28. Rayne
28
RAYNE
E verything is crumbling.
I have whiplash from my lie being discovered, to the guys being understandably annoyed but accepting, to the object of my nightmares turning up at the fucking door.
I can’t breathe.
The room spins and the floor trembles under my feet.
Ashton is here.
He stands in the doorway, his face contorted with absolute fury. It’s a face that’s so familiar that it’s jarring to see it here and now, rather than in my memories. He shoves past Nick like the man doesn’t even exist, but he doesn’t get far. Nick snatches his arm and hauls Ashton easily back into the doorway as Archer and Frankie close ranks in front of me.
“The hell do you think you are doing?” Nick snaps. “I didn’t say you could come in.”
My mind is frozen. I can’t think of anything beyond Ashton’s name weaving around my mind like poison. My ribs turn to claws, crushing my heart with each beat, and my stomach twists so painfully that my throat recoils and I fight the urge to throw up.
“Get your fucking hands off me,” Ashton snarls. “You’ve been keeping my girl here and I deserve to see her!”
“Your girl?” Nick asks, his voice flat and empty. “I’m pretty sure there’s been a mistake here.”
“You’re damn right there has,” Ashton snarls, trying to twist out of Nick’s grip but to no avail. “Let go!”
It should please me to see Ashton facing down someone twice—hell, even thrice—his size. To see his face when he looks at Archer and Frankie and realizes he can’t use strength to intimidate them.
It should please me.
But I feel like I’m drowning.
Ashton came here. He came to my safe place. My cabin with my men. My haven away from him and his threats, my mom and her… whatever she has with Cecil. It’s a clash of reality that I knew in the back of my mind would happen, but not until I was ready.
“Sir.” One of the mountain rescue men steps forward and grips Ashton’s shoulder. “If you could step back and let us deal with this.”
Ashton’s face purples with fury, and he drags his shoulder out from under that iron grip. Nick finally releases him, but only because one of the mountain rescuers steps up.
“Nick.”
“Byron.”
“You know why we’re here?”
“Yes. I think Colin is actually still on the radio.”
Byron nods. “Aye. Ashton here wasn’t willing to wait for that type of communication and tried to drive up here himself.”
“I understand.” There’s a note of distaste in Nick’s voice. “What seems to be the problem?”
“Is Miss McCullough here?” Frank asks.
Nick nods. “She is.”
“Can we see her?”
My heart punches into my throat and a sharp stab of cold shoots down my spine. Archer doesn’t move. He remains a statue in front of me, but Frankie turns around and his brow is bunched up with worry. He doesn’t say anything, but I can tell by his eyes that he’s trying to ask me if I’m okay.
I can’t answer him. I’m still locked on staring at Ashton through the small gaps between Archer and Nick.
“She’s right here.” Nick steps back and casts his arm back to us. “You’re more than welcome to talk to her.”
As Byron steps inside, Ashton tries to follow, but Nick forcefully slams a hand into his chest and shoves him backward. “Not you.”
“What the hell? You kidnap my girl and keep her here, then think I can’t come in to see her?”
“You’re not stepping foot inside my property,” Nick snaps. “Not unless you're a cop with a detailed fucking warrant.”
“Archer. Frankie.” Byron nods to each of them in turn, and only then does Archer sidestep to reveal me. “Miss McCullough.”
“Hi.”
“You’re looking well.”
“I am, thank you.”
“Rayne!” Ashton surges forward once more. “Thank God you’re okay! You’ve no idea how worried sick everyone has been since you disappeared. Your mother has been utterly distraught to the point of sickness. For a few days, we were sure you were dead.” His voice quavers as if it’s the most painful truth for him. “Then when we heard you were stuck up the mountain with strangers, we feared for you even more. I know how twisted men can be.”
My heart pounds so fast that it’s a blur. Archer’s back stiffens and Nick’s jaw tightens, but neither of them speaks.
“You watch your mouth,” Frankie snaps, but he’s quickly silenced by a look from Archer.
“It’s the truth,” Ashton growls out, and then he looks directly at me. Locking eyes with him is like being punched in the throat, and I forget how to breathe for so long that when I next manage to, it’s just a gasp.
“Sir,” Byron snaps. “Remain quiet or my colleague will lock you in the car.” He turns back to me. “Rayne, I have to ask this. Are you being held here against your will?”
“What?” I scoff softly. “No, of course not. These men have been nothing but gentle and kind with me. They saved my life after I made the very stupid decision to go driving in the storm. But they found me. They saved me. They’ve nursed me back to health and tended to my wounds from the crash.”
“But you didn’t choose to return to the lodge five days ago?”
I force a deep breath to try and calm the tremble in my voice. “No. I chose to stay.”
“It’s true,” Archer says. “Rayne wanted to stay up here over Christmas, and we were happy to let her. We were planning to bring her back down to the lodge when we headed down the mountain for supplies in a few days.”
My heart squeezes and a flood of relief warms behind my eyes. Archer has my back. Of course he does.
“Bullshit!” This time, when Ashton shoves inside, Nick doesn’t stop him.
I stumble back and fear grips me. All I see is him coming toward me and suddenly, I’m a teenager again watching him bear down on me without the strength to fight back. Instinct has me reaching for Frankie, who is the closest, and he grips me firmly.
“You need to stop this and come home, Rayne. If you’re scared of them, then it’s okay. They can’t do anything. We’re here to help you, to take you home and to look after you!”
Byron catches Ashton’s arm. “Sir!”
Ashton’s cold eyes then drop down to where I’m clutching Frankie’s arm, and suddenly, he understands. I can see the realization bleed over his face and he scoffs sharply.
“Rayne.” Byron turns back to me. “Your family is worried about you.”
“I know,” I say softly. “But I’m safe here