“She found something, alright.” Nick held his breath waiting for the answer. “Name’s Alex Medina!” John crowed. “They checked in three days before you came in. He’s been in and out since then, but no one can recall seeing Pepper since check-in.”
He should be more excited; they knew who hurt her. They could find out anything they wanted now. So why did he feel like he’d been sucker-punched?
“You don’t happen to have her name, do you?” It would make notifying her family that much easier.
“We sure do. Pepper Wallace. Hails from Vancouver.”
After getting all the information he could from John, Nick slumped in his chair. They knew who she was, where she was from. Nothing would stop her from leaving now.
He felt like his entire world just crashed at his feet.
She would leave.
They never even had her, and already, she would be gone.
Taking a fortifying breath, he knew he had to tell Ace about everything he’d just learnt. He dreaded the sadness that he knew would overtake his cousin.
Walking back out to the living room, Nick took a moment to memorize her soft features in slumber. A sight he was afraid he’d never get to see again.
“We’ve got a lead, “he told Ace, forcing excitement into his voice even though he felt none of it.
“That’s great. What kind?” Ace sounded just as unsure as him.
“Alex Medina is the man she was with. Her full name’s Pepper Wallace, and she’s from Vancouver.” His words were rushed as he spoke.
The other man didn’t say a word at his revelation. They sat down side by side on the floor, watching the woman they’d pinned a future on slip away before she had even gone. Not a word passed between them all night. They just sat and watched Pepper. Filled the fire when it needed more wood. Started to say something but no words would come.
It was over.
Unsure of what startled her awake, Pepper went to toss her blankets off only to realize Roxie had her pinned to the ground as she slept. Deep breaths caught her attention as someone snored nearby. Looking up, she saw Nick and Ace sitting against the couch, slumped over so their heads were touching.
She giggled lightly as they both snored in unison. They were quite the sight to see, and hear. Climbing free of her canine prison, she went in search of water. Once freed from the confines of the blankets, she could tell, immediately, that the power had gone out. They were officially in the blackout phase of the storm.
Quickly drinking her water, she tossed a few more logs on the fire to keep it going for a couple of hours. Thankful that the hearth was huge and could fit a decent amount of wood in it. Grabbing her blankets, she sat in the small space between their legs, covering them all so no one would get cold. Roxie sluggishly crawled over to lay at their feet before her own snoring began again.
Cuddling between the two men felt so comfortable, she wished she could have it forever. Having no memory was both a blessing and a curse. She could enjoy being with them, feeling them against her without the comparison to other men. Unfortunately, she couldn’t fully enjoy it because she was uncertain as to whether she had someone at home waiting for her.
It was her biggest fear. Having a family somewhere else when her heart was being quickly consumed here by her rescuers. How was she going to choose if that were the case?
It became increasingly hard to believe she had a significant other waiting on her because her heart didn’t feel attached. If she had a boyfriend or husband, would her connection with these two pull as strong? Allow her to lust after them, dream about all the ways they could satisfy her? Heart, body, and soul. Surely not.
Leaning into them, she had to let the confusion go. No matter what, she would listen to her heart. Even if she had been in love before, she was different now, saw things in a new light. These men were who she was meant to have her forever love with. Pepper could feel it in her bones. They were hers, and she was theirs.
Cocooned in the most glorious heat, her eyes became sleep-riddled again. She watched out the window as the snow fell and the stars and mo
on moved between the clouds. Just as slumber took her, dark, hate-filled eyes swam in her vision, carrying over into a nightmare the likes of which she’d never had before.
“Please, Alex, I’m sorry. I’m just not ready for that yet. We barely know each other.” She kept begging, but he refused to listen. There was no reasoning with him anymore.
“We’re more than ready, Pepper. You’re mine. It’s time you let me in.” He prowled towards her like a hunter about to catch his prey.
Scooting back from her place on the floor where she’d fallen after he’d slapped her in the face, Pepper tried to talk her way out of whatever he had planned. “Alex, listen to me. This isn’t how you want our relationship to start off, is it? With violence?” Surely, he didn’t.
Maniacal laughter burst forth from his lungs. “Please, Pepper. All you have to do is say yes, Alex, and it’ll all be over.” His steps kept advancing.
“You have to stop this,” she attempted to say in a firm voice. “I’ll call James if you don’t.” Her brother was a North Vancouver police detective. He would never allow this man to hurt her. Even if she was seven hours from home and the damage had been done by the time he reached her.
“Oh, please. Your brother was too busy to bother calling you back when you wanted to tell him about me. What makes you think he’ll come running this time?” God, she hated how he had a point.