Chapter Twenty-Three
THE FIRST LIGHT of dawn seeped through the cabin windows, casting a gentle glow over Haddie’s sleeping face. I lay there for a moment, watching her breathe, feeling a surge of protectiveness and love. She stirred slightly, murmuring in her sleep, and I smiled, feeling satisfaction at having worn her out. It surprised me that this old bed didn’t break with the action it saw last night. My cock twitched at the memory, ready for another go, but I shoved it down. She needed sleep.
I wanted to give her a perfect day, starting with a hearty breakfast and then an activity that I was pretty sure she had never done.
Quietly, I slipped out of bed and headed to the kitchen. I rummaged through the cabinets, finding the ingredients for pancakes. As I mixed the batter, the smell of fresh coffee began to fill the cabin. I knew Haddie would appreciate that because she liked her coffee.
“Haddie,” I called softly, peeking into the bedroom. “Wake up, beautiful. It’s time for breakfast.”
She groaned, pulling the blanket over her head. “Just five more minutes,” she mumbled.
“Nope,” I said, walking over and gently tugging the blanket away. “No more five minutes. Breakfast is almost ready, and I’ve got plans for us today.”
She opened one eye, giving me a mock glare. “You’re too cheerful for this early in the morning.”
“Get used to it, with a baby coming we won’t see much sleep,” I teased, pulling her up and throwing my t-shirt at her to put on. “Come on, I’ve got coffee waiting.”
We made our way to the kitchen, where the table was set with steaming pancakes, fresh fruit, and two mugs of coffee. Haddie’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wow, this looks amazing, Kaven.”
“Wait until you taste it,” I said, handing her a plate. “I might not be a gourmet chef, but I make a mean pancake.”
She took a bite, her eyes lighting up. “Okay, you win. These are delicious.”
We ate together, laughing and talking about the day ahead. After breakfast, we showered and dressed and then I led her outside, where two fishing poles were propped against the cabin wall.
“Fishing?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Fishing,” I confirmed, grinning. “It’s a beautiful morning, and there’s nothing like catching your own lunch.”
She looked at the poles skeptically. “I’ve never been fishing before. I’m more likely to catch myself than a fish.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll show you,” I said, taking her hand and leading her to the small lake. The water was calm, reflecting the clear blue sky above. It was the perfect day for fishing.
We found a good spot on the shore, and I showed her how to bait the hook and cast the line. She watched intently, biting her lip in concentration. When it was her turn, she mimicked my movements, her cast a bit wobbly but successful.
“There you go!” I cheered. “Now we wait.”
We sat side by side, our lines bobbing in the water. It was peaceful, and the only sounds were the birds singing and the gentle lapping of the lake. After a few minutes, Haddie’s line jerked.
“I think I’ve got something!” she exclaimed, excitement lighting up her face.
“Reel it in slowly,” I instructed, moving closer to help. Together, we pulled in her catch—a small but lively trout.
She laughed, holding the fish up triumphantly. “Look at that! My first fish!”
“Congratulations,” I said, laughing with her. “You’re a natural.”
We continued fishing, and I caught a big one that swayed on the line as I reeled it to shore, water splashing everywhere.
“Hey!” she protested, wiping her face. “Watch where you’re aiming that fish juice!”
“Oops,” I said, laughing, mesmerized by how pretty she looked bathed in the sunlight, her face lit up with laughter. And I couldn’t help but feel grateful. Grateful for the cabin, for the peace it brought, and most of all, for Haddie. She had brought a new kind of light into my life, and I was determined to protect it. For the first time since my sister died, I felt whole, and I wasn’t about to blow it.
And just as I had that thought, I saw movement in the tree line across the water. This area was remote and not well known. No one should be up here, but once in a while, an occasional hunter or hiker wandered this way. I hoped that was the case now. “Let’s head back to the cabin,” I said, pulling Haddie to her feet.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, taking my hand as we moved back toward the cabin, my hand ready to grab the pistol I had tucked in the back of my jeans.
