Page 108 of Axe-ing for Trouble
Trouble:
Don’t worry about me. Protect your family and call Parker.
Lumbersnack:
You are my family. I’m coming for you.
I made my way farther into the densest part of the forest in this area and found a small copse of downed trees that provided a decent wind break. Once I ensured the ground was dry, I sat. I’d barely gotten settled when Ripley curled up next to me on the hard ground and put her head on my lap.
With a deep breath in, I dropped a pin. Then I hugged my knees to my chest, wrapping Jude’s coat around me while Ripley huddled next to me for warmth.
This was my fault. I’d gotten too comfortable. I’d been playing Scrabble and eating pizza while my brother was in a hospital bed. I’d let my guard down and let Jude in. And now he was in the crosshairs too.
My feelings for him were mixed up with a dangerous cocktail of guilt and uncertainty. As much as we’d fantasized about riding off into the sunset together, or at least lounging on a Hawaiian beach together, that was not going to happen.
And I had to prepare myself for that.
By the time he arrived on an ATV that looked like a tiny pickup truck, I was a sobbing, freezing mess.
“It’s okay.” He pulled me close and held me for a long moment, letting me cry into his chest. “You’re safe.”
“But we’re not. They know, and they went into your house. There’s no way they didn’t find the evidence wall, and now everyone is in danger.”
“Shh.” He opened the ATV’s tailgate and patted the bed, and Ripley jumped in. “We’re gonna be okay. Parker’s on it. My brothers are on it. You and me? We’re getting out of here.”
My heart stuttered. “There’s nowhere we can go where they won’t find us,” I hiccupped. “I’m as good as dead, and we’ve lost the element of surprise.”
“Trouble,” Jude said, cupping my cheeks and staring deep into my eyes. “We’re in this together. Until the end. And I will not let anything happen to you. Now get in. We’ve got a flight to catch.”
Chapter35
Mila
Jude drove through a section of the woods I’d never seen before. The whole way, as we jumped over tree roots and drove through streams and over rocks, I sat stiffly beside him.
Ripley was in the back, unbothered by the terrain.
“Where are we?” I asked.
“Almost to work. Gus will drive us to the lake.”
“The lake?” I shouted over the roar of the engine.
“Yeah,” he hollered in response. “We’re lucky Finn hasn’t taken the pontoons off the plane.”
I had no idea what he was talking about, but I wasn’t going to bother asking. I was just glad he was here. This situation was far bigger than I could handle on my own.
We pulled up to Hebert Timber headquarters, and without slowing, Jude drove straight into a massive garage bay. A large, intimidating guy stood inside with his arms crossed and his feet planted shoulder-width apart. He was thick and tall and wore a flannel shirt. That, when combined with his dark beard, gave him a Paul Bunyan vibe.
Jude killed the engine and hopped out. “Gus.”
Ah, Gus. The oldest. I’d heard about him. The family resemblance was there. The same blue eyes and the same broad shoulders.
I climbed out, only then noticing a large van parked in the next bay.
Gus gave me a polite nod, then turned back to his brother. “Got everything you asked for.” His voice was a low rumble, like he didn’t use it a whole lot. “You should be set for a bit while things calm down.”
He pulled Jude into a hug and clapped him on the back.
