Chapter 21

21

Consciousness came back slowly, more like trying to pull himself up off a hot sand beach than the crisp shock of diving into a mountain lake.

Fenn forced his eyes open. For a moment, he couldn't quite remember where he was or how he'd gotten there, and a dull, throbbing ache pulsed behind his eyes, making it hard to think straight. He lay still, trying to piece together the fragmented memories that danced just out of reach.

And then, like a dam bursting, it all came flooding back. The abandoned comms station. The eerie stillness of the frozen landscape. The sudden, violent attack that had come out of nowhere. He remembered the way the assailant had seemed to materialize out of the shadows, moving with a speed and agility that was almost inhuman. The blow to his head had sent him reeling, stars exploding behind his eyes as he'd crumpled to the ground, the icy cold of the snow seeping through his clothing. Sickening pain and then…nothing.

How had Kate gotten him back to the hotel? The thought flitted through his confused mind, but he let it go. There were plenty of capable sorts around who'd help her drag him in.

His gaze settled on Kate, sleeping in the chair beside him. There was a new softness to her features, a vulnerability that he'd never seen before. It was as if her revelation last night had somehow bridged the gap between them, creating a new intimacy that he hadn't even realized he'd been craving.

Outside, the wind howled like a wounded animal. Reaching behind him, he lifted the corner of the quilted window covering and peered out into the unrelenting darkness. A few tired flakes of snow scudded past, old snow scoured off the ice by the coming storm. But the real storm was still out there, lurking just beyond the horizon, threatening to unleash its fury at any moment.

As if sensing his movement, Kate stirred. Her eyes fluttered open. In an instant, she was fully awake, her body tensing as she scanned the room for any sign of danger, shifting into what he privately thought of as her "Go mode," her mind already whirring with plans and strategies.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, her voice still rough with sleep.

He shrugged, wincing as the movement sent a fresh wave of pain through his skull. "Not as bad as I would have expected," he said, trying for a grin. "I'll live."

"Any chance you saw who hit you?"

He shook his head, making the room spin. "Not even close. Sorry."

Kate's eyes narrowed. He could practically see the fury bubbling up inside her. He knew that she was deadly serious about finding whoever had attacked him, about making them pay for what they'd done. And as much as he appreciated her concern, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease at the intensity of her anger.

Anger made people careless.

As Kate rose, gathering her things, he got out of bed and pulled on a long-sleeve tech shirt over his tee, wincing slightly as the movement tugged at his bruised ribs. He snagged a cookie from the tray on the table, savoring the sweet, buttery flavor as he turned his mind to the problem at hand. "Let's make a plan. How long until the storm hits?"

Kate took a deep breath, visibly trying to rein in her anger. "Jimbo said it'll be here tonight, tomorrow morning at the latest. And it's gonna be a big one. A couple days, at least."

Fenn nodded, his mind already racing with possibilities. "Then we don't have much time. I say enough with letting this jerk call the shots. It's time we set a trap of our own."

He could see the wheels turning in her head as she considered his words. "What do you have in mind?"

He grinned, savoring the rush of adrenaline at the prospect of turning the tables on their attacker.

"They were gone before I found you. They could be anywhere," she acknowledged.

"Good point." His mind was already mapping out the terrain, considering the most likely hiding spots and escape routes. But before he could get too far, Kate interrupted him, her voice cutting through his thoughts like a knife.

"We should call in the team." Her tone left no room for argument.

Not that he would.

He blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in her demeanor. He'd expected her to want to handle this on her own, to keep her past and her pain private. But as he studied her face, he could see the determination in her eyes, the set of her jaw. She was ready to let their found-family in, to accept their support and their help.

A warm feeling bloomed in his chest, a mixture of pride and affection. He knew how hard it was for her to open up, to let others see her vulnerability. But she was doing it now. For him. For their team.

It was a sign of how much she trusted them, how much she loved them.

"Copy that. It's the smart play."

But even as the words left his mouth, Fenn realized the flaw in their plan. He blew out a defeated breath. "Storm's coming. There's no way they can get here until it's over."

Kate smacked her forehead, a rueful grin tugging at her lips. "Duh. I didn't think of that."

Fenn couldn't help but chuckle at her expression, at the way she could go from deadly serious to adorably chagrined in the blink of an eye. It was one of the things he loved most about her, the way she kept him on his toes, always surprising him.

"Maybe we should wait to contact them," she suggested. "I don't want them worrying about us when there's nothing they can do."

Fenn hesitated, not entirely loving the idea of keeping their team in the dark. But he couldn't disagree with her logic.

"Alright. Once the storm clears, we'll reach out to them. But in the meantime, we need to come up with a plan."

He tapped his chin, considering their options. Given the coming weather, there weren't many. "How about we interview every person in the settlement? What else are we gonna do for the next couple days?"

Plus, he wanted to check out the Marcus guy's snowmobile.

Kate nodded, a glint of excitement in her eyes. "I like it."

They sat in uncomfortable silence for a moment, the weight of their newfound intimacy hanging heavy in the air. Fenn was heartened by Kate's trust in him, but he didn't want to get ahead of himself, imagining a future that might never happen. Just because she was thawing didn't mean she was ready for a walk down the aisle.

Wanting to cut the tension, he patted his stomach. "It smells like Jimbo's fired up breakfast." If by breakfast, someone meant a skimpy buffet created by automated machinery. Still. It was salt and fat and assorted carbs. All good. "I'm starving. How about we talk deets over a plate of robot waffles?"

Kate laughed, clearly just as relieved to get back on normal footing. "Those things taste like cardboard."

"Cardboard with syrup. Hello." Fenn waggled his eyebrows. "Right now, I'd eat anything."

"Going for the mystery meat today then?"

His stomach clenched. Soggy bacon? Possibly. But that pinkish meat from a can? He shook his head. "Negatory, captain."

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "That's a relief. I need you. Can't afford to have you off your feet with food poisoning." As if realizing what she'd said, she stiffened and jerked a thumb at the door. "I'm going to change first. I feel like I've been wearing these clothes for a week."

She stood up, and for a moment, the air between them crackled with tension. Fenn's heart skipped a beat as he met her gaze, saw the softness in her eyes. But before he could fire off a flirty comment, she left, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.

He let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He reached up to touch the bump on the back of his head, wincing at the tenderness. But even as the pain flared, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope.

Kate's revelation last night cracked open the door to a new level of intimacy.

He reached across the bed, lifting the corner of the quilted window covering. Outside, snow swirled in dizzying patterns. The storm spinning up.

Maybe the last one they'd have to face.

He grinned so hard his sore head pulsed. With any luck, they'd be heading back to the warmth and light soon—in more ways than one.