by Autumn Reed
Despite his tough exterior, he seemed genuine. Through the darkness, I tried to search his face for answers. He appeared to be telling the truth.
I put my head down on my knees and hugged them even tighter to my chest. Overwhelmed, I closed my eyes. The world was spinning, and I wished I could open my eyes and be back in my house with my dad. Where were those ruby slippers when you really needed them? Even as my mind screamed at me not to give in, I heard myself whisper, “Okay.”
Apparently that was all he needed, because the next thing I knew, my body was being lifted from the ground. I should have protested, but I honestly didn’t want to. Strong arms cradled me against a muscular chest, and I was enveloped with warmth. I felt comforted, safe.
Balancing Act
The smell of bacon lured me out of my deep sleep. Despite the chilly room, I was warm and cozy under the covers. I stretched my legs out of habit and cringed when pain shot through my ankle in response.
The harsh sunlight felt like tiny pinpricks drilling into my head, and my body ached all over. Opening my eyes, I groaned as I realized I was waking up yet again in the cabin. Remembering scenes from the night before, I turned onto my stomach, burrowing into the covers and burying my head under the pillow. I can’t go out there, I thought. I can’t face them.
I briefly contemplated another escape attempt before hunger finally got the best of me, and I swung my feet to the floor. Standing up took significant effort; my ankle wobbled and protested against the slightest pressure. As sore as my ankle had been yesterday, today it felt a thousand times worse.
Stumbling through the forest in the dark was a great idea. And what did it even get me? I was back where I started, in more pain, and no closer to finding my dad. At least Knox promised me answers today. Remembering the feel of Knox’s arms surrounding me, my skin tingled involuntarily. Hopefully I could avoid that reaction when I saw him in person.
Still wearing Ethan’s boxers and Chase’s sweatshirt, I ran my fingers through my hair and smoothed my mismatched clothing. I straightened my shoulders, summoning the courage to face whoever was on the other side of the door. Ethan? Chase? Knox? All three? Just thinking about them made my heart beat a little faster.
I crept toward the bedroom door and slowly turned the knob, wanting to stay invisible as long as possible. The smell of bacon intensified and my stomach growled in response. Peeking out, I could see legs hanging over the arm of the couch. One guy, check. From the kitchen came sounds of cooking, the faint sizzle of something hitting a hot pan, the light sound of metal clanking against a dish. Two guys, check. I drew a deep breath and forced myself to step out from the safety of the bedroom.
I took a few steps before my ankle gave out, and I stumbled forward awkwardly. Great, so much for staying invisible. Arms flailing, I attempted to catch my balance while Chase popped up from his seat on the couch and held out a hand, offering to steady me. His smile was warm, and for a moment I felt even more unstable. I clasped my hand on his forearm, grateful for the support, and smiled in return.
Chase led me to the table and pulled out a chair, patiently waiting as I sat down. Glancing around, I wasn’t surprised to see Ethan busy at the stove. He wore a navy and pale orange patterned button-down shirt that was rolled up at the sleeves. The top two buttons were undone, providing a glimpse of his powerful chest muscles beneath. With his shirt tucked into his jeans, his brown leather belt accentuated his tapered waistline in contrast to his broad shoulders. His patterned socks made me smile; today’s choice was houndstooth. I wonder if his boxers match.
“Good morning, sleepy head.” His voice was cheerful and I sensed a note of mocking.
“Smells good,” I said, ignoring his tone. He quickly plated the breakfast and set a dish in front of me before joining us at the table. I relaxed a little, feeling less awkward about last night. I took a few bites and reminded myself to eat slowly, savoring the flavors as I felt the edge of my hunger start to fade.
Knox suddenly appeared at the sliding glass door to the deck, and I gripped the sides of the chair to steady myself. Chase turned toward me, a concerned look crossing his face.
As Knox slid the door open, Ethan smirked. “Don’t worry, Knox doesn’t bite.”
