AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The guys moved everything out of the cabin that was important to me and the business and then burned it to the ground. I wasn’t sad to see it go. I couldn’t even step foot inside after what happened weeks ago.
Emerie has been stopping by regularly, bringing us all food. Lars told her, with my permission, and hell hounds couldn’t have kept her from getting to me. Her hovering is comforting, especially as we haven’t, and won’t, be telling West or Blake’s families the ordeal we’ve been through.
“Cherry,” Cody calls to me from the bank. “West thinks he’s about to get the box open.”
I stand up and walk down the dock toward him. He offers his hand and I slide mine into his, letting him lead me back to the cabin. We’ve gotten more snow to the point where there’ll be constant snow cover until spring. Cody’s been fixing up the snowmobiles and tinkering around with what he can. Honestly, I think he’s bored.
Snowflakes start falling gently around us and he halts our progress. He tilts his head back and lets the snow fall on to his face, his lips tilting into a smile.
“I love this.” He looks down at me and brings the back of my hand to his lips. “And I love you.”
“I love you, too.” I rise on my toes and press a kiss to his lips.
“Are you two going to make out all day or are we going to open the box?” West asks dryly from the back porch of the cabin.
“Option one,” Cody taunts as he lifts me into his arms by the back of my thighs.
I wrap my arms and legs around his neck and waist, kissing him as he walks us inside. His stubble scratches my skin, sending a shiver down my spine, and I love the way the rough scrape feels. We don’t stop kissing even as he walks us into the small living room.
Blake smiles at us as Cody sets me down and I join him on the couch, snuggling into his side. West is kneeling by the coffee table, twisting a homemade lock pick in the lock with his ear to the box. It takes a few minutes, but he finally lets out a victorious whoop when he manages to unlock it.
His eyes meet mine, making sure I’m ready. The contents of this box are likely the reason my parents were killed. I have no idea what to expect.
“Open it,” I encourage quietly.
He lifts the lid and inside is another box, this one made of metal with no lock. He opens that one and inside are six gold nuggets. Each feels about a pound. I look at Blake, because as the banker he’d be the one with the most knowledge.
“Is that what I think it is?” he asks as he reaches for one.
“Yeah, pretty sure,” West answers.
“How much do you think they’re worth?” I ask, looking at Blake as he studies the piece in his hand.
“Depending on quality and weight, it could be close to one hundred thousand dollars.” He trades one piece out for another, inspecting it. “Last time I checked, which isn’t often, the rate was about fifty dollars per gram.”
“So, my parents died for a hundred grand?” I scoff and push off the couch to warm my hands by the fire.
“People are murdered for much less.” West wraps his arms around me and rests his chin on my head. “I know it doesn’t make it better, though.”
I grip his forearm and lean back against him. “What do we even do with them?”
“There are gold exchanges,” Blake says. “I’ll find a reputable one. Then you can invest the money or put it in savings.”
It’s too overwhelming to even contemplate. “Can we lock it back up and figure it out later?”
“Whatever you want, Cherry.”
“I just need to think about it for a little bit.”
TWO MONTHS LATER
“We’re definitely not going into town anytime soon,” Cody says, stomping his feet to get the snow off his boots at the back door. “It’s full-on blizzard mode out there.”
“Cold as fuck, too.” West shakes off the snow clinging to his hair and shoulders as he takes his coat off. “Wait.” He drags a breath in through his nose. “What is that?”
“Chocolate chip cookies, fresh out of the oven,” Blake says from the kitchen.
He and I have spent the last few months teaching each other our knowledge in the kitchen. He’s introduced me to Korean cuisine and cooking and I’ve taught him how to bake. Cody and West have taken full advantage of the passion Blake and I share for food.
