“Tank,” she started, softer now.
He shook his head. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?” she hissed.
“Don’t make this a thing,” he said. “We’ve got bigger problems to deal with right now. The last thing I need to do is talk about my dead grandfather, or my feelings.”
She studied him for a second and then nodded. “Okay,” she said. She didn’t pressure him for more information, and he appreciated that.
Another few miles passed in silence. The road narrowed, and the trees closed in tighter. Darkness thickened around them until the headlights were the only thing cutting through it. “We’re close,” he said. Lillith sat up slightly, peering out the window like she might actually see something in the pitch black.
“I see absolutely nothing,” she said.
“Good,” he whispered. “If you can’t see anything, then the men looking for us won’t be able to either.”
“That’s not comforting,” she grumbled.
“It is to me,” he said. She huffed under her breath but didn’t argue with him. Tank slowed the truck, turning onto a barely visible dirt path that branched off the road. Gravel crunched beneath the tires as they moved deeper into the woods. There were no lights, signs, or anything to mark the property. It was just the way he liked things. Privacy meant that they’d be safe for the time being.
“Okay,” Lillith said slowly. “Now I’m officially concerned.”
“Relax,” he mumbled under his breath.
“Someone tried to kidnap me just an hour ago,” she snapped. “How am I supposed to relax?”
“Right—they attempted to kidnap you, and I stopped them,” he corrected.
She shot him a look. “That doesn’t make it any better.”
“Yeah,” he admitted. “I know. That’s the reason why we are here.” The path opened up just enough for the cabin to come into view. It was small, but hidden. His grandpa only brought him to the cabin twice when he was a kid. He had almost forgotten about it until he needed to come up with a plan to lay low but stick close to Lillith. Tank was just happy that it was still standing, although it looked a little worse for wear. Fixing up the old cabin would give him something to do until he could come up with a plan to end this mess, once and for all.
For now, they were exactly where they needed to be. Tank parked behind the cabin and killed the engine of his truck. It felt as though silence swallowed them whole. For a second, neither of them moved. “This is it?” Lillith asked.
“Yeah,” he said. She looked at the cabin, and then back at him. Then back at the cabin again. For some crazy reason, he wanted her to like the place, not that it really mattered.
“You live here?” she asked.
“I don’t live anywhere,” he said. “The house that I was living in was burnt down after I witnessed the murder. It also belonged to my grandpa, but he left both places to me. Since then, I’ve just lived at whatever motel let me pay in cash and use a fake name.
“Oh,” she said quietly. “I see.” Tank grabbed his keys and stepped out of the truck, his eyes immediately scanning the perimeter. When he decided that it was safe, he moved to Lillith’s side, opening the door for her before she could reach for it.
She raised a brow. “What, you’re a gentleman now?”
“Get out of the truck,” he said. She rolled her eyes at him, but did as he said. That was progress, at least. He led her up the short path to the cabin, unlocking the door and stepping inside first. He checked for signs of forced entry, but found none. Therewas no movement at all, and no one was waiting in the shadows. They were safe, for now.
He stepped aside. “You’re safe here.”
Lillith walked in slowly, her gaze sweeping the space. “It’s nice,” she said. The cabin wasn’t fancy, but it was clean and safe, and that was all that mattered right now.
“Bathroom’s through there,” he said, nodding down the hall. “The bedroom is at the end.”
“The bedroom, as in only one?” she asked. He nodded. “Where will you sleep?” she asked.
“I’ll take the couch,” he said. The idea of sleeping on that uncomfortable couch made his back hurt already.
She frowned. “That’s stupid.”
“It’s practical,” he insisted. “You can take the bedroom, and I’ll sleep on the sofa.” He shrugged. “I used to sleep on the sofa when I was a kid.”