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Chapter Sixteen
As they traveledeast through the snarl of traffic to the temporary safety of Liam’s mountain hideaway, Seth cast a worried glance at Beck in the passenger seat. The surgeon stared out the window, seeming to see nothing. He’d barely uttered a word since leaving the house. His pensive expression said his thoughts ran deep—and dark.
Seth hated to intrude, but in his experience, when things went south, it happened fast. “We’ve got a couple of hours before we reach the lodge.” At least according to the GPS. “Want to fill me in so I know what we’re up against?”
Beck turned to him with haunted eyes and shook his head. “No.”
Seth tried to lighten the mood. “Okay, want may have been the wrong word.”
“Look, I know you’re trying to prepare, but I can’t tell you exactly what firepower they’ll bring, only that they’ll come armed to the teeth and that you should expect them to fight hard and dirty. The who they are and what they want?” Beck shrugged. “I’ll explain to everyone who might be impacted by my past, but I can only rip that scab off once.”
“Fair enough.” Seth might not love that, but he respected it. He hoped Heavenly did, too.
He glanced at her in the rearview mirror. He had no fucking idea why she’d gone to Pike. He hadn’t forgotten about that one bit. He still wanted answers. Hell, he didn’t even know where they stood right now. But one thing he did know just by looking at her face? She was deeply worried about Beck…because she loved him.
He didn’t have to silently prompt her to comfort the surgeon. She slipped off her seat belt and crawled over the console, onto Beck’s lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. Instantly, the doctor crushed her against his body, buried his face in her hair, and breathed her in. Thank god Beck wasn’t shutting down or shutting himself off.
The sight of the two people he needed most consoling each other settled Seth. He hadn’t seen himself getting mired in a life-or-death fight ever again. But he didn’t hesitate now. God willing, they would be his future, his family. They were worth it.
When he didn’t have to keep both hands on the wheel to fight the shitty traffic or traverse the mountain roads, he caressed Heavenly in silent thanks or clapped Beck reassuringly on the shoulder.
On the outskirts of San Bernardino, Beck shifted Heavenly to his other thigh, pressed a kiss to her temple, then plucked his phone from his pocket. He made two calls—one to the hospital administrator to say that he had a personal emergency and wasn’t sure when he’d be back, the other to Bridget Lewis to say the same about Heavenly. Beck sidestepped their questions as deftly as he’d dodged Seth’s.
After that, only the satellite radio playing classic rock in the background filled the silence in the vehicle. Seth tried to count his blessings—they’d gotten out of LA without being followed. His gut told him it would take Beck’s family, whoever they were, a while to track them down.
Still, a sense of urgency rode him as they pulled up in front of the grand but cozy lodge Liam had inherited. He was eager to get the people he loved safely inside. He’d have to wait for the whole crew to arrive before Beck spilled the details that would allow him to really plan a defense. But he’d strategize what he could now.
Yes, he’d been here before, but now he looked at it with security in mind. The massive log-cabin structure had been built into the side of a mountain, in the middle of a thick copse of trees, now freshly sprouting with spring. It was isolated, which could either be their worst nightmare or their best chance at salvation. The front door was thick and sturdy—a plus—but the lodge had been built with comfort and beauty—not fortification—in mind. The large front windows and multiple balconies were definite weaknesses. But once River, Hammer, Liam, and Buddy arrived, they should have enough watchful eyes to cover all the entry points.
Adam and Ngaire, the property’s senior caretakers, welcomed them on the wide front porch with a smile. The couple showed them to a single spacious guest room. Seth figured Liam had given them specific instructions. Then again, after serving him, Hammer, and Raine, Adam and his wife probably weren’t surprised by their sleeping arrangements.
After settling their luggage and freshening up, the trio made their way downstairs. Adam blended into the background while Ngaire prepared a feast of cold cuts, hardy cheeses, homemade bread, and other treats. Seth didn’t have much appetite, but he shooed the others to the breakfast nook.
“You have to keep up your strength,” he pointed out.
Heavenly made a pretense of eating. Beck didn’t even bother. He simply kept watching the door.
Seth choked down what he could. As he finished, he heard something with a large engine pull up in front and raced into the living room to look outside. A big black truck. Sure enough, River climbed out of the driver’s side. To Seth’s surprise, Dean Gorman clambered out from the passenger’s door. Both scanned the lodge with critical stares, making the assessments he had earlier.
Seth flung the door wide. “Come on in. There’s a snack in the kitchen.”
“Thanks.” River nodded. “I’m starved. Liam, Raine, and Hammer are only a few minutes behind us.”
“Excellent.” The sooner everyone arrived, the sooner they could get this show on the road. He was particularly interested in talking to his Irish pal. Seth was largely a nonbeliever when it came to psychic mumbo-jumbo, but even he had to admit Liam’s sixth sense seemed strong, almost uncanny, since his mother’s last visit. Not surprising since Bryn herself was a trip.
Suddenly, Beck was right behind him, hand outstretched toward River. “Thanks for coming. I know it’s not your problem and I’m going to try not to make it your battle—”
“But it is.” Raine’s brother grinned. “I love a good fight, and I hate people fucking with my friends.”
Despite the tension, Seth laughed.
Dean joined in as he came through the door, duffel in hand. “I’d call the asshole a Neanderthal, but I’m afraid we’re cut from the same cloth.”
“I’m with you,” Seth admitted. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, man.”
They’d probably need all the reinforcements they could get.
“Happy to be here.” He cast his gaze over the other men’s heads and across the room. “Hi, Heavenly. You okay?”
