43. Winter

Waking up in the cabin,lying in Asher's arms, I had a full minute of contentedness before reality crowded back in. Something vibrating had woken me. I reached for my phone. We'd finally made it into the bedroom last night before I'd passed out. I'd been so tired. Bone-shatteringly exhausted. I just couldn't keep my eyes open.

Surprised to see my cell had a weak signal, I opened the message. It was a video from an unknown number. In it, someone with a flashlight was walking outside. A shape came into focus. I recognized the insignia on Asher's motorcycle. They poured something into the fuel tank.

A message popped up.

Sodium silicate, better known as liquid glass, and they won't know until the investigation why lover boy lost control of his bike. There are just so many dangerous roads in Hade Harbor, don't you think?

I stared at Trent's message, my heart dropping to my stomach.

Another one popped up.

Now that we understand each other, get ready and wait for someone to pick you up. I've had enough of waiting around for you to understand the gravity of your situation. That ends today. Selena says hi, by the way. She's once again a guest of The Cove. She's waiting for you, in case you were thinking about ratting me out to your little boyfriend.

I dropped my phone and shivered. Selena had gone back to The Cove? She'd never do that willingly. The danger was very real and closing in. The plan that me and Bran O'Connor had come up with hadn't involved anyone else, but there was nothing I could do about that now.

I looked at Asher. He'd be furious. He might even hate me. He might give up on me. I couldn't let those fears get in the way. I needed him unhurt more than I needed him to not be mad at me. Nothing else mattered.

I was sending one bad guy after another. That had to be the plan. Cold-blooded as it was, I didn't care what happened to Bran O'Connor. My whole world rested on what happened to Asher. Asher Martino deserved to have someone looking out for him for once, and that person was me. I just had to point my dangerous weapon in the right direction. Bran didn't know where The Cove was. I didn't, either, and Selena couldn't remember. Someone had to go there. And that someone was me.

I picked up my phone and typed a quick message to a number I had saved a few days ago. I just had to hope I still had service.

Me: It's a go. He's taking me there. Get here and follow - now.

Bran: Got it, my little cheerleading bait. See you soon

I dropped my coordinates and got up.

It took me a long time to get out of bed. I couldn't stop staring at Asher. The line of his jaw and the dusting of fawn freckles on his golden cheekbones. He was beautiful. On a whim, I took off my necklace. Searching silently in the kitchen, I found a scrap of paper and scribbled out a quick note.

I'm sorry. I can't take the grapevine knot, because I don't want you to find me this time. Give it back to me after, if you still want to.

To me, meeting you made all the time I was waiting and lonely worthwhile. And I love you, in case I don't have a chance to tell you later.

Your spoiled brat, always - W

I left the note with the ring on the kitchen table and crept into the living room. My clothes were all over the place. I dressed quickly and laced up my boots in near silence. I couldn't let him use his motorcycle. Not only would he come after me too quickly, but it was messed up and dangerous. Messing with his ride like that was practically attempted murder. Fury at Trent flooded through me.

He"d get what was coming to him. Somehow, someway, he would. For me and for Selena and all the girls who had passed through The Cove's doors unwillingly. I searched the entire place for the motorcycle keys and was relieved to find an extra cabin key on his keychain. I unlocked the door and glanced over my shoulder. The cabin was undisturbed, sleepy still, in the pale dawn light. Would I ever come back here? The thought broke my heart.

Yes, I would. I would make sure of it. I wished I felt as confident as my affirmations sounded.

I was out of time. After a lifetime of having way too much of it, the happiest time of my life had streamed past me in a heartbeat.

A truck rolling over gravel sounded outside. Trent's henchman coming to pick me up. I had to go. I resisted the urge to look in on Asher again.

Instead, I stepped out and locked him in. I pocketed the bike key and went to meet Trent's henchman.

It was go time.

A black truck sat outside with an impassive driver sitting in the front.

"I'm going to need your phone," he said firmly as soon as I got in the back.

"But I wanted to play games on the way to Hell…what else will I do to pass the time?" I snarked.

I gave it to him with a reluctant sigh. He took it and raised the partition. Then we were moving. We drove out of the woods and headed north. So, Bran O'Connor's hunch had been right. Trent wanted to take me to The Cove and show off his might and power. He probably thought it would make me docile and biddable. He had another think coming.

I couldn't get Asher's face out of my head. I closed my eyes and let myself sink into the memories of last night. I'd tried to push the stubborn man away. What was his problem? Why wouldn't he just go? After a lifetime of searching, I'd found someone who wouldn't leave, even when I did everything in my power to make them go. Someone who loved me even when I was being a brat, when I was lying and hiding, and being a stone-cold bitch. Unconditional love.

The thing that had always been out of reach for me was finally found. I'd do anything to keep it, but most of all, I'd do anything to keep him safe and unharmed. Nothing mattered more.

After a few hours of me dozing, lingering in memories, the car slowed. I didn't recognize where we were. The car drove onto a strange surface, and after a moment, it became clear we were on a vehicle ferry. We needed a boat to get there? Panic instantly engulfed me. How would Bran follow if we took a ferry? How inaccessible was this place?

There was nothing I could do, however. I was stuck with the plan, even if it seemed to be going down the drain. Another hour passed, and then we drove off the ferry and soon pulled to a stop.

The driver got out and opened my door. It was raining hard here and dark all around, apart from a building sitting right on the shore.

The Cove. It was well-named. It literally sat inside a rocky cove, accessible by boat on one side, and a tiny, unmarked road on the other, as far as I could see. Did they put it here to make it hard for the police to check in on them? Or was it to stop the wrong people from getting in? Or out? I shivered and cast the thought aside. There was no time to freak myself out. This was happening.

The driver took me by the elbow and pushed me up the marina and onto a stone path that led to the building's entrance.

He stepped forward and looked into a security camera, then the door buzzed open.

He took me inside, and the door slammed behind us. I jumped.

"Mr. Fitzgerald is waiting for you," he said, propelling me down the hallway.

We passed endless doors and staircases down. It seemed there were quite a few subterranean levels to the building. Short snatches of music drifted to me here and there, mixed with conversations.

Finally, we stopped at a red door at the end of the hallway.

"You'll wait in here." He shoved me inside unceremoniously and shut the door.

A loud locking sound came from the other side.

I turned slowly, inspecting the room. It was terrifying. It wasn't only the door that was red, but all the walls were, too. A huge, scary-looking medical chair, like the one they used at the gynecologist, was sitting in the middle of the room. A metal trolley sat next to it, covered in implements. I made out scissors, tweezers, and a scalpel before I tore my eyes away.

"Winter?" a voice whispered from the other side of the room.

I spun around, a cry of relief leaving me. Selena. She was huddled against the far wall, as far as she could get from the door. Her eyes were huge and her cheeks tearstained. She stared at me like I was a ghost, like she couldn't quite believe I was there.

I flew across the room to her and pulled her close.

"Did they do anything to you?" I asked immediately. I hadn't realized the full extent of what might have happened to my best friend. The setup of the room we were in showed me that.

She shook her head. "No, not yet. Trent stopped by the house. He told me that you were here and that you needed me…he made me think you were hurt. I couldn't get through to you on the phone, and I believed him."

I stared at her, incredulous. "So, you willingly came back here? For me?"

She shrugged. "You don't have to call me dumb. I know I am." She forced a tiny smile, but it didn't take away what she'd done.

I was selfishly glad she was here, and that I wasn't alone in this horrifying room.

"What's your plan?" she asked.

"Why do you think I have one?"

"You always have one."

I sank down beside her and wrapped my arm around her shoulders. "You're right, I do. And today is no exception."