My mouth felt dry, and I doubted my ability to speak even if I wanted to. In the light of day, Knox was still intimidating. I hadn’t been imagining things last night; he really was as solid as a brick wall. He was just a hair shorter than Ethan—who I had gauged was close to six and a half feet tall—but he was much broader, with wide shoulders.
Knox’s dark blond hair grazed his cheeks and fell over part of his face. A dark V-neck shirt clung to his chest, covered by a worn, brown leather jacket. Relaxed jeans and motorcycle boots completed the look. If Chase looked like the blond All-American, Knox was the blond bad boy through and through.
Surrounded by Ethan, Chase, and Knox, I was tongue-tied. Pretending to be absorbed in my breakfast, I observed them one by one. They were each remarkable in their own way, but together, the three were almost more than I could take.
I was interrupted from my thoughts by Ethan. “Haley. Earth to Haley. Feeling okay?”
I nodded, lazily swatting away his hand that was reaching out toward my forehead as if to check my temperature. The corner of his lip twitched upward, and his eyes flickered with amusement as he resumed eating. After a few bites, he looked at me. “Speaking of. How is your ankle feeling today?”
I pushed my food around a little before speaking in a quiet voice, still focused on the plate in front of me. “It feels fine, I guess.”
He scoffed. “I’m sure it does after walking on it all night. Do you mind if I take a quick look at it?”
“No,” I replied, avoiding looking him in the eyes. I felt the most guilty facing Ethan after running away; probably because he had taken care of me and spent so much time with me yesterday. He very gently lifted my leg and rested my foot on his thigh. Inspecting my ankle, he lightly pushed at the swelling before placing my foot back on the ground.
“I think you’ll live,” he said with a slight smile.
Ethan looked me directly in the eye, his rich brown eyes holding my attention until he finished giving his orders. “Stay off that ankle today, Haley. I mean it. Rest it, ice it, and take the medicine I gave you yesterday. Don’t put any weight on it; Chase and Knox will help you get around when you need to. We will have to get you some crutches later.”
Before I could respond, Ethan pushed his chair back from the table and headed toward the sink to rinse his dish. I didn’t realize he was leaving until he walked to the door, pausing only to grab a brown leather satchel. “I’ll see you later. Play nice.” He winked at me before closing the door behind him.
I gulped, realizing I was alone with Knox and Chase. Although I didn’t know Ethan well, I felt like I knew him better than the other two. We finished our breakfast and Chase asked if I would like to shower. I attempted to get up from the table but felt myself falling back into the chair when my ankle refused to cooperate.
Chase shot me a kind, understanding smile and rose from his chair. “Here, allow me.” He pulled out my chair and then held out his hand, palm up. I grasped his forearm, enjoying the warmth of his skin under the golden blond hair and the lean muscles that flexed in response to my touch. Once I was standing, he turned so we walked side-by-side and shifted his weight to bear more of my own.
I felt my cheeks redden at the intimacy and looked toward the floor, letting my hair cover my face. Closing the bathroom door behind him, I found that someone had laid out clean clothes for me on the counter. Thinking back to day I met Chase at the library and what he was wearing, I wondered if the olive-colored raglan shirt belonged to him. With Ethan’s affinity for patterns, I would have been surprised if the shirt and solid gray sweat pants were his.
I also noted the addition of conditioner and a comb. Hmm, was that a hint that my hair was a mess? I showered quickly, then ran the comb through my hair and put on the
clothes. After walking around in Ethan’s boxers all day yesterday, I was happy for the sweats even though I had to roll up the waist and hem to keep from tripping on them. I unlocked the door, tentatively wondering what to expect for the day.
As soon as the door was open, Chase was there to meet me. I felt his eyes glance over me and then linger briefly before he quickly looked away. I blushed, wondering if I looked even more ridiculous than I realized. He stepped beside me and attempted to guide me as he had before, allowing me some space and letting me lean on his forearm.
