “Like I’m being crushed inside.”
“A lack of control will do that to you, make you feel helpless.”
I nodded.
“But you can get a measure of control back,” he continued. “These men, whoever they are, took your power, but all it takes is one thought. One action. One…desire.”
In the corner of my eye, Kit stumbled toward us, her cropped white shirt pulled taut across her full breasts as she scratched her messy bed hair.
“And one reason to keep fighting,” he muttered.
The carnal way he looked at her made heat rush to my cheeks. I looked away, a bystander to such a private moment. Whatever Lucas was going through, I knew she was his reason, even if she didn’t have a clue herself.
“Morning,” she mumbled, oblivious.
“Morning,” he answered, crossing the kitchen to pour her a cup of coffee and hand it over.
She smiled at him and there was a knowing glint…a budding attraction, or maybe one that’d lain dormant forever and was now breaking through the surface.
“I’m about to make pancakes and bacon.” I focused on the rim of my mug. “If anyone wants some.”
“Oh.” Her brows rose. “I do…but I get first dibs on the bacon because Lucas eats it all.”
“Do not.” He scowled.
“Dooo…tooo,” she countered, pinning me with her stare. “He’s like a bottomless pit where bacon is concerned.”
“Why, you little….” he started forward.
She let out a tiny squeal, holding up the sloshing mug of brew as she stepped backwards around the end of the counter. “Don’t make me spill it.”
He stopped, grinning, letting her get away with it…this time.
I placed my coffee down and set to work. Under the directions of Kit, I found all the ingredients I needed as Lucas walked away, then returned a few minutes later. I cooked while he was gone, and as I poured batter into a skillet, I had time to think about what he’d said.
A purpose, that’s exactly what I needed.
“You are so far away right now.” Kit poured herself another cup, then refilled the water and grounds before it started brewing again.
“I’m thinking about something your brother said.”
“Oh, yeah?”
I nodded as I slipped a perfectly browned pancake onto the stack. “He said to take back my control I needed a purpose.”
“That sounds like him.”
I placed the spatula down and met her gaze. “I think I’ve figured out what that is.”
She was intrigued. “Go on.”
“I want Lucas to teach me how to save a life.”
She stilled, thinking. “How to save their lives, you mean?”
I swallowed, nodding.
“Then you’ve found the best teacher imaginable. He’s good, Rye. He’s really good.”
Rye…mom had called me that, and if it was anyone else, I might’ve cringed. But not her. Not Kit.
“He’s just got a way about him.” She kept talking, but I doubted she even noticed I was here at all anymore. “He’s so good…”
I smiled, grabbed the bacon that was crispy on the edges, and piled it onto a plate.
“Perfect timing.” Lucas smiled as he crossed the room.
“See what I said?” Now she looked my way, nodding to her brother. “Bacon. That’s all he answers to.”
I wanted to take in their banter, but this need hummed inside me and, as Lucas helped himself to the food, biting down on a piece of bacon in front of her, I turned to him. “I know my purpose.”
“Yeah?” He looked my way.
Kit smiled behind him as I spoke. “I want you to teach me. Can you teach me how to keep them all alive in case something like this happens again?”
His chewing slowed, as he looked surprised. “You want me to teach you trauma medicine?”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “If you’ll teach me.”
His eyes widened and there was a hint of a smile. “I hope you’re a quick study.”
That’s all I needed. I nodded. “I’ll need to be.”
“Then I’ll teach you all I can.”
