Circle of Fire (Damask Circle 1)

His answer seemed ground out between clenched teeth, as if he didn’t like to be reminded of it. She glanced across at him. Dark stubble lined his cheek, and tiny crow’s feet edged the corners of his eyes. He looked tired. And worried.

“They’ve had plenty of time to arrange a trap.”

“They don’t know we’re coming,” he replied reasonably.

Too reasonably. Tension surrounded him, edged with anger.

“After last night, they’d suspect the worst. They’d plan ahead.” She watched his fingers flex against the steering wheel and knew she was sitting next to a volcano ready to explode.

How often did he come this close to losing control of his emotions? Last night she’d thought he’d been just as surprised by the passion of their kiss as she, but now that she’d had a chance to think about it, maybe he was more surprised over the fact that he had lost control.

I need you, he’d said. The words made her heart tremble, even now. She had a feeling that he rarely admitted to needing anything, or anyone—even for something as basic as sex.

They passed a road sign, and she glanced down at the map to check their position. Her stomach tightened. They were close.

“We’re almost there.” She glanced at him. There was no mistaking the worry she saw in his blue eyes this time. Her heart did an uneven little jig.

“I can’t let you go in alone,” she continued, and glanced out the side window. “And I won’t run, no matter what you do or say.”

“And I can’t let you endanger yourself needlessly.”

She met his gaze and steeled her heart against the brief flash of emotion she saw in the bright depths of his eyes.

“What are you going to do, hit me? Knock me unconscious too?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You know I could never do anything like that to you.”

“I know nothing of the sort. We’re partners, nothing more. Remember?” She paused and watched the chill steal through his eyes. “You have no right to stop me from doing this.” No right to act as if you care, when we both know you don’t.

He didn’t reply, so she returned her gaze to the side window and watched the scenery grow more familiar. Her fingers clenched, crushing the map. This was it. This was the area. Her dream had been correct.

“Slow down,” she whispered, her throat dry with fear.

He did, pulling off the road slightly. After a few minutes a mailbox came into view. Malkin Cabin was painted on the side in big bold letters. Jon stopped the truck.

“How far up the road is the cabin?” he said, leaning his forearms against the wheel.

She studied the muddy track. It showed no sign of recent disturbance. Hank was still up there, then. She swallowed. “A fair way up. It was a bit hard to tell.”

He nodded. “Any place to hide the truck before we get there?”

She sifted through the images in her mind. “There’s a pine grove about halfway up.”

“Good. Then that’s where we’ll park.”

He switched to four-wheel drive, then drove forward. The truck pitched and jerked, almost tossing them into the line of trees crowding the edges of the track. She held onto her seat and hoped they didn’t meet Hank or Eleanor coming back down the mountain. There was no room to maneuver, no room to turn and run on such a narrow road.

They reached the beginnings of the pine grove. Jon drove the truck in deep, until there was nothing to see but the grayish-brown trunks of the pines, then stopped.

She undid her seat belt and reached for the door handle. He touched her thigh. Warmth leaped through her leg, through her soul. She licked her lips nervously but didn’t move.

“Maddie, stay here. Please.”

Her gaze met his. Something shivered deep inside her. “I can’t,” she whispered. I don’t want anyone else to die because of me. “Evan’s my nephew, and my responsibility.” She hesitated, then added, “I can look after myself.”

“If that’s what you want, fine,” he muttered and let her go.

She climbed out of the truck. The wind shivered through the trees, its touch like ice as it whispered around her. She hastily zipped up her coat again and shoved her hands into the pockets. Should have brought gloves, she thought. Jon spent several minutes at the back of the truck, then walked up behind her.