“Chance.”I looked out the window as the snow showed no sign of slowing down. “Where are you?”
He hadn’t been gone that long, but I told him not to leave until the snow let up. He insisted he had to get the SUV out of here. Something about it being tracked. I had no idea how he planned on getting back, and without cell service there wasn’t a way for me to contact him.
The cabin was well-stocked. He even thought of bringing clothes from our apartment for me. I hated that he had plotted this escape behind my back.
I hated even more that he thought he had to betray Milo to save me. Milo gave Chance plenty of opportunities to redeem himself, but working with Bello was the last straw. How could Milo let that go?
He wouldn’t.
I ran my fingers along my bracelet, knowing it was myonly hope to save my brother. Chance would have to run and he would need money to do it.
“Promise me you’ll never take it off,” Milo said when he gave me the bracelet. “It’ll be like I’m with you wherever you are.”
This would be the last time I would bail my brother out. I would give him the means to get away, and then I would go back home and make it right with Milo. I would tell him I chose him.
A thud on the porch caused my heart rate to accelerate. The sun had set, leaving the outside of the cabin cloaked in darkness. I peeked out the window, but the rapid snowfall made it difficult to see.
What if it was Chance? What if it was an injured animal?
I grabbed the poker from the fireplace, just in case it was a serial killer outside, and I reached for the door handle. I swung open the door, losing my breath when a gust of wind slammed into me. A rush of snow smacked onto my face, coating my hair and eyes.
A dark figure staggered in front of me.
“Oh!” I brandished the poker, trying to keep them at bay. No way was I going down in a cabin in the woods during a snowstorm. Not this city girl.
The unsteady stranger climbed the steps as I backed away.
“Stay back!” I yelled. “Don’t make me bash in your head.”
“Sable.”
The snow fell sideways as the wind kicked up, but I recognized his voice before he came closer and into view.
“Milo?” An overwhelming sense of relief floodedme, but only for a second, because if he was here, what would that mean for Chance?
“You’re safe.” He held his hand out for me, but he lurched forward and slumped against me.
“Milo!” I tried to hold him up, but he was too heavy for me.
“I found you.” He pressed his hand against the doorframe. “I didn’t think I would.”
His frigid flesh glimmered with fresh snow and the bluish tint in his lips matched his eyes, but the most alarming feature on his face was the blood trickling from his head.
“What happened to you?” I helped him into the cabin, leaning the poker against the wall. “Were you in an accident?”
“My car went off the road and I hit my head.” He closed his eyes. “I was out for a few minutes, but I knew I had to get to you.”
“You need to get warm.” I guided him to stand in front of the fire. “Let’s get these wet clothes off you.” I slipped his jacket from his shoulders. “I’m going to clean up your cut too.”
When I pressed my fingers to his head, he winced.
“I don’t think it’s bleeding anymore,” I said. “It’s probably frozen shut.”
“The whole time I was wandering in the woods, all I could think about was you.”
“How did you find me?” I asked. I undid his tie and tugged it from his neck.
“I don’t know? Lucky, I guess.” He gazed around. “Where is Ax?”