“Oh, so you thought this was a good time to be a smart-ass.” Eva rolled her eyes. “I don’t like this, Wylie. This hiding in plain sight thing feels like the wrong move.”
“Well, lucky for you, we’re only here for the night. And I’m only kidding. If they were going to look here, they’ve already been here and gone. We’ll make contact with the team, check in, and make sure we have the all clear to make it the rest of the way to Montana to join them.”
“And get a little sleep?”
“Maybe that too.” He grabbed her hand from her lap and held it in his. “I wouldn’t have brought you here if I didn’t think it was safe. I promise you that. We are buried deep in the woods just outside of town. Nobody would even think to look out here.”
“Well, I’d say you’ve thought of everything, but we’ll need supplies. We’re out of food for the most part, and a quick stop at the market in McKenzie will end in a welcome back dinner by sundown as fast as news travels here.”
“Eva, I wouldn’t put any of our friends or family at risk like that. I wouldn’t put you at risk like that. You’re right, we have no idea what we’re running from,” he assured. “Plus, I already got supplies.”
Eva’s head spun so fast Wylie swerved in response. “You did what?”
“Back seat, take a look.”
“What?” Her high-pitched voice was sent as a warning when she looked at the two large brown paper bags in the back seat. “How? When?”
Wylie’s mouth quirked in one corner, and his brow furrowed as if her question was ridiculous, “Stopped in Arrow Springs at the little market. There are no cameras, and I knew nobody would recognize me there.”
“While…I…was…asleep?” Eva turned her back against the door as if to put distance between them.
“I told you that you were sleeping hard. It was like you hadn’t slept in days, and…”
“Because I haven’t slept in days!”
“Well, neither have I,” he fired back. “I didn’t want to wake you. I thought you really needed it.”
“So you left me?”
Wylie’s tone raised, blindsided by her anger. “I left a note on the dash.”
“Oh, that sounds safe. Someone wants to hurt us…but your note will protect me. They’ll wait for you to get back to the car and stuff. I already feel safer.”
“I left you a gun too, Eva. It’s not like I left you completely vulnerable. We haven’t had a single tail since Vegas, maybe even the gas station before that, so nobody knows we’re here. You were fine. I wouldn’t have left you out here if I didn’t believe that completely.”
“Excellent, a gun for the bad guys to kill me with. Well. That’s reassuring. I mean, it’s not like they ever find us anywhere,” she chided. “Did you at least lock the doors?”
“No, Eva. I didn’t lock the doors. I felt like that would suggest paranoia.” Wylie rolled his eyes. “You’re being dramatic. I put the gun under your foot so you wouldn’t hurt yourself or anyone else by mistake yet would feel it the minute you woke. You’re smart. Your instincts are incredible, and you’re one of the strongest—and scariest—women I know. I’d actually be more worried about anyone who approached you than anyone hurting you.”
Eva was stuck staring at him. As angry as she was, she couldn’t help but feel the compliments he’d just delivered. It was high praise, given the line of work they were in, and it made her feel…everything.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“You got quiet all of a sudden…” He looked at her briefly before returning his view to the road.
“Yeah, well… I didn’t know you thought those things…”
“And then some,” he murmured softly, reaching for her hand again. “You’re still a pain in the ass and bossy as hell, but all the other stuff too. I know I keep saying you can trust me, but I know I can trust you too.”
“Wylie—”
Before she could finish her thought, he cut her off as they slowed down and made a right turn down what she’d barely consider a dirt road. “We’re here.”
19
It was a beautiful log-style home. Eva stood on the front steps and looked around, taking in the sounds of mountain magic that had her instantly feeling lighter. It was charming, rustic, and exactly what you’d expect in McKenzie Ridge—but grander. From the sound of the breeze through the sky-high ponderosa pine trees to the birds chirping and taunting the squirrels who were chasing each other around the tree just below its nest…this was Wylie.
Every bit of this place represented him. Larger than life, but subtle and warm. Inviting. Comforting. As she entered through the front door behind him, she smelled the rich leather and rugged pine furnishings before noticing them—all very much Wylie.
“It’s nicely furnished. You’ve been here before then?” she asked.
“Only once. Spent a weekend setting it up but haven’t been back since.”
“Why? It’s stunning. So quiet,” she admired. “I’d be here all the time away from the chaos. It’s really just perfect. I can’t believe you did all this in a weekend.”
He slid open a set of barn doors to reveal a study but not just any study. It looked much like the lair back at Watermark Tower in Portland, only smaller.
“Was Liam here?” she questioned, looking around.
He tossed her an odd look. “No, why?”
“This room has his name all over it. It’s like his domain.”
“He’s not the only brother with brains. He’s just better known for them,” he teased as he sat behind a desk and brought several screens to life.
Eva didn’t doubt that. Wylie was a combination of all his brothers—the best parts of each of them. He was the youngest, but by far the biggest, and she was learning so much more. He had a wholesomeness to him she’d never known before, and his kindness and big heart were more than she’d witnessed before too.
