Page 58 of Northern Escape


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“Yes, Dr. Will’s disappearance is bringing back memories, but that’s not why I want to find him. I know he wasn’t a good dad to you, but to me…” Her vision blurred and she pressed her palms to her eyes. “He’s the closest I’ve ever had to a decent parent.”

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If William Hunter was the closest thing she had to a good father, then Ellis ached for her. The life she had lived was worse even than his shitty childhood, and he wished he could fix it for her. Obviously, he didn’t have a time machine, but at least he could try to save her from the future pain she was facing.

William Hunter shouldn’t be anyone’s hero.

Especially not hers, when she’d never had anyone stable in her life to rely on. She was going to be so heartbroken when she discovered he was drinking again.

Elli should rip that bandage off fast and tell her now, but when he opened his mouth, all that came out was, “Nate and I called the state troopers yesterday and filed a missing person report. They’re sending someone out this morning to interview all of us. They should be here soon.”

She nodded. “Okay. That’s good. Maybe they’ll actually do something now.” She looked at him like she wanted to say something more, then climbed out of bed and started gathering her clothes. “We should get dressed.”

He wanted to protest. Wanted to keep going down this conversational path with her until he figured her out. But he knew she had a point. It was nearing eight and the troopers said they’d be here first thing this morning.

She stood awkwardly at the foot of the bed for a few seconds, clothing piled in her arms. “Uh, I’m going to shower again. Unless you…?”

He waved a hand toward the bathroom. “All yours.”

The door clicked shut and he leaned against the wall, thunking his head lightly against the wood paneling a couple times. “Fuck.”

He hated awkward morning afters and hadn’t expected to face one with her.

The shower sputtered on, the old pipes groaning and clunking in the walls. He tamped down the urge to join her under the spray and kiss away all of that awkwardness.

Focus.

He flung off the blankets and hissed as the cold air hit all of his sensitive bits. It must be bitterly cold today because the now-blazing wood stove was barely putting a dent in the chill. He dressed quickly in as many layers as he could comfortably wear, then stepped out into the hallway at the same time Nate left his room next door. He held Peanut tucked under one arm like a football and her tail started wagging the moment she saw Ellis.

Nate arched a brow. “Sounds like you had fun.”

Ellis took Peanut, who was desperately trying to swim across the space between them. He kissed the tuft of hair on top of her head. She smelled of woodsmoke and pot. He smirked at his brother. “Smells like you did.”

Nate lifted a shoulder. “Did you tell Damian about the troopers?”

Since Ellis wasn’t wearing his coat, he tucked Peanut into the kangaroo pouch of his hoodie. She trilled—there was no other way to describe the sound she made—with happiness. “Nope.”

“He won’t be happy.”

“He never is.” As Ellis spoke, a door down the hall opened and Damian stepped out, already scowling. That scowl only darkened when he spotted his older brothers. “Either of you want to explain why the state troopers just called asking to meet downstairs for an interview?”

“We filed a missing person report for Dad,” Nate said.

Damian stared at them in disbelief. “Why the fuck would you do that?”

“Because Bree is right,” Ellis said. “This is not one of Dad’s normal disappearances. Someone tried tokillus out there—”

“For all you know, it was some hunter who didn’t realize what he was shooting at. Or, even more likely, a looney off-the-grid conspiracy nut who thought you were the feds coming to take him away. Alaska is full of them. It could’ve had nothing to do with Dad.”

“No. You weren’t there. That shooter was gunning specifically for us. He didn’t want us walking out of there alive.”

Damian’s lips compressed into a thin line. “You shouldn’t have called the police.”

“Why does it always feel like you’re threatening us? Do you know more about Dad’s disappearance than you’re saying?”

“I don’t know jack shit about that man, and I don’t want to. I have a business. A reputation. I can’t be seen getting dragged into a police station every time Dad makes a stupid mistake.”

“Why not? You already told the whole world on TV how dysfunctional our family is.”

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