#Vacay

by Cambria Hebert

  Not too much later, the sound of snowmobile engines cut through the night. I smiled, knowing it was Romeo. Noticing the sudden loud sounds were scaring the wolf, I patted Daniel’s shoulder. “Put me down here. Go meet the guys and have them turn off the engines.”

  “What for?” he asked, then looked at the wolf who was very wary. “Geez,” he muttered.

  “Please?”

  Gingerly, he set me down, then helped me to sit. “Are you sure about this?” he asked, glancing at the wolf.

  I nodded.

  He pulled the gun from his pocket and handed it to me.

  I jerked back. “What’s that for?”

  “In case it attacks you.”

  “I don’t want that!”

  “Take it.”

  “No!”

  “Then I’m not leaving you here,” he said, jamming the gun in his pants and picking me up again.

  “Hey!” I yelled.

  The snowmobile engines all cut off, and Romeo’s voice cut through the air. “Rimmel!”

  “Over here!” I yelled back.

  The sound of people running through the snow and the beam of a flashlight cut over the white.

  Romeo came running around a tree and nearly stumbled when he saw us. “Thank Christ!” he exclaimed, rushing over.

  “Romeo!”

  The second he reached us, familiar arms plucked me out of Daniel’s and lifted me tight into his warm chest. I buried my face in the side of his, curling my arms around his neck.

  “Your nose feels like a block of ice,” he swore. His palm covered the back of my head. “Why the fuck is your hat wet?”

  “I fell a few times,” I muttered.

  He cursed and moved to put me down.

  “Watch her foot.” Daniel rushed forward.

  Romeo held me out over the ground, letting my legs dangle. “What’s wrong with your foot?”

  “I hurt it,” I said, my voice wobbling.

  Romeo’s eyes searched my face, scouring every inch. “Rimmel,” he whispered.

  Just like that, a dam broke inside me and tears I didn’t even realize I’d been holding in started raining from my eyes. A sob broke out of my throat, and I started to shake.

  “Fuck,” Romeo cursed.

  “Rim!” Braeden yelled, coming up to stand beside Romeo.

  “Shit! Sis, what’s wrong?” He glanced at Romeo. “Why’s she crying?”

  “All right now,” Romeo said gently, passing me over to Braeden. “Don’t let her put weight on her feet.”

  Braeden took over holding me without question.

  The hat on my head was ripped off, and Romeo’s dry, warm one was stuffed down over my hair. Next, he unzipped my coat and, with B’s help, pulled it off. Seconds later, his oversized coat wrapped around me, his body heat seeping into my cold bones and making me sigh.

  “What about you?” I worried, teeth chattering.

  “Don’t worry about me,” he answered, his voice clipped.

  Braeden pulled me back into his chest and hugged me. “Tutor girl, I don’t think I can ever forgive you for this.”

  I started crying again. Ugly sobs with tears that turned to ice the second they slid down my cheeks.

  “What the fuck, bro?” Romeo yelled, taking me from Braeden to cradle me against his chest.

  “I-I’m s-s-orry.” I sniffled. “I haven’t cried at all, but the minute I saw you, I just can’t stop.” I hiccupped.

  Romeo pushed my face into his chest. He smelled like he always did. Mine.

  “That’s because you had to be strong before. I’m here now. I’ll be strong for you.”

  “You should get her down to the medics. Pretty sure her ankle is broke, and then there’s that cut on her cheek,” Daniel said from behind.

  I lifted my face, brushing my mitten over my cheek. “I have a cut on my face?”

  “You probably can’t feel it from the cold,” Romeo said gently. His warm lips pressed against my nose.

  He started walking through the snow. How all these men just traipsed around like it wasn’t even hard to walk in was beyond me. Braeden fell into step beside him and glanced at me when my teeth started chattering again.

  He swore, unzipped his coat, and pulled it off. Romeo paused long enough for B to tuck it over me like a blanket.

  “I d-d-don’t n-need that.” I protested.

  They ignored me.

  “Wait!” I gasped a moment later. “The wolf!”

  “The what?” Romeo asked.

  “The wolf! She’s hurt. Oh, I hope you didn’t scare her away.”

