“Fallon told me, and I quote, what a bad bitch you were out here,” Lake murmurs into my hair.
“I mean, I was pretty bad ass.”
I push back and look up at him.
“I was fuckin’ worried. You have no idea how fuckin’ scared I was that he was goin’ to kill you. When we ran into Fallon searchin’ for you, I about fuckin’ fell to my knees.”
My heart swells. God damn. Those words, coming from him.
It feels good.
Probably better than it should, but being away from him, feeling everything I’ve felt in the last twenty-four hours, has really changed something inside me. Something towards him. Something I was hoping hadn’t grown to the point it clearly has.
“I’m okay,” I tell him, stepping back. “But I think Aaron needs medical attention. Also, I managed to work out that whoever he works for is related to him. Family in some way. I don’t know if that will help you, but I figure it can’t hurt. He has made more than one threat against me and all of you, saying we’ll go down for this and I’m certain he means it. So, whatever you decide to do, I’d make sure it’s foolproof otherwise it might just come back and bite us on the ass.”
Lake nods and looks to Rhett. “We good?”
Rhett jerks his head in a nod and then instructs Enzo and Dante to go over and get Aaron up. They do so, and Aaron growls and curses at them as they bring him to his feet. I go over to Fallon and hug her again, because if it weren’t for her, we would still be stuck out here. “Thank you,” I say, squeezing her tight.
“Eh, I’m an old hand at this wilderness business now. It was no problem.”
I laugh and release her.
“We’ll get him back, you ladies good?” Rhett asks, eyes scanning over both of us.
“We’re good,” I nod. “Tired, but I think we actually learned something from your little survival trip.”
Rhett grins. “See, I told you it would do you good.”
Fallon rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling the entire time.
“Lake and Madden will walk back with you, take your time, it’s a decent distance and you’re all tired. There is no rush, they have supplies. We’ll get Aaron back as quickly as we can and deal with him.”
I don’t even want to know what deal with him means.
Honestly, I don’t even care.
I’m just glad we’re alive.
Rhett and the other guys leave with Aaron, and we begin our slow walk home. Fallon gets to chatting up ahead with Madden, so Lake and I fall behind a little. He’s being very patient with me, I’m certain he probably just wants to get back as quickly as possible but instead he takes his time, little by little, he walks alongside of me, and I really appreciate him for it.
“You’re a true criminal now,” Lake grins at me as we walk.
I snort. “It would appear so. I must admit, ripping that tape off his mouth and watching him squirm was so satisfying. I could do that to men like him every day and never get bored.”
Lake chuckles. “It’s satisfying alright.”
“Done it a few times have you?”
He winks.
“How did you manage to get him down?”
I shrug my shoulders, damned proud of myself and I’m sure my smug expression shows it. “I told him I needed to go to the toilet. He told me no, and so I said I would start peeing myself. He found that disgusting and so he told me to squat right in front of him. I did but pretended to trip on my pants because there was a rock nearby. When I went down, I took hold of it and Aaron hauled me up, yelling at me. As he did, I swung the rock and hit him in the head. Fallon did the same. It was surprisingly easy.”
“You’re a fuckin’ bad ass,” Lake nods, impressed. “I gotta admit, that’s pretty impressive.”
“Well, I’m pretty seasoned at this illegal stuff.”
He laughs. “My little criminal.”
“Can we stop for a rest, I’m so tired. I didn’t sleep last night.”
Lake nods, and yells out to Madden that we’re stopping but they can keep moving. He knows how to get back. Madden nods and Fallon gives me a wink before they disappear into the woods. I find a fallen tree branch and sit down, breathing out slowly as my shoulders slump.
This walk feels like it’s taking forever.
“Did you get Ember back safe?” I ask, feeling guilty that I hadn’t asked sooner.
“Yeah, she was fine. He just put her in that motel, knowing we’d go looking for her.”
“Such a dick,” I mumble.
“Thanks to you, we’ve got him right where we want him.”
“Do you think this is going to come back on us?”
Lake shakes his head. “Gotta trust us, we’ll sort it out. Aaron is no longer your problem.”