Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Q uinn

The icy wind bites at my cheeks as I trudge up the narrow trail the following morning, my breath clouding the crisp air. My laptop bag bumps against my hip with every step, and I clutch it tightly, as if the files inside could vanish with one wrong move. The thought makes my stomach twist. What I found this morning wasn’t just disturbing—it was dangerous.

The path levels out, and Devil’s Peak stretches before me, majestic and unforgiving. I pause, my eyes scanning the horizon. Ridge’s observatory gleams in the distance, its dome like a beacon against the endless expanse of pine and snow. But it’s what’s hidden in the valleys below that sends a shiver down my spine, and it has nothing to do with the cold.

I glance behind me, the eerie quiet of the trail unsettling. It feels like someone’s watching, though I’ve seen no one. I shake it off and keep moving. You’re overthinking. This is just a hike.

But it’s not just a hike. Not with what’s at stake.

When I reach the cabin attached to the observatory, Ridge is outside, chopping wood like a man who’s at war with the logs. His shirt is off, his broad shoulders flexing with every swing of the ax. Sweat glistens on his skin despite the frigid temperature, and I hate the way my stomach flips at the sight.

He glances up as I approach, his brow furrowing. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Not a ghost,” I mutter, dropping my bag onto the porch. “But I might’ve uncovered something worse.”

He straightens, his eyes narrowing. “What are you talking about?”

I hesitate, the weight of my discovery pressing down on me. But there’s no point in keeping it to myself. Not when he’s the only one I trust right now.

“There’s a developer looking to build a wind farm on Devil’s Peak,” I say, my voice tight. “It would destroy the ecosystem—and the observatory.”

Ridge doesn’t say anything at first, but his jaw ticks, and I can see the tension in his shoulders. “What makes you so sure?”

I reach into my bag and pull out my laptop, flipping it open. “I found documents buried in public records. Environmental impact reports, property acquisitions—it’s all there. They’ve been planning this for months, maybe years.”

He steps closer, leaning over my shoulder to look at the screen. His scent—wood smoke and something distinctly him—wraps around me, making it hard to focus. His proximity shouldn’t affect me like this, not when there are bigger things to worry about. But it does.

“This is real?” he asks, his voice low and sharp.

I nod. “And it’s bad. If they go through with it, it’ll ruin everything. The wildlife, the views, the dark skies for stargazing—gone.”

He exhales, his breath warm against my ear. “Who else knows about this?”

“Just you,” I admit, turning to face him. “And I think they know I found out.”

His eyes darken, a storm brewing behind them. “What do you mean?”

“I was at the lodge having coffee and doing my research when I had the distinct feeling I was being watched. I couldn’t shake it–there were so many people around though, tourists and skiers and…well, I just decided to leave but then I felt like I was being followed on the trail,” I confess, my voice shaking despite my best efforts to sound calm. “So I went to the small research cabin near Grady’s place that I’ve been using and found that someone tried to break in–the lock looked like someone tried to pick it and there was hack marks in the wood.”

Ridge straightens, his entire body coiled like a spring. “You should’ve come straight here–I don’t like you wandering the mountain alone.”

“I didn’t want to involve you,” I say, but the words sound weak even to me.

He steps closer, his gaze locking onto mine. “Quinn, you’re already involved. And now, so am I.”

By the time Zane, Slate, and Ridge’s friends Fox and Liam, and my brother arrive at the cabin, the sun has dipped below the mountains, casting long shadows across the snow. The mood inside is tense, the air thick with unspoken words.

“You’re sure about this?” Zane asks, pacing the room as Ridge explains what I found.

“As sure as I can be,” Ridge replies, his voice steady. “And if Quinn’s right, this is bigger than just some developers trying to make a quick buck–I’m sure there’s millions at stake with investors and powerful people pulling strings. They’re willing to hurt people to keep it quiet.”

Grady’s eyes narrow. “Do we know who’s behind it?”

I nod, pulling up the files on my laptop. “Quinn found a corporation called Apex Energy that’s been snooping around Devil’s Peak. They’ve got deep pockets and even deeper connections, including government research grants behind them.”

Fox whistles low. “Sounds like we’re dealing with more than just a couple of pencil pushers.”

Liam leans back in his chair, his arms crossed. “So what’s the plan? We can’t just sit around and wait for them to make their next move.”

Ridge looks at me, his expression unreadable. “You said they know you found out. That means they’ll come for you again.”

“I’m not hiding,” I say firmly, lifting my chin. “If they think they can scare me off, they’re wrong.”

His lips twitch, but it’s not a smile—it’s something darker, more primal. “Good. Because I’m not letting them anywhere near you.”

Later that night, Ridge insists on escorting me back to the research station to retrieve my remaining files. He doesn’t say much as we hike the narrow path, but his presence is a comfort. The weight of his protective instincts is almost tangible, and I find myself leaning into it, even though I know I shouldn’t.

“You always this stubborn?” he asks, breaking the silence.

I glance at him, surprised. “Coming from you, that’s rich.”

He smirks, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Just making sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.”

“I can handle myself,” I say, though the words feel hollow.

“Sure you can,” he mutters, his tone making it clear he doesn’t believe me.

The station comes into view, its dim light the only beacon in the darkness. But as we approach, Ridge tenses, his hand moving to the knife strapped to his belt.

“Stay behind me,” he says, his voice low.

“What is it?” I whisper, my heart pounding.

He doesn’t answer, his focus trained on the shadows near the building. Then I see it—a figure darting between the trees, too fast to be a trick of the light.

“Inside,” he orders, shoving me toward the door. “Now.”

I don’t argue, fumbling with the keys as fear claws at my chest. Ridge stays outside, his silhouette framed by the dim light, a sentry against whatever—or whoever—is out there.

When he finally joins me inside, his expression is grim. “Whoever it was, they’re gone now. But they’ll be back.”

I nod, my hands shaking as I pack up the rest of my files. “What do we do?”

“We fight,” he says simply, his voice like steel.

I meet his gaze, my chest tightening at the intensity in his eyes. “You really think we can win?”

He steps closer, his hand brushing against mine. “With you? I’d take on the whole damn world.”