Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 119597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
If she’s there, hiding in the carnage of my past, I need to be the one to find her.
For Frankie’s sake, I’ll follow this path to its conclusion, no matter where it may lead, even if my sins come crashing down around us.
“Okay.” Sirena nods and turns back to the maps. “We’ll start with the estate. Do you have a layout of the property?”
“Yes. Here.” As I shuffle through documents and maps, my resolve grows stronger, fueled by the unwavering belief that one day, I’ll hold Frankie in my arms once more.
I’m tired of waiting. Tired of the uncertainty, the doubt, the gnawing ache of not knowing. I need her. More than anything.
Every shadow holds a secret, every shiver of wind an echo of her name. I’ll search every inch of Kodiak Island, every hidden cave and secluded cove, hoping against hope to find some sign of her.
I won’t rest until she’s back by my side, where she belongs.
The blizzard traps us in the cave for five days. With nothing to do but wait, I lie on the sleeping bag, soak up the warmth of the fire, and watch Leo stalk in and out, doing whatever hardworking Alaskan men do.
I would help him, but I’ve been banned from going outside. I’ve also been accused of getting in the way.
Fighting the control freak on this only makes him surlier and more agitated. So he’s on his own.
There’s not much to do beyond hauling in food, water, and coal. But the man can’t sit still. I think he harbors some insatiable, driving need to provide for me. Like, he gets off on it.
He’s out there right now, working on the trail to the top of the cliff. The snowfall stopped, but the incline remains impassable. He’s building a roped path that will help me safely scale the ice.
But that doesn’t help the snow machine.
He has a plan, and I trust him. I just wish I could do more.
Something stirs in the tunnel beyond the firelight. I tense, jackknifing into a sitting position and grabbing the loaded rifle.
Please, don’t be a bear.
Eyes straining, I listen with my heart in my mouth.
Footsteps. Graceful yet determined. As confident as a predator. But I know that gait well.
Not a bear.
A lion.
He prowls out of the darkness, carrying a bag of coal and a smoldering smile.
“Good girl.” He nods at the gun and sets down his haul.
“One of these times, I’m going to shoot you.” I lower the rifle and snuggle back into the bedding. “How’s the trail?”
“It’s ready. We’ll leave in the morning.”
“Let’s go now.”
“Tired of me already?”
Tired of sharing a cave with him? Feeding him? Whispering against his lips? Kissing? Cuddling? Sitting on his face? Riding his cock for hours every night?
I’m living my best life. It’s as if we stepped through a rip in reality and found a private frozen bubble where time and pain don’t exist. Here, it’s just Leo and me and endless, lazy pleasure.
But there are moments of clarity when guilt sneaks in, reminding me that a vital part of us is waiting alone in a dark, cold cabin.
I’ve never missed technology like I do in these moments. The desperate need to send a text, make a call, deliver Morse code, anything to let Kody know we’re alive and safe…It’s killing me slowly.
“I’ll never tire of you.” I squint at him. “But if we don’t leave, Kody will. He’ll risk his life to go searching for us.”
“No, he won’t.”
“He thinks we haven’t eaten in days.”
“He knows we can survive on melted snow for two months. When Wolf and I were delayed on our last outing, was Kody worried then?”
“No. He was too busy making bargains with the devil behind my back.”
“Frankie,” he scolds.
“Fine. He’s pragmatic, but under that hard exterior is a man who loves deeply, and the only two people he has left in the world are missing. He’s feeling that right now.”
“I know.” He removes his snowshoes and crouches beside the fire. “But his practical side rules his actions. He’ll stay put and wait it out.” His eyes lift to mine, flaring with a bright spark. “The sun peeked over the horizon today. I felt it on my face for a few minutes.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. There’s still a long way to go, but we have a fighting chance. We’ll win this battle with winter.”
If only until we get the plane in the sky. If we can’t do that, we’ll face more winters, more eternal nights.
No sense dwelling on that.
“Since we’re leaving tomorrow,” I say, “you need all the rest you can get tonight.”
“That an order?” His beautiful mouth twitches, those mismatched eyes doing fluttery things to my insides.
“I’ll beg.”
“Yes, you will.”
Smug, overbearing jackass.
If I told him all the things I love about him, his jackassery would make the list.
But his protectiveness would be at the top. Even when it’s excessive and snarly, I still love it.