Chapter 26
brYCE
After Isaiah left Dash and I standing with our mouths hanging open, we went back to his place for the night. I wanted my own pajamas, a brush and clean panties, but I wasn’t sure when I’d be ready to go home, especially in the dark.
As we drove, Dash called his dad to tell him Isaiah had returned. And it was unlikely Genevieve would ever set foot in Montana again.
“Dad said they’re already on their way back,” he told me after hanging up. “They couldn’t get close to the cabin anyway.”
“Because of the fire?”
Dash nodded. “Forest service had a whole crew up there, making sure it doesn’t spread to the trees.”
“Why do you think he burned it?”
“Don’t know. But like Dad said, it was probably to cover his tracks.”
Something in that cabin could have identified my kidnapper, but we’d never find it now. “I wish I had my phone to text Genevieve. Just to make sure she’s all right.”
Genevieve and I had been through so much in a short period of time. But given what had happened, what I’d told her about Draven and her mother’s murder, I didn’t blame her for running.
I probably would have done the same.
“Tomorrow.” Dash took my hand from my lap, threading our fingers together. “Tomorrow I’ll get your phone and whatever else you want from your house.”
“That’d be great.” I’d have to go back eventually, but for now, I was content to spend some time at his place. I had a feeling not many women could claim they’d spent time at Dash Slater’s home. I was too tired tonight, but tomorrow, I wanted to explore. Relax in his space.
After I made sure Genevieve was home safely.
“Do you think Genevieve will be safe in Denver?”
“Might be the safest place for her. Or she’ll be an easy target.”
“She has to be okay, Dash. None of this was her fault. I can’t help but think if I’d only stayed here, stayed away, that—”
“This is not your fault, babe.” He tightened his grip on my hand. “If not for you, we wouldn’t know the truth. Dad would have died keeping it a secret. And it needed to come out. It’s for the best.”
Except it had cost him his relationship with his father. I wasn’t sure what was best now.
“What do we do now?”
“Sleep.” Dash sighed. “Regroup in the morning.”
If my mind kept racing, sleep would not come easily.
Dash led me straight to his bedroom when we got to his house. The room overlooked a large backyard. Was that a hot tub? Before I could get a look at it on the patio, Dash pulled the blinds over the windows shut.
“Bed. Sleep. You can have free rein of the place tomorrow.”
“Fine.” I pouted, stripping off my clothes.
We met in the middle of Dash’s enormous bed, our naked bodies molding to one another as we lay face-to-face.
“I don’t know if I can sleep,” I whispered.
My mind raced over everything Isaiah didn’t say. Why would he stay quiet? What had happened on that mountain? Was it really as simple as he’d taken Genevieve to Bozeman and then come back? But why had it taken so long? Why did he seem more broken than ever?
“Isaiah looked—”
“Sleep, babe.”
“But—”
“Bryce. You need to sleep. Tomorrow, ’kay?”
I huffed. “Okay.”
Closing my eyes tight, I breathed in and out in a steady rhythm. It was odd, remembering that only last night I’d been at home, wondering if I would be raising this baby alone. If Dash and I were over.
“You rescued me,” I whispered, bringing a hand up to push a lock of his hair off his forehead.
His lashes lifted, and even in the dark, his eyes were shining bright. “We’ve got a lot to talk about. You and me. The baby. And we will.”
“Are we going to be okay?”
He pulled me tighter into his arms, holding me safe. “Swear it on my life.”
Tomorrow came and went without the answers we’d hoped for.
Because when we went to find Isaiah at the garage the next morning, he was gone.