Although my shower had been brief, standing for so long had taken its toll. I started to lose my balance, and Chase reached a broad arm around me, supporting and warming me. He drew my arm up around his shoulder, gently holding on to my waist as he helped me hop across the room. Being so close to him was intoxicating.
A couple of days ago, I would have gone into shock at the contact. But, I could already feel myself getting comfortable with these guys. Well, Chase and Ethan, at least. Chase cleared his throat. “How about the couch so you can put your foot up?” I nodded at his suggestion then quickly regretted it when I saw Knox already sitting on the chair nearby.
After I was settled on the couch, Chase grabbed an ice pack from the freezer. Wrapping it in a towel, he placed it carefully over my ankle. My stomach fluttered and I smiled inwardly, reveling in how sweet and good-looking he was. I hated feeling dependent on anyone, but if it had to be someone, Chase was definitely an attractive option.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Knox thread his fingers through his hair, pulling it away from his face. Too curious about him to resist, I turned my head to take a closer look. At least a day’s worth of scruff covered his face; it was a slightly darker color than his hair and created the illusion of a shadow. The V-neck T-shirt left little to the imagination, revealing powerful chest muscles beneath its thin fabric. The hint of a tattoo snaked down his formidable bicep. I couldn’t make out the design and wished I could see the rest of it. I wonder if he has any other tattoos?
My cheeks started to heat at the thought of inspecting Knox’s bare skin for more tattoos. Instead, I forced myself to focus on the dark leather bracelet that rested on one wrist. He sat in a relaxed posture, one ankle rested on the opposite knee, focused on his phone.
Suddenly he looked up, catching me before I could look away. Embarrassed, I quickly looked down, acting absorbed in my hands. Chase finally came to join us in the living room. Before he sat down, Chase asked, “Need anything, Haley?”
I shook my head and smiled. “I’m good, thanks.” Under my breath I added, “Unless you guys want to give me some answers.”
Knox glowered at me. “Answers, huh?” I opened my mouth, surprised he heard my comment. I pressed my lips together tightly, unsure what to do. I felt like a boxer dancing around the ring, waiting for my opponent to throw the first punch.
Gloves Off
Knox continued to watch me, forcing me to return his fiery stare. The air caught in my chest; his striking green eyes were captivating and gazed back at me with an intensity that was unnerving. They were framed on top by broad, arching eyebrows while dark circles cast shadows from fatigue. Distracted momentarily, he caught me off guard with his question. “Why did you run away last night?” His tone was aggressive and I gulped.
Without thinking, I responded. “Why do you think?” My tone came off more defensive than I wanted, but I felt like I was being attacked. I glared at him. “How would you feel if you had lost your home in a fire, didn’t know where your family was, and had been taken to a cabin in the woods by strangers?”
Chase shot me a reassuring smile. I wanted to get off to a good start, but Knox was making it difficult. I sighed and decided to ask a basic question. “How do you know each other?”
Knox answered. “We all work together.” Wow, you’re really giving me a lot to go on here.
He narrowed his eyes. “Where did you learn that move you pulled on me last night?” Chase sputtered, almost spitting out the water he was sipping.
I felt intimidated by Knox, but there was no way I was going to give him the satisfaction of knowing it. “My dad taught me.” If he was going to give me short answers, I was going to give him the same in return. My turn. “What were you all doing in the area and at my house? You obviously don’t live in this cabin, so I’m guessing you’re not from around here.”
Chase stayed silent as if waiting for Knox to answer. Knox’s face was unreadable and while I couldn’t be sure he was the leader, both Ethan and Chase seemed to defer to him. Whether through fear, respect, or both, I could see why they may hesitate to contest Knox’s authority.
“You’re right,” Knox responded, “We’re not from here. The three of us live in Santa Cruz and were in the area for our job.” He paused, making me wonder if he was going to stop after that measly explanation. Crossing my arms, I fought the scowl forming on my face.
After a few long moments, Knox continued. “We work in private security and do private investigation on the side. We came to Coleville on assignment . . . and that’s where you come in.” He paused again. “Haley, we were hired to find your dad.”