  Braeden gazed at me, concerned. “Tutor girl, did you hit your head out here?”

  “I’m not sure,” I said, suddenly trying to remember when I almost hit the tree. “I don’t think...”

  Romeo pushed my head into his chest and kept walking.

  I burst up again. “Roman Anderson, wait! There is a wolf out here, and she protected me from being eaten by another wolf.”

  He stopped in his tracks. Both he and B stared at me.

  “You got attacked by a wolf?” Romeo’s face went white.

  “No, because another one stopped it. And I will not leave here without her!”

  “I got her,” Daniel said, his voice quiet behind us.

  Romeo turned, and I looked up. Daniel was holding the wolf in his arms, its injured leg hanging in front of him.

  “She let you pick her up,” I said, trying to contain my excitement.

  “Guess she likes beef jerky,” Daniel replied, half smiling.

  “What the fuck...?” B wondered.

  “Where will you take her? Is the vet close by?”

  Daniel blanched.

  “Baby, vets don’t take care of wild animals.”

  “She’s special,” I insisted. “Someone will.”

  “She like this all the time?” Daniel inquired.

  Romeo chuckled.

  “We got eight dogs, three cats, and a goat at home, man,” Braeden announced. “This dude don’t know how to say no.”

  “A goat?” Daniel echoed, clearly confused.

  “Fuck you,” Romeo returned. “Both of you.” Then he smiled down at me, and tears welled in my eyes again.

  His lips thinned, seeing my tears, and he started ahead. “Bring the wolf,” he called mildly, then walked with Braeden a few steps ahead like he was our escort.

  When we made it to the snowmobiles, there was a crowd waiting. When they saw Romeo and me, they all started cheering and clapping. Worried, I glanced over Romeo’s shoulder but saw Daniel was waiting in the concealment of the trees with the wolf.

  He saw me looking and nodded.

  I knew he’d wait until we were gone before coming out into the clearing.

  “I don’t know why I couldn’t find this place,” I muttered, gazing around. Though, to my credit, this definitely wasn’t the sledding hill I’d come from in the first place.

  “You scared the living shit out of me tonight,” Romeo said, his voice haunted.

  I sniffled, tightening my arms around his neck. The reality of the situation was beginning to hit me. Now that I was safe, the enormity of everything that happened fully penetrated. It was like Romeo said. I’d been too busy being strong, but now I didn’t have to be. Now the adrenaline would drain away, leaving me limp and shaken.

  “I got you,” Romeo whispered, carrying me to a snowmobile.

  “Romeo,” a familiar voice called out, and he turned. Liam broke away and jogged forward. “Rimmel, it’s good to see you. I can’t tell you how sorry I am this happened.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” I said, my voice weak. “This is one hundred percent my fault. I think my days of tubing are over.”

  “We have a medical team standing by at the bottom of the mountain. We also have food, dry clothes, and anything else you need.”

  I nodded. “Thank you.” Glancing up at Romeo, I smiled. “I have everything I need already.”

  His arms tightened around me. “I’m
going to get her back.”

  Liam nodded. “I’ll deal with all this. Would it be okay if we stop by in a bit to check in?”

  Romeo’s body stiffened, but I nodded. “Of course. I would like that.”

  Liam started to walk away, but I called his name.

  “Daniel is over by the trees with an injured wolf. Would you help him get her to safety so she can be treated?”

  Liam’s eyes widened. “A wolf?”

  “Just agree, man,” Romeo advised. “Apparently, this wolf protected Rim out there.”

  Liam’s eyes grew even wider.

  Romeo straddled the sled without even jostling me. “Just send me the bill for whatever treatment it needs. I’ll cover it.”

  “Tell Daniel I want a full report on how she’s doing,” I added.

  “A full report...” Liam echoed.

  Romeo settled me between his legs and hunched around me, then took off down the mountain with Braeden following closely.

  I leaned back into the shelter of my husband’s body and closed my eyes.

  I was safe.

  Romeo

  “I’m gonna need a vacation from this vacation,” Braeden announced, weary, when Drew pushed open the front door of our cabin.