“It might be nothing, but I don’t want to chance it,” I said, stopping when I heard a noise from the brush to my left. “Don’t move,” I cautioned as I crept into the trees off the side of the path, gun in hand, my eyes darting around the area.
“Kaven!” Haddie shouted and before I could turn around, my world went dark as my body crumpled to the ground.
MY HEART POUNDED as I watched the brutal attack unfold. A hooded figure emerged from behind a tree, smashing something hard against Kaven’s head. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious, and a sickening crack echoed through the air. Adrenaline surged through me as I sprinted toward him, heedless of the danger the figure posed.
“Stop, Hadleigh,” a cold voice commanded, freezing me in my tracks. My breath caught in my throat as the hooded figure turned toward me, pointing a gun directly at me while lowering the hood with the other hand. Sunlight glinted off the barrel, adding a chilling menace to the scene.
“You...you’re the woman from the clubhouse,” I stammered, disbelief choking my words. My mind raced to connect the dots. “Why would you do this to him?”
She let out a chilling laugh, the sound echoing ominously through the trees. “It’s nothing personal, I assure you. I don’t even know him. It’s you I want, Hadleigh.” A shiver ran down my spine as she mentioned knowing me. “But I must say, you have good taste in men.”
“Me? What could you possibly want with me? I don’t know you,” I replied, my voice trembling. My eyes darted around, seeking an escape or a way to disarm her, but the gun never wavered.
“You’ll find out soon enough,” she said with a smirk. “But for now, you need to come with me.” She stepped closer, her grip tightening painfully on my arm.
I shook her off and tried to run to Kaven again, but she stopped me with a sinister warning. “I’m trying to be nice, Hadleigh. But if you don’t do as I say, I’ll kill him. You don’t want that, do you?”
Tears welled up in my eyes as she pointed the gun at Kaven’s motionless body. I had no choice but to comply. Odds were she was after the reward my grandfather offered and wouldn’t hurt me. I couldn’t risk him being killed; we’d find our way back to each other.
She forced me down a dirt road where a black Jeep awaited us, its windows reflecting the sunlight. The day had become eerily silent, the only sounds the crunch of leaves underfoot and my own ragged breathing. She shoved me into the passenger seat, the leather cold against my skin, and sped off down the mountain road.
“What is this about? The reward?” I demanded, desperation lacing my voice as I clutched the seatbelt, the scenery blurring past.
“Everything will become clear soon,” she replied cryptically, swerving to avoid a truck on the narrow road. Her knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. “Just sit still, shut up, and let me drive. These fucking mountain roads are horrendous.”
My mind raced with fear and confusion as we descended into the valley, leaving the familiarity of the mountains behind. The silence between us was heavy, punctuated only by the occasional curse as she navigated the winding roads and then onto the interstate. Hours passed, the tension mounting with every mile closer to Philadelphia.
Just outside the city limits, the vehicle took an exit and hit a secondary road. It wasn’t long before she turned into a narrow dirt driveway, the Jeep’s headlights illuminating the path through a tunnel of trees. We pulled up in front of an old, dilapidated house, its windows dark and foreboding.
The air was thick with the scent of decay and damp earth. She dragged me inside and up the creaking stairs, the wood groaning under our weight. The hallway was lit only by a dirty overhead light, shadows dancing across peeling wallpaper. She unlocked a door at the end and shoved me inside with a force that sent me stumbling. “You have a new roommate,” she laughed, the sound hollow and menacing, before slamming the door shut and locking it with a resounding click.
I caught my balance, my eyes adjusting to the dim light from the moon filtering through a small, dirty window. My gaze fell upon a familiar blonde woman sitting on the bed, her eyes widening in surprise. It was the woman living with Samuel in his penthouse. She looked disheveled, her clothes rumpled, and hair tangled.
“Hope?” I whispered, fear gripping me as I realized the full extent of the danger I was in—this wasn’t about the reward.