My pulse started racing. Was he admitting that they were responsible for everything that had happened? Did the guys lead the criminals straight to Dad? I couldn’t help but feel disappointed that Chase, Knox, and Ethan were involved in some way. It was the only explanation that made sense and suddenly I wanted to lash out at them.
Chase interrupted. “We were hired to find your dad, but we had nothing to do with the explosion at your house or your Dad’s disappearance. We don’t know what happened. We want to help you, and we want to figure out what’s going on.”
I watched Chase’s face as he talked. His blue eyes appeared clear and honest. He seemed so sincere, it was almost impossible not to give in and completely trust him then and there.
Knox spoke then, breaking the spell. “You didn’t appear to be carrying a flashlight last night; it made it pretty difficult to find you.”
I scarcely held in a laugh, surprised by the change of subject. “Oh, good. You know I wasn’t trying to be found.”
I felt the air in the room lighten. He scratched his chin, and I could hear the short hairs brushing against his fingers. “Did you drop the flashlight at some point?”
I shook my head. “Nope.” He seemed to be done interrogating me, at least for the moment.
He stopped scratching his chin. “I’m just trying to figure out how you made it two and a half miles in the dark.”
I grinned. “It was simple really, I used my eyes.”
Chase laughed, but Knox narrowed his eyes. “There was barely any light from the moon last night. You mean to tell me you can see in the dark?”
“Sort of.”
He started laughing, a laugh that was deep and hearty. “You’re kidding, right?”
My face felt hot now. “No. I’ve trained myself to see better in the dark. Most of the time, though, I use a special flashlight with red light that helps preserve my natural night vision.” Knox stopped laughing and shook his head.
I furrowed my brow. They had given me some answers, but I still had a lot of questions. I still wanted to know who they were working for. Feeling braver now, I decided to push the issue. “Last night, you promised to tell me the rest of the story. Who hired you to find my dad?”
Knox responded, his voice calm but direct. “I can’t tell you that. I can tell you that we did a full background check on our client and didn’t find any reason to be suspicious of his intentions. Now that we know men were following your dad and he has disappeared, we are concerned about the possibility that our client is involved.”
Knox leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He dipped his head and massaged his temples with his fingers, eyes closed. “Haley, who do you think was chasing your dad?” He sounded tired.
I considered the best way to respond. Knox and Chase obviously knew a lot more than they initially l
et on; maybe they were still holding back details that would help me find Dad. With escape no longer an option at this point, I realized I may have to give them a little information if I wanted some myself. Besides, if they were working with the criminals, relating part of Dad’s backstory probably wouldn’t tell them anything new.
My palms felt clammy. I knew providing some information could help, but secrecy and silence were so ingrained in me that any disclosure, however slight, felt like betrayal. I grabbed a pillow from the couch, hugging it tightly. “My knowledge of all of this is very limited; I really only know a few things that my dad told me. Long story short, my dad used to be an undercover cop in Los Angeles.”
I paused, debating the best way to relay the story quickly. “About twelve years ago, he and his partner were working undercover with a criminal organization; I don’t know any names or details. His partner was murdered after his cover was blown, but Dad was able to get away. We went into hiding and have been living in Coleville ever since.”
I’m not sure what I was expecting, but neither Chase nor Knox seemed terribly surprised by this revelation. I hugged the pillow closer, tightening my grip. “As far as I know, our identities and location have remained a secret for all of these years. But, Dad told me that he was spotted a couple of weeks ago in Sacramento by a former colleague, and I’m guessing that’s not a coincidence.”
I let out a breath, feeling relieved by sharing the story but also drained. I was getting hot and the air in the cabin felt stifling. I need fresh air. Forgetting about my ankle, I tried to stand, wanting to head out to the deck. My feet started to give way, and Chase and Knox jumped up simultaneously.
Before I knew it, Knox was standing behind me, his arms supporting me. Chase’s face was full of concern. I sighed. “I just wanted to go out to the deck for some fresh air.”