  I didn’t say it out loud, but I hella agreed. Usually, vacations were supposed to relax you, not shorten your life-span.

  Good Lord, being married was a lot of work.

  “I told you all you didn’t need to come to the hospital and wait while I had X-rays and stuff. You must be exhausted.”

  “Hush,” I told Rimmel instantly. “You have a broken foot, a cast on your leg, and were lost in the woods for hours. The most exhausted person ‘round here is you.”

  “It’s not a cast,” she muttered. “It’s just a boot.”

  I blew out a harsh breath. It was the same damn difference. Point was every time I looked at her tiny leg being swallowed up by that giant boot, I was reminded of how hellish this night had been.

  Pushing her face into my neck, I carried her toward the sofa. Drew was already getting a roaring fire going as the rest of us filled the room.

  Braeden made a rude sound. “Last year when I hurt my knee on the field, you got on a plane and came to the hospital, even though it wasn’t anything major.”

  Rimmel lifted her head off my shoulder and pointed her finger at him. “We watched you fall, Braeden James. That was scary!”

  Trent was pulling off his coat when he spoke. “Last month when I was sick and Drew was out of town, you made me soup and slept on the couch at our place in case I needed something.”

  “You got me French Fry,” Drew piped up from the wood pile.

  Trent rolled his eyes. “I can’t believe I let you name that dog French Fry.”

  I grinned. That was some funny shit.

  “Seriously, Rimmel. You do so much for all of us. Of course we would come to the hospital. That’s what family does,” Ivy added.

  Gingerly, I put Rim on the couch, dragged the coffee table close, and propped her broken ankle on top of a pillow. Taking the hat off her head, I covered her with a thick blanket.

  “I’ll make you some apple cider,” I offered, kissing the top of her head.

  Before I could move away, she grasped my hand. Her eyes intently stared into mine when I looked down. “Love you,” she whispered.

  I smiled. “I love you, too, baby.”

  When I was halfway to the kitchen, I heard her announce, “I can’t possible leave my foot up on this coffee table. It’s so disrespectful.”

  Stopping in my tracks, I groaned. “Your foot is broke, for fuck’s sake!”

  “This isn’t our house!” she yelled.

  I turned back as she started to lift her foot off the pillow. I growled. “Woman, if you even dare move your foot, I will come over there and paddle your ass!”

  She gasped.

  I was not about to be swayed. Braeden might say I couldn’t say no, but I damn well could, and I was about at the end of my rope tonight.

  “I mean it, Rim. Not one move,” I ordered.

  Behind her glasses, her eyes widened. I knew her lower lip was about to wobble, and I turned away immediately so I wouldn’t feel bad for yelling at her.

  Dammit.

  “Here, Rim, you can put your foot on me instead of the table,” Trent said gently.

  I closed my eyes. She was totally crying.

  I made her cry.

  Fuck.

  “But this boot is heavy,” she protested, voice watery.

  I slammed the cabinet door after pulling out the cider packets.

  “I can handle it. Makes me feel useful,” Trent said, and I rolled my eyes.

  Leaning over the giant island, I gazed out into the living room. Trent was indeed sitting in front of her on the coffee table with the pillow and her foot in his lap.

  I watched him wink at her, and my eyes narrowed.

  Ivy dropped onto the couch beside her and wrapped her arms around Rim’s shoulders. “I’m so sorry, Rimmel! One minute you were there, and the next you weren’t. I tried to find you... I—”

  “It’s not your fault.” Rimmel assured her. “I feel bad for causing so much commotion.”

  “Next time, we shouldn’t let each other out of our sight.”

  “Next time!” Braeden and I yelled at the same time. “Hells no!”

  Grabbing up the two mugs of apple cider, I brought them into the living room and handed one to Rim, then the other to Ivy. “Drink that. You both nearly froze to death tonight.”

  “Ooh, you added a cinnamon stick!” Rimmel said happily.

  I had to suppress a smile at her innocent happiness. Good Lord, wasn’t she even concerned for her own safety?

  “Thanks, Romeo,” Ivy said, glancing to where I was standing behind the couch.

  “Anytime, princess,” I replied, soft, noticing the dark circles beneath her eyes, smudged makeup, and red nose.

