Page 86 of Into the Fire: Before
“Caine…” Taryn’s eyes shone with sorrow.
I kept my focus on Brea. The strength I needed in moments of weakness. “The cabin was sold along with the rest of my family’s estate. Some was put into a trust for my maintenance. Most of it, the state kept.” I looked to Lin. “There’s no telling if it’s even still standing, let alone empty.”
Lin shuffled nervously. I didn’t think I’ve ever seen Lin shuffle nervously. “It’s standing. And empty.”
My heart squeezed. “How…?”
A look of determination took over his features. “It came across my desk some years ago. I thought maybe, one day, youmay want to go back.” He took a deep breath. “A management company keeps it in good repair and clear of squatters. I bought it under a tertiary shell corp. I won’t say itcan’tbe connected to us, but it’s not an immediate link.”
The room fell silent, everyone exchanging heavy looks with everyone else.
“You…bought…the Greysmoke cabin?”
Lin didn’t move. Didn’t tense or stand up straighter. Only impassively replied, “I did.”
“Youown it? Right now?”
“Yes.”
My emotions had no clue what to fucking do. Wring his neck, hug him, cry, run, punch a wall, suck my thumb. I pinballed among a hundred different options.
Taryn’s touch on my neck snapped my attention to her. The golden specks in her eyes almost glowed as she looked up at me, all softness and gentleness.
I was putty for this omega.
That cabin was the scene of the worst moments of my life. The destruction of my first family. The gateway down a road that led to depravity and suffering and death.
But my family had been happy there before. For years, we had.
All our scents had finally coalesced in the apartment, fitting together to create an, honestly, intoxicating aroma. New pack. New family.
If that cabin could keep this family safe, just for a little while, then it was a godsend. For years, I had been the one needing the help and protection of others. Now was my time to protect them.
I cupped Taryn’s cheek in my hand. “Pack up, omega,” I said before putting a kiss on the crown of her head. “We’re heading to the mountains.”
Four
Taryn
Themen’sSUVwasstuffed to the gills with three alphas, a beta, an omega, and all the luggage and supplies we could fit in the space remaining. The cabin was a ten-hour drive from Farendale, so after a frenzied afternoon packing, and Brooks and Lin going on a pre-heat grocery run, we’d started out bright and early the next morning.
I’d slept the first two hours while the sky was still dewy and gray. Now that I was awake, though, I wanted more from Caine. His middle-of-the-night declarations were beautiful, and such a relief. But I legit needed so much goddamn context. And, boy, was he delivering.
“Wait, so this whole timeBrea’sbeen yourtherapist?”
My mind was so fucking blown right now.
He and Brea sat in the captain seats, Lin driving and Brooks riding shotgun. I sat in the middle seat of the far back row, currently looking back and forth between Brea and Caine likethey’d just revealed they’d Bonnie and Clyded the Farendale Trust Bank.
“Yeah,” he answered slowly, the closest thing to a smirk I’d ever seen on his face. “Though I don’t think that’s gonna work out in the end.”
Brea chuckled. “That’s assuming I’m not booted from the program for fraternizing with the clientele.”
Worry marred Caine’s face. “Wait, they better fucking not—”
“Kidding, Caine,” Brea assured him with a squeeze to his hand. “I’ve kept Olinda updated every step of the way. I, ah…I prepared a transition of care form when we sent the heat partner invite. I’d intended to speak with you privately about it, make it clear that every bit of it was your call, but with everything that happened after…” She swallowed, her pomegranate scent tart enough to my my jaw hurt. But she continued a moment later. “The morning after the ballet, I went ahead and submitted it so that when we get back you can be paired with another resident.”
So much was assumed in that sentence. That wewouldget back. That when we did, we’d be in a position to resume our lives—go to work, go to therapy, go to dinner and ballets and grocery stores.
