It wasn’t hard to stay busy. Though, I was getting antsy to get on the road and track down Jess Duncan, but I couldn’t leave until I made sure Krew and Regina were safe here.
Then Merrick texted about the traps he had set throughout his land—which was a good thing, because I’d be down one leg otherwise. Once I’d confirmed the locations of his snares, I added a few of my own and texted him their placements. I constantly patrolled the area, following the invisible perimeter line I had mapped out in my head, and made sure my early warning signals were set so if anyone besides the three of us were on Merrick’s property, I’d know about their presence immediately.
While I intentionally avoided Krew, Regina made it easy on me. She hadn’t left the house since we had arrived. It appeared that she only came out of her bedroom when she was sure we weren’t around.
The second night, I heard rustling downstairs. I crept down and saw her eating one of the sandwiches Krew prepared for each of us. Maybe this was the perfect time to question her about Maya. As I took the next step down, I changed my mind, and left her alone.
Mealtimes were… Different. Krew took over the kitchen and cooked. If Regina and I didn’t join him, he left food for us in the fridge.
I’d finally reached my breaking point—the silence had gone on long enough. I needed to talk to both of them. I had questions that needed answers, and I intended to get them later today. Especially with Regina. Her responses would be the deciding factor on whether to leave and track down Jess and possibly Maya, or stay put.
It was nearing four in the morning, and the house was quiet per usual. I decided to do one more check on the west side of the property, where there was an acre of hilly terrain and an abandoned cabin that Merrick had bought four months ago.
I was so far in my head that I wasn’t paying attention to how my booted feet gobbled up the ground. My arches began to ache from the climb, and I needed to slow down. As I reached the western boundary of Merrick’s property, I caught sight of the rustic cabin he texted me about.
Judging the distance from Merrick’s house to the cabin, this place was way too close for comfort—not even a click from where we were hiding.
What drew me up short were the white plumes of smoke from the stone chimney and the interior lights, which glowed like beacons through the curtain-covered windows.
I didn’t see movement, although I had no doubt someone was inside. My gut cinched up, because my instincts said that whoever was in that dwelling was here for us—for Krew and Regina.
There was no immediate threat. So before I went half-cocked, I reevaluated what Merrick had texted me. Could he be wrong? Unlikely. Knowing Merrick, he would have told me he had neighbors.
Could I be wrong on the distance? Maybe. I may have been too caught up in my thoughts to realize just how far I’d walked, but at the same time I wasn’t an idiot. The Rangers had taught me to keep my sense of direction, and it hadn’t failed me yet.
I took out my phone, glanced at the screen, trusting I could get a signal out here.
Yes. Two bars.
I fired off a text to Merrick, hoping he’d answer immediately. I needed confirmation before I went on the hunt.
Me: Did a perimeter check at the cabin. Lights on. Smoke from chimney. Do I need to worry?
Merrick: That cabin should be empty. No one should be in there.
Shit. Why did I think coming here would be safe?
Me: Could it be squatters?
Merrick: Get them gone.
Me: What if they’re not squatters?
Merrick: You know what you need to do.
Me: Got it.
Lucky for me, I had my nine and K-bar. I drew them both without a sound, crouched low and crept toward the cabin, my boots barely leaving a trail in the dirt. When I got close, I caught the sound—muffled voices inside—at least two.
Then I spotted an ATV behind a large bush, loosely covered by branches.
The voices got progressively louder. The yelling allowed me to continue creeping forward until I was under the window closest to the door. I listened to be sure they hadn’t made me, and for any useful information before I stormed inside and killed them.
With every passing second, the conversation escalated.
“Their settling in, babe. I want to give them the illusion of safety. Give it an hour or two, and then we’ll go, make the hits, and collect our prize,” a coarse burly voice announced with a chuckle.
Icy tendrils chilled me to the bone at the implications of ‘illusion of safety’. The bastard thought himself cunning by waiting a few more hours before he took out Regina and Krew. No fucking way I’d let that happen.