  My anger intensified. Glancing over to B, he met my gaze and gave me a look, relaying he was pretty much in the same mood. Lifting my chin, I invited him to come stand beside me.

  He did, and the two of us glowered down at our unsuspecting wives.

  “Mm, this is so good,” Rimmel mused, sipping some of the hot drink. “Look.” She leaned closer to Ivy to show her the cinnamon stick. “You can use this as a straw!”

  The pair started giggling and using the sticks like straws—you know, like they were five years old. But they said we were the big kids in this family.

  Drew moved away from the fireplace and stood near the table by Trent and watched them, bemused. Trent leaned back on his hands and smiled, careful to keep Rim’s foot in his lap.

  I glanced at B, and he made a face like he smelled a bad fart. We crossed our arms over our chests and glared.

  They didn’t even notice.

  Maybe the cold froze their damn brains.

  I cleared my throat. B and I shifted a little closer, leaning over the cushions to stare.

  The girls stilled, dropped the cinnamon sticks, and glanced at each other. Rimmel looked over at Trent like a doe in headlights.

  “He’s not going to save you,” I spoke quietly.

  “Either one of you,” B intoned.

  Two sets of eyes, one brown and one blue, slowly lifted upward.

  I frowned. “You didn’t follow any of the rules I gave you.”

  “I—” She began.

  Braeden pinned Ivy with a stare. “You refused to come off the mountain for help.”

  “Bella—” Ivy started

  “You’re both walking hazards,” I spat.

  “We got kids,” Braeden lectured.

  The girls looked at each other, then back at us. I could tell they were about to give some pathetic excuse. B and I made sounds, letting them know we weren’t having it.

  “You almost froze to death!” we both shouted.

  “Y’all spend way too much time together,” Drew remarked, listening to the whole thing
.

  “I’m sorry,” Rimmel burst out, a sob quickly following. Her body shook when she started to cry, and the cider in the mug splashed over the side and onto her hand.

  She flinched from the hot liquid, and I damn near went through the ceiling. “Would you be careful, for fuck sake?”

  “Woah.” Trent intervened.

  Rimmel cried harder and Ivy sniffled.

  “Here, sis.” Trent spoke gently, taking the mug from Rimmel and drying her hand with the blanket. Then he took Ivy’s mug from her. “I get we’re all a little tense.” He went on, gently moving the pillow with Rimmel’s foot to the side so he could stand. “But they’ve been through enough. Stop being dicks.”

  “It’s not like I wanted to get lost,” Rim mumbled around her tears. “That man just ran right into me, and the next thing I knew I was in the woods and almost smashed into a tree!”

  My back teeth slammed together. “Someone pushed you into the woods?” I asked, my voice deadly.

  “Okay.” Drew butted in, stepping in front of Trent to reach for his sister. “C’mon, Ives, you need to get out of these clothes. You won’t warm up properly until you have a hot shower and change.”

  He tugged Ivy up off the couch and guided her around the table.

  Braeden met them halfway, scooped Ivy off her feet, and started toward the stairs.

  “I’m sorry,” Ivy whimpered as they went.

  “Ahh, shit baby. I’m sorry I yelled. I was just worried,” he said, gruff.

  They disappeared up the stairs, and I glanced back at my wife.

  I lifted a brow when she looked up at me.

  Her head shook once. “It was an accident. He didn’t mean to run into me.”

  My eyes narrowed as I debated whether or not it was actually an accident or if it was some kind of elaborate stunt someone from the press was pulling. I didn’t put anything past those bozos these days. I hadn’t since the day they ran Rim off the road and damn near killed her.

  “How ‘bout you, sis? You wanna go upstairs to shower and change?” Drew reached for Rimmel, and I growled.

  “Don’t touch her.”

  Drew lifted his hands in surrender.

  “My foot hurts,” she announced, her voice weak.

  All the anger and fear inside me drained away instantaneously. I shouldn’t have yelled at her. Instead of taking the long way, I leapt over the back of the couch to land gracefully in the small space between the table and couch. Slipping my arms under her, I lifted her easily into my arms. When I turned, Trent and Drew were watching us.