Bane

Within ten seconds, she responded. “Sure thing. Need anything else?”

“No. I’ve got it all.”

About ten minutes later, Maren came through the doors in her heavy gear. She looked adorable as only her nose and mouth showed. “It’s so cold. For future note, you should make any safe houses you have in warmer climates.”

I chuckled. “I do have a couple in warmer climates.” Her mouth gaped open. “It’s harder for someone to check the place out. With the constant fresh snow there’s no way not to leave footprints and because of the echo from the mountain it’s nearly impossible to approach by air without being heard.”

“Yeah … I’ll leave the super-agent stuff up to you. What did you want? My book was getting good.”

Shaking my head, I responded, “I thought we could take the snow mobile out and look around.”

Maren’s eyes lit up like I knew they would. She’d asked several times, but I hadn’t felt comfortable leaving. With things coming to an end in a week, I wanted us to have this memory. She jumped and clapped. “Where do I sit?”

“In front of me. Hop on the right one. I’ll grab the backpack.”

Donning the backpack, I sat behind Maren and pulled her flat against my chest. “Put these glasses on.”

“Okay.” Maren’s face was now completely protected.

Cranking the snow mobile, we left the confines of the shed. The machine roared to life as I let her go full open. Maren chortled as she held on to my legs. We were free of all the bullshit and strings life attached to us. If I could freeze this moment, it would be one of those perfect times to stay suspended in.

Coming to the cliff, the sun crested before its final descent, sending beautiful rays of red and purples across the sky. “Oh, Bane. This is perfect.”

I wrapped my arms around her. “It is.”

“I’ll always remember this moment. Just like this. The sun setting, you wrapped around me. Thank you.”

“Me too, angel. Thank you.”

For the first time in a long time, I felt complete and the memories of the past were at peace.

WE’D BEEN AT the cabin for a month. It had been a week since our snow mobile experience. I was certain in that moment something changed between us, but Bane hadn’t told me that we’d try to make it work after all the drama was over.

It was the middle of the night. Bane left the bed about an hour ago to check some things on the computer. For most of the night, I’d tossed and turned feeling out of sorts and like Bane was withholding something from me. Deep down I knew our time was coming to an end.

Turning over, I looked at the red glowing numbers.

I tried to think warm happy thoughts, but I was jittery. At

dinner, I’d barely eaten anything from the weird feeling pulsating through me. Bane read something on the computer this afternoon and became more quiet than usual. For some reason, I hadn’t worked up the nerve to ask him about it. Hell, I knew it was going to be something I wouldn’t like.

The door creaked open. “Bane?”

“Yeah, angel. Did I wake you?”

I was going to miss that warm soothing voice. “No, I can’t sleep.”

Cocooning himself against me, I grabbed him around the waist. “Can you tell me what’s going on? I know something changed today.”

He took a big breath. “They’ve located Eric Thornhill. A mission is being put together to take him out tomorrow evening. I’ll be leaving at noon to meet up with the team. You’ll be safe here.”

My heart caught in my throat. “Afterward, what will happen?”

An awkward silence filled the air and I dreaded the next words that I knew loomed ahead. “I’ll find a safe place for you to live. Get you a new identity. You’ll be set and never have to worry about money again.”

The words were like a knife to my chest. I wasn’t supposed to fall for Bane. I had tried to safeguard my heart.

I had failed.