He was attentive and thoughtful. Fiercely protective, but gentle and soft. That wasn’t to say his brothers were a bunch of hard sons of bitches, but there was something special about Wylie that made him so different, even if the same in many ways too.
“You can pick any of the rooms you’d like. If you’re wanting, you know…your own space?”
There it was again. They’d been in close quarters for days and spent each night in the same bed, but he was offering her whatever comfort she desired. Now that there was space to spread out, he wanted her to have it if that’s what she wished. Thoughtful. Kind. Caring.
“Which is yours?” she asked, hoping he heard her loud and clear.
“Oh, I don’t have one. They all have private bathrooms and such. It really doesn’t matter—seriously, pick whichever you want. You’re technically my first guest, so…”
She smiled and picked up the bags, his and hers, and headed toward the hallway he’d pointed out but paused at the opening.
“The one at the end has a better mattress and jetted tub. You might want that one. Could help the rest of those sore spots and bruises,” he pointed out.
A-ha. He did have a room, and if she wasn’t mistaken, he wanted her in it. Either way, both bags would land there, and she wouldn’t be spending the night anywhere but tucked into his side.
“I’ll take a look. I’m not too picky,” she hollered over her shoulder, earning a sarcastic laugh.
She could hear him wheel his chair up to the desk and his fingers dance across a keyboard.
“I’m going to see if I can track down any information without Liam knowing,” he said as she paused in the hallway.
“Ha.” She chuckled. “Without Liam knowing? He sort of knows everything.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve watched him my whole life, so I have a few tricks of my own. I also know how he works. I have ten minutes before he gets online and runs his trace on me.” Eva could hear Wylie’s smile in his tone. “I’ll just make sure I’m not too consistent in my approach so I don’t set off any of his alarms, and he won’t check a
gain for at least three hours.”
“Wow, you really have been paying attention.” She chuckled.
“I’ve had the best mentors and teachers. It’s all like second nature now.”
If Eva wasn’t already a fan, Wylie’s humble nature and respect for others would have won her over. She wandered down the hall to find the room Wylie described and let the moment he just shared with her wash over her. It was loyalty that stood out to her at that moment. Loyalty to his brothers, loyalty to the cause, loyalty to her.
Everything he was doing at that moment was for others, mostly her, and she couldn’t help but feel something she couldn’t even define. It wasn’t gratitude, though she was grateful. It wasn’t friendship because they’d exceeded that. It wasn’t love because it was too early for that. Right?
Whatever she was feeling, it made her gravitate to him and want to be around him when she wasn’t. He was only in the next room and felt his absence. Though it had been a rough several days, she couldn’t even blame it on that and being vulnerable, worn, tired. It was like she needed him but not in a desperate way or for his protection. For the most part, she could protect herself and didn’t need a man to rescue her—though he did rescue her when she needed it.
It was confusing. It was frightening. It was exciting. All of it. Their way to each other, the journey they were on, and where it was leading. Despite the violence they’d faced and the unknown, there was something she could count on, and it was Wylie. Always had been, even when neither wanted to admit it or even look in each other’s direction.
Eva stood in the room Wylie suggested, and it quickly became clear why he did. She noticed the other rooms were nice and tastefully decorated as she passed them, but this one was grander. It was warmer in nature and felt more like home than a guest’s quarters. There was something more personal about it—it was Wylie.
The bed was large, because he was, with plush cream bedding that was so inviting she’d be tempted to take a nap just to wrap herself up in it. There were rich fur throws at the end of the bed and matching pillows throughout. Leather filled a seating area that overlooked the wilderness beyond the large sliding glass door—again, draped in fur blankets. The same native pine furniture throughout. As much as it was masculine, it was soft, and she found that interesting. Perhaps he’d planned it with a woman in mind.
She’d dropped the bags on the bench at the foot of the bed and wandered into the bathroom. The jetted tub he’d mentioned sounded incredible, and it was. The entire space was. It was as expansive as the bathroom with a glass shower big enough for two comfortably, and the jetted tub would accommodate the same. That gave her ideas.
She stood at the vanity and leaned against it, staring back at her reflection to study her face. Her eyes welled with emotion, spilling over uncontrollably as she thought about the woman looking back at her. Thinking of her past, how she got to this point, and all she’d accomplished—and for what? To run?
In an attempt to right the wrongs of a monster—her father—and rid the world of his legacy…she found herself here. Worn. Hunted. Damaged beyond recognition. It pained her, but it lifted her up. Despite not recognizing the woman covered in faded battle scars staring back at her, she wouldn’t change a thing.
Eva directed her view to the large picture window above the deep jetted tub and watched the wilderness sit still. She wanted to sit still. She wanted to let go of the past and focus on a future with new interests and more meaning than it had only a handful of days prior. Maybe defeating her father’s legacy was as simple as creating her own. Maybe it had something to do with Wylie.
Nothing was clear. It was all a puzzle full of endless pieces, but when they were done running and ready to sit still, she hoped it would be right where she stood, at least for a spell, and she could be Eva. Not the daughter of a monster. Not the head of a ruthless crime organization she was trying to eradicate. Not the hardass operative righting the wrongs in the world. Just Eva.
