Page 3 of Trapped

My focus flitted to the small, black clock ticking on the wall behind him.How dare it tick so happily when my entire world was imploding?

“And then what?”

My wistful question was more rhetorical than real, but pouring the amber liquid into two crystal tumblers, Baron seemed hellbent on answering.

“It’s up to you.”He thrust a glass at me.“I’ll provide you with a stellar personal reference if it helps.”

“Thank you, sir.”Accepting the tumbler, my fingers wrapped around its girth as my nostrils inhaled the potent aroma.

He didn’t have to help me, and doing so wouldn’t win him much favor with the hierarchy.Vaguely, I knew I should have been more grateful, yet it was as though I couldn’t muster the emotion.

Numbness had spread over me, starting as shock in my chest and reverberating out to all four limbs.I’d got so good at building up walls that I couldn’t feel—it was essential in my profession—but the unsettling sensation was something new.Dimly, I was cognizant of the burning liquid as I tipped it past my dry lips, but I couldn’t say Ifeltit.It was as if someone else was tasting the alcohol, and I was merely watching his experience through the lens of a camera.

“I didn’t think it would come to this.”

Though, as my gaze settled on the window behind his desk, I knew that was a lie.The odds of the proceedings ending that way had been clear to me from the get-go.All the gray men had done was verify my suspicions with grunts and paperwork.

“You’ll be okay.”Baron’s well-practiced consolation swept over me.“You’re a smart guy, Rosen.The world is your oyster.”

“I’m an ex-sniper with a God complex.”I shook my head at his sunny analysis.“Who would possibly want to employ me?”

“Well…” Baron chuckled.“Maybe leave that out of your biography when you apply for something new.”

“Yeah.”

Something new.

My head fogged at the mere idea.It seemed that expecting the outcome hadn’t prepared me to manage it.

“Chin up.You’ll think of something.”Moving closer, Baron patted me on the shoulder.“You always do.”

“Yeah.”I forced my lips into a feigned smile.

I always do.

Chapter One

Ally

Eli

The look on Erin’s face was priceless.

There she was, all riled up in an act of ridiculous rebellion, hellbent on leaving after everything I’d done for her, but when she’d thrust open the door to embark on the audacious adventure, nature had other plans.

The drifts blown against the side of the cabin had frozen, creating a wall of ice and obstructing her exit.No one was going anywhere for the time being; not without the right equipment, at least.

“Close the door, little girl.”As well as being keen to get her back inside, I was also aware of the little warm air the fire had produced vanishing into the freezing ether.

“What?”She looked shell-shocked, as though she couldn’t understand how Mother Nature had turned on her so cruelly, though after everything that happened in the last day, I was surprised at her naivety.

“You heard me.”My hands rose to my hips as my patience thinned.“It looks as if we’re going to be here a while longer, so close the door.You’re letting the cold in.”

Beckoning her forward with one finger, I couldn’t resist smiling.She was so beautiful, yet apparently, completely overawed by her surroundings.It seemed she hadn’t been lying when she’d said she hadn’t spent much time in the wilderness.If she or any of her party had done their homework, they’d have realized snowstorms, although infrequent, were not so rare in those parts.

“I…” Her gaze darted around the tiny lodge as though a new escape route would suddenly just appear.“I can’t believe this.”

“Shut.The.Door.”Punctuating each word, I strode past her and closed it myself, irritated that she hadn’t heeded my instruction.“We don’t have much wood, remember?”I signaled to the small stack of firewood against the opposite wall.“Better that we keep the cold out.”

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