The headlights flashed off a sign a few feet ahead. Tremble Back Pop. 214 with an arrow pointing to the right.
And there it was—the answer to his problem. One of them, at least. What were the odds he’d end up within spitting distance of his family’s cabin?
“I don’t believe you.” She shook her head. “I don’t believe any of this. This must be a mistake.”
“I want you alive, Lyss.” The nickname slipped out again. He’d used it so naturally once, back when she was his, back before everything shattered. “Those men saw your face, and you weren’t supposed to see theirs. No one but those in the meeting were to know they were there.”
“Why did you say I was your girlfriend?” She pushed herself against the door as if trying to put as much distance between them as possible. “Why did you...” Her hand rose to her temple, where he’d kissed her. “I want to go home." Her voice was small, scared. "I need to process this. I can't?—"
"I'm working with the FBI. Your brother's in the middle of it. He's not who you think he is."
She just stared at him, continuing to press herself against the door.
He ignored her, taking the next turn, grateful to leave the pack of slow-moving vehicles behind, even though the road toward Tremble Back already had plenty of snow on it.
Her voice was low, scared. “Why are you doing this?”
Because it’s the only way to save you. Because even after two years, even after you broke my heart, I would still burn the whole world down to keep you safe. Because you’re still Lyss to me, even if I have no right to call you that anymore.
He said none of those things. “Because it was the only way to get you out of there alive.” His voice came out rough. “They would have taken you. Questioned you. Hurt you.”
Killed you, his mind supplied, even though he didn’t say it. But she heard it anyway—he saw her face pale in his peripheral vision.
Her voice was barely audible, the question not directed at him. “What was he doing in that room?”
Mack’s jaw worked. The windshield wipers slapped at the snow, barely keeping up. High beams reflected off a wall of white, making visibility even worse. He eased off the accelerator.
“He must be working for one of them.”
“Working for…a cartel?”
She was in shock. That’s why she kept circling the same questions. “Yes.”
A sharp intake of breath. Then nothing. Just the sound of the storm and the heater and the engine laboring through deepening snow.
When she spoke again, her voice was hollow. “Did you know I was going to be there tonight? Did you know I moved here?”
Finally, he glanced at her. Her eyes searched his face for something. Truth, maybe. Or proof that this was all a terrible nightmare she’d wake up from. “No. You told me to leave you alone two years ago, and I did.”
Her expression shuttered. Right. Because she’d been the one to end it. The one to walk away. She had no right to look hurt by his words.
“But you’re in danger now.” He turned back to the road, gripping the wheel harder. “And whether you like it or not, I’m all you’ve got.”
The road climbed into the mountains, visibility dropping to almost nothing. Wind buffeted the SUV and Mack fought to keep them steady. His phone buzzed again—weather alerts, GPS trying to reroute, messages he couldn’t spare his attention for.
Beside him, Alyssa fell silent. He could feel more questions building in her, the same way he used to feel storms coming.
But every answer would lead to more questions, and some of those questions he couldn’t answer without breaking about five different security clearances and putting her in even more danger.
“Mack.” Her voice was softer now. Tired. “Where are we going?”
“To a cabin,” he said. “It’s as secure as the SPS compound, but it’s off the grid. They won’t find you there.”
“What happens when we get to this cabin?”
Good question.
Two years of staying away. Two years of building walls to keep the hurt behind. And now he was driving into the mountains with her, about to be trapped in close quarters for God knew how long. Blake knew they’d left together. The cartels knew her face. And he’d just put himself between Alyssa and all of it.