And just like he’d come to her rescue before, he’d done it again. When Eva turned her attention back to the mirror, he was standing behind her. It was like he’d sensed her need for him and came for her. When he laid his hands on her hips, she leaned back into him and closed her eyes. It was like he was holding her up in a moment of reflection that tried to make her fall. He’d never let her fall, and she knew that.
“It’s going to be okay,” he promised. “We are going to get through this. Together.”
She nodded her head against his chest and looked out the window again. “I know. But just look at it out there…”
“I know,” he said, dropping a kiss on her shoulder. “I know.”
“Do you have anything to drink?”
“What are you looking for? Juice, water…”
“Liquor. I need alcohol,” she fired back. “Just enough to take the edge off.”
Turning her to face him, Wylie set her on the counter and looked her over. “Are you okay? Are you in pain?”
“No.” She laughed. “I just need a minute to be still like it is out there.”
Wylie followed her view and nodded. “I’ll meet you out there.”
20
Something moved. Eva couldn’t be sure what, but there was definitely movement in the distance as she stood on the deck, waiting for Wylie. Though it was likely wildlife—as they were in the middle of a forest—it felt like something else, and she could feel it staring back at her.
“I made—”
“Shh.” Eva put her hand up, cutting him off as she continued to watch for movement. “There. Did you see that?”
“See what?” Wylie put their drinks down on a nearby table and pulled his gun from the back of his waistband. “What do you see, Eva. Is someone out there?”
“I-I don’t know. Maybe? It would make sense if it was a wild animal or something, but something feels…”
“Off.” It was easy to finish her thought because Wylie sensed it too. The hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention. “Show me. Show me where you saw something.”
Eva was paralyzed with fear. Her stare was intense almost like she was entranced. “Right there, just beyond the rocks.”
“You stay right here. Don’t move, okay? Don’t fucking move. I want to be able to see you.” Wylie was in a tough spot. He didn’t want to leave her, but she was in no condition to go with him either. If he’d helped her inside and locked the doors, he might miss his opportunity to find whatever was out there and risk being locked out if she needed him.
She nodded, but her eyes were fixed on whatever was beyond the rocks.
He pulled a gun from under his pant leg and handed it to her. “Here. You hold this and don’t hesitate to shoot, got it? You shoot first, ask questions later. You shoot, Eva.”
She nodded again, stare intact.
Wylie stepped directly in front of her and followed the trail she set before him, looking back every so often. She watched him carefully make his way to the rocks her stare had been pinned on. When he looked back and shook his head, it was evident nothing was there. He gestured that he was going to continue and circle the property.
His direction made sense. If someone was back there, it was the more densely wooded direction and would be easier to hide or escape the area altogether. But it also meant Wylie was out of view. Eva continued to scan the area in the direction Wylie set off, imagining his pace and just where he’d be.
Wylie was good—she didn’t hear or see any trace of him. If someone was out there, Wylie would find them. But the longer he was out of sight, the more her panic set in. What if it was less about how good he was at tracking and more about being hunted? What if Wylie had fallen victim to them, and now it was just her and whatever was in those woods? What if it was already stalking its prey, and it was only a matter of a few torturous moments before she knew the outcome and fear came to life.
The suspense was killing her, literally. It was suffocating, and she couldn’t move, much less breathe. She called for hi
m. “Wylie?”
She knew better, but she did anyway and called again when he didn’t answer. This time louder, more frantic. “Wylie?”
Eva heard something, brush moving, maybe a stick breaking, but with the absolute silence and echoing among the trees, it was impossible to tell exactly what direction the sounds were coming from.
She looked left, then right, and called for him again, her voice a guttural fear-filled scream. “Wylie?”
As the sounds were closing in, and Wylie was nowhere to be found, she began to back her way to the house, gun aimed in front of her while she continued to watch for any kind of activity. And just when it became clear where the noise was coming from, it was too late. She’d backed into a wall and strong arms wrapped around her as she dropped her weapon.
She screamed and fought, turning in his arms, where she began to pound on a muscular wall-like chest.
“Eva,” Wylie said in a calm voice as he took her hits one after another. “Eva. It’s okay, honey. It’s just me. It’s me…”
He didn’t grab her hands or hold her tight, just kept her from hurting herself. He took every hit, every kick, and calmly talked her down. She needed that moment to let out pent-up fear, anger, and stress. So he let her have it—no matter how she needed to feel it.
“Wylie?” Tear-filled eyes met his, and she began to calm, her breathing settling as she came back to him from a place of sheer terror. “Oh, my God.”
“It’s okay,” he said, wrapping his arms tighter into a soothing embrace. “Shh. It’s okay. You’re okay. It’s just me.”
“I’m so sorry.” She choked back a sob threatening to break free just as her horror-filled rage did. “I don’t know why I did that. I heard something—heard you, I guess, and when I felt you behind me…”
“It’s okay. You’ve been through a lot. You have every right to be scared of your own shadow at this point.”
Brother's Keeper V: Wylie (the complete series BOX SET): NEW RELEASE + Series Box SET included! Page 128