Chapter 14
Blair
Iwait for about thirty seconds after the back door quietly clicks shut to throw off my blanket and hurry after them. My shoes are by the backdoor and I slip them on easily. Foregoing a sweater, I grit my teeth and brace myself against the cool autumn night as I step out onto the back porch.
Rhett’s right, this is really none of my business but I’m curious.
And quite frankly, he can go fuck himself.
Since I’ve arrived, not once has he said a polite word in my direction. I’ve done nothing to the guy for him to be such an asshole to me. So tonight, I’m going to stick my nose in his business.
Pulling the backdoor closed behind me, I’m careful as I cross the deck to the stairs.
I’ve learned which steps creak when weight is added to them and which ones don’t—just as I know which footsteps are whose when everyone is in the house.
I knew Rhett was coming down the stairs tonight, I just hadn’t wanted to pay him any attention.
My eyes catch sight of Rhett and Santi, two dark shadows moving toward the tree line on the other side of the backyard. Neither look back as they slink into the woods. It’s as if they’re not worried about getting caught or being seen.
But clearly, they’re up to something since they didn’t take one of the trucks parked beside the cabin. Where are they going on foot?
Curious, I do a double take and blink in surprise.
One of the trucks has been moved. To where, I’m not sure, but given the direction the two of them are headed—which is downhill—maybe it’s parked at the bottom of the property.
It would be quicker to get to the entrance of Gnarly Pines cutting straight through the woods than taking the winding gravel driveway.
Is that why they’re headed towards the trees?
I jog after them. The ground softens as the gravel turns to soil the minute I hit the tree line.
I stop, having lost sight of them. Where did they go?
I scan the darkness hoping for a clue. I get one in the form of a snapping branch a few yards ahead of me.
Quickly, I start moving. I catch up with them a few minutes later.
I’m surprised to see that they both have an axe slung over their shoulders. When did they pick those up? Frowning, I try to get closer to overhear the hiss of conversation flowing back and forth between them.
“—not even interesting,” Rhett bemoans.
“How do you know that? She’s been here for almost a week now and you’ve yet to say anything meaningful to her.”
“I just know, okay?” Rhett retorts. “It’s just Blair’s newness you’re all excited about. Once it wears off you’ll see what I’m talking about.”
Oh… They’re talking about me. My footsteps falter. I don’t know if I really need to hear this.
“Or maybe I enjoy being in her presence because she doesn’t go ‘woe is me’ all the time,” Santi claps back. “I get you’re struggling sometimes, but damn. You’re like a vampire and she’s your sunlight. You’re scared to be burned.”
“I’m not scared.”
Santi snorts his derision. “Could’ve fooled me.”
“I’m not!”
“Well you act really threatened by her.”
“She’s a distraction!”
Santi chuckles, though it sounds off from his typical mirthful laugh. “From what?”
“From… from—”
“Are you trying to say she’s distracting me from you, Rhett?”
There’s a long, exasperated sigh before Rhett says, “Alright, fine. Let’s change gears for a second. Have you noticed Ledger keeping his distance? Who does that with someone that they trust? It’s not normal.”
I almost snicker at this. Ledger’s been avoiding me for the very same reason Santi just accused Rhett of.
He’s scared. Of himself or me, I’m not quite sure, but Ledger is worried what he might do if I push him so he’s made himself scarce.
I’ve yet to find a way to push Ledger’s buttons but when an opportunity arises, I’m going to take it. I look forward to harassing him a bit.
“He’s been busy with Gnarly Pines,” Santi points out. “You know he’s always busy.”
“Not like this.” There’s a pause before Rhett says in a calmer tone. “You’re getting real close, real fast with her, Santi, and I’m just trying to warn you to be careful. You and I both know she’s not staying here for good. Soon Ledger will deem it safe for her to return to wherever she came from—”
“She’s a traveling nurse from Colorado,” Santi interjects, helpfully.
“—or she’s going to have to run because whoever is after her will find her here; either way she’s not going to stay.”
Santi sighs dramatically. “If you’re so sure she’s not staying, why not make more of an effort to treat her with respect? Or at least a little civility? It’s exhausting seeing you get so worked up every time she walks by. I think she’s incredible.”
My face flares hot at the admission. I think Santi is pretty incredible too.
He’s just this ball of energy, and around him, I can’t stop smiling.
I’ve laughed and smiled more this week alone than I have for at least half my life.
Santi just makes this situation so much more bearable.
If I wasn’t so sure his interest was solely on Rhett, I’d allow myself to daydream about what Santi would be like as more than just friends.
But I don’t allow myself to go that far.
The daydream would only lead to wanting something that’s simply not mine to have.
“You think clear skies and apple pie are incredible, too,” Rhett mutters. “So forgive me if I don’t share your enthusiasm.”
“You’re such a dick sometimes.”
The snort Rhett lets out is cut off when a twig snaps beneath my feet. So wrapped up in trying to listen, I’d stopped focusing on being quiet. I freeze at the same time the two guys in front of me do. It’s Rhett who moves first, turning slowly to look back into the shadows where I’m hidden.
“You have three seconds to come out before I hack you in two,” he warns darkly. His voice is so cold and void of emotion that my heart begins to race with trepidation. “Three…”
I bite my lip, wondering if I should or if showing myself will be met with the same fate.
“Two…”
By now Santi’s turned around too. They’re both staring in my general direction but I’m pretty sure they can’t see me.
If they don’t know it’s me… can I make it back to the house without them aware that I’ve followed them?
Judging by Rhett's stiffening and the way he’s reaching up to grab his axe with two hands, it feels wiser to run.
So I do.
Turning, I sprint back toward the house. I don’t bother trying to be quiet. The time for stealth is over. If I can make it back inside, I should be safe.
I don’t think Rhett actually says the word one.
At least, if he does, I don’t hear it as I put space between us.
I do, however, hear laughter as it cuts through the trees.
It’s a cold, chilling sound and it’s made even more ominous by the fact it’s not Rhett’s laughter.
It’s Santi’s. His laughter is followed by the sound of two sets of footsteps.
My heart leaps up into my throat as I realize just how bad of an idea this was. Why the hell did I follow two men I hardly know—one who loathes my presence—into the woods at night?
The backyard comes into view first, followed by the cabin, and then the door I need to reach.
I don’t make it past the tree line before a hard thwack startles me as an axe gets lodged into the tree trunk to my left. Stunned, I stumble. It costs me big time. A heavy weight crashes into me from behind and there’s no stopping as we both go to the ground.
“Sneaky bitch,” Rhett snarls as we fall.
Years of training kick in. Twisting in midair, I hook my arm around Rhett’s neck and I throw my weight into his side.
When we hit the ground, it’s him who lands on his back and I topple down on top of him.
I don’t stop there though. It’s like my body has taken over and forced my mind to sit this one out.
In one swift movement, I’m sitting up and slamming my fist down; right into Rhett’s sternum.
It’s only in the last second that I remember to pull the punch.
My fist still hits him, though. He wheezes in agony, then grunts as my left fist slams into his face.
I scramble to get to my feet. I’m not upright for longer than it takes to suck in a deep breath. A different set of arms snake around my waist as we hit the ground and roll through the dirt.
“Gotcha!” Santi calls out. He pulls me close against his firm body, hoping to trap me against him.
My elbow slams into his hard side, but it doesn’t knock him off me as he tries to pin me down.
But while my elbow doesn’t do the trick, the palm of my left hand slams into his nose and he howls as his head jerks back.
His grip loosens and I try to wiggle away.
I get halfway out of his grip before his arms turn into steel around my thighs.
I reach back and grab the short strands of his brown hair, yanking his head back.
Santi yelps but he doesn’t let me go. Using my other hand, I attempt to punch him in the face.
He pulls his head back just before my punch can land.
His arms loosen a bit as he tries to readjust his grip, and I take advantage of the moment.
I pull my legs free only to wrap my thighs around his neck and squeeze.
Santi gasps for air as I clamp down hard on his airway and flip him around, steering his body with my thighs.
“Get the fuck off of him!” Rhett snarls.
I look up in time to see the butt of another axe coming down. Letting go of Santi, I roll out of the way just before being struck. I scramble to my hands and knees, ready to get up and run but a foot lands in the middle of my back and applies enough weight to shove me back to my stomach.
“Oh god…” Santi groans from a few feet away.
“You good?” Rhett asks him as he applies more weight to my back. I hiss in pain but I can’t do much else.
Santi lets out a breathless laugh. “I’m better than fucking good.”