Chapter Thirty-One
Luke
“Luke.”
At the sound of Ana’s voice, I turn to find her walking up the steps, her weapon in her hand. My relief is as mighty as a hurricane and I meet her halfway, catch her to me and kiss her hard and fast. “What the hell is going on?”
“I heard something,” she says, stepping inside and shutting the door. “I know I heard something, but more so, I felt like I was being watched, but I can’t find footprints. I can’t find proof that anyone is here.”
“How about telling me, woman? You took off and I couldn’t find you. Do you know what was going on in my head?”
“Sorry, but—”
“Sorry doesn’t cut it, Ana. I thought you’d been kidnapped or worse, you were dead.”
“Yell at me later. I felt like I was being watched, Luke.”
“As you said, there are no footprints that aren’t yours.”
“Right. I know. I’m sure it was an animal, but I’m uneasy now. I want to search the cabin and get out of here.”
“We aren’t going down those narrow roads with a drop-off mountain in this weather. We’re safer here. Stay here. Search. I’m going to go get our supplies and start a fire.”
“A fire will make smoke. That’s just going to announce our presence.”
“If anyone that matters is here, they followed us and the smoke won’t change anything. Otherwise, it won’t make a difference.” I start to move away and Ana catches my arm.
“Luke—”
“Baby, I trust your gut instincts. You know I do, but we’re here. If there’s a battle to fight, this is where it’s happening and I wouldn’t count us out. We’re pretty badass, especially together.”
“Yes,” she says. “Agreed. But I’d like to live to enjoy that.”
“You will. We will.” I kiss her. “I’ll be right back.”
“Maybe I should cover you.”
“Do the search in case things get too hot to do it later.”
She nods and by the time I’m at the door, her gun is on the wooden kitchen table, and she’s squatted down, checking the underside of the wood. Damn, this woman is going to be the death of me, but she’s also my life. I’m not going to let anyone take her from me.
I exit to the porch and shut Ana inside the cabin, and for long moments, my gaze scans the area, seeking out any sign of life. My eyes find no evidence, but Ana’s right. There’s a distinct presence.
“Is that you, Kurt?” I whisper because my gut says we’re safe right now. And perhaps because I want my theory to be correct. I took Ana’s brother from her. It would be a hell of a gift to give her back Kurt.
A few minutes later, I walk back into the cabin loaded down with bags. “It’s snowing like crazy out there.”
“Anything other than the snow out there?” Ana asks.
“A deer and a couple of bunnies,” I tell her, leaving out my shared sense of being watched. Or rather, of someone being here. Being here does not mean whoever this is means to hurt us. Darius hung out up here. Maybe someone else does as well.
“Maybe it was a deer I felt watching me.”
“More likely a bobcat or a cougar, a predator that was sizing you up for dinner and didn’t know I’ve already claimed you as mine.”
Her lips curve. “Leave it to you to turn this into sex.”
“What’s wrong with turning this into sex?”
She laughs her delicate little laugh, that defies how tough as nails she is. “Nothing.”
“Well, then I better start a fire because I know you. If you’re cold, I’m not getting your clothes off of you.”
“That is true,” she agrees. “While you’ll take your clothes off quite easily.”
She’s talking about us, I know this, but I regret telling her that I bedhopped while we were broken up. Not that it was like I cheated. I thought she was done with me. But I don’t know that she needed to know. Seems I just keep finding the sludge to muck about in.
“Only if you say please, baby,” I tease, grabbing some fire starters out of the bag I set on the chunk of wood, and not much more, being used as a coffee table. “Any luck finding that insurance?”
“None,” she says, “but I know it’s here somewhere.”
I believe her. The fishhook, the cabin that’s been prepped. This was Darius’s place. Whatever there is to find, it’s here somewhere. “I’ll help you look when I’m done here.” I throw the last log I need on the fire, and light a fire starter, using it to stoke the flames in several places.
Once the flames have cranked to a healthy glow, Ana joins me, warming her hands and smiling up at me. “You’re right. I hate to be cold.” She glances at the couch. “But that couch is so dusty that we might get dust in all the wrong places without our clothes on.”
“Good thing I bought a blanket.”
Her smile widens. “You think of everything, don’t you?”
“When it comes to getting you naked, I do.” I give the fire one last once over and pull her close. “Before we test that blanket, let’s find what we came for. Where have you looked?”
“The kitchen. That’s about it. I did find some bottled water in the fridge and a bottle of some sort of scotch.”
“Darius knew the basic necessities of life, clearly.”
Her smile fades. “He was dirty. Apparently, the basics weren’t enough.”
“Maybe there was more to the story, Ana. Maybe that’s what you’ll figure out when we find his insurance.” I kiss her forehead. “Everything is not what it seems, remember?”
“He wasn’t what he seemed,” she replies. “I’d say that fact resembles that statement completely.” Her brows dip. “There’s a deer stand he turned into a little fishing spot by the water. Let’s go down there before it gets too dark.”
“It’s all but there now.”
“We have flashlights,” she says, already sliding into her coat. “That’s the place. I know it. That’s where we get our answers.”
I want answers as badly as she does, therefore, against my better judgment, I’m easily convinced. I grab my coat as well and slide it into place. The bottom line is that if someone is out there, they will be out there later as well. If that someone attacks and we have to run, we want to run with Darius’s insurance in hand.
With flashlights in hand and our weapons on our persons, easily accessible, I open the door, and we leave the shelter of the cabin.