Total pages in book: 194
Estimated words: 187754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 939(@200wpm)___ 751(@250wpm)___ 626(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 187754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 939(@200wpm)___ 751(@250wpm)___ 626(@300wpm)
I roll my eyes and resume walking. This time, I let my gaze wander the forest, hoping for some sign that Thorin and Khalil have caught up, and it doesn’t go unnoticed.
“You don’t want them finding us, darling. It won’t end well for them.”
“Call me biased, but I’d say this won’t end well for you.”
Finnegan grunts but doesn’t argue. We hike for two hours before I realize we’re nearing the base of Big Bear.
Home.
I don’t know how close I am to the cabin, but I find myself looking back, seeking out that lonely cliff for a glimpse of it. When I don’t see it, my eyes travel the way we came—up the steep, craggy, snow-packed slope to the sun high in the sky right above it. It’s sandwiched between two forest lines like a frozen stream, and about five hundred feet ahead is the ledge where all this lingering snow piled so precariously could fall over at any moment.
One wrong move could send it all sliding.
The climb down won’t be easy, and I realize I might have underestimated my mountain men’s knowledge of these wilds because they would have known a better, safer way down.
Perhaps time is of the essence for the mercenaries since Thorin and Khalil will be hot on our heels. I’ve done what I could to slow our progress, but when Finnegan threatened to hogtie and carry me, I decided I’d rather have my hands free for when the time comes.
The mercenaries stop once we reach the ledge, and I figure they’re trying to figure out a way down, so I inch closer to the edge to see if there’s a possible escape route while Finnegan argues with some of the other mercs I caught staring at me a few times.
Apparently, even battle-hardened killers get star-struck.
Two of the men are sent off to scout while another unnecessarily announces that he’s going to take a shit.
One peek over the side of the ledge, and I know I wouldn’t survive the fall. All those sharp rocks waiting to break me in half will ensure it. Maybe I can make a break for the trees while the mercs are distracted and take cover there.
Unfortunately, I take a little too long to shit or get off the pot.
Finnegan breaks away from the other mercenaries and approaches me. “Hey, so this is a little awkward,” he says while rubbing the back of his neck, “but some of the guys have daughters and girlfriends who are fans of yours.” When I just stare at him, he huffs his irritation at me for not making this easier for him. “They were wondering if they could get you to sign some autographs.”
I cut my gaze at the men in question, who pretend they’re not eavesdropping and waiting for my response and then I sigh. “Sure. Got a pen?”
Having complete strangers ask for my autograph isn’t new to me, so why does this feel weird? I guess because I stopped thinking of myself as that Aurelia weeks ago. The star. The celebrity.
The Aurelia I am now feels more human. She feels real and flawed. I can relate to her.
“Yup. Here you go.” Finnegan hands me a notepad and pen and tells me who to sign the autographs for. Once I’m done, he takes them back and slips them inside his tactical vest with a smile that feels slimy, so I turn away to face the ledge again. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“I didn’t expect you to be so cool about this after what happened with your boyfriend. It almost makes what I have to do now difficult.”
I turn my head to see him standing closer than he was before. Much too close. I look him up and down, not bothering to hide my displeasure. “What are you talking about?”
“I’d have made it quick,” he continues to ramble, “but your uncle wanted us to make it look like an accident.”
“Excuse me?”
I feel a heavy hand on my back a moment later, shoving me toward the edge…
A sharp whistle is the only thing that keeps me from going over.
“Hey, asshole!”
Finnegan’s hand disappears from back, and I spin around with a surprised gasp, my heart racing with hope and disbelief. It can’t be…
It is.
Seth is here. And he’s not alone.
When I follow the sound of his voice, I see all three of my guys standing together. Thorin and Khalil are holding the two scouts at gunpoint while Seth has the shitter kneeling at his feet with a gun pressed to his temple.
I fall to my knees into the rocks and snow with a grateful sob.
Seth looks a little manic, but he’s here. He’s okay.
I notice the bandage around his thigh at the same time he yells, “You missed, bitches!” Seth pulls the trigger without warning and the mercenary drops at his feet. “I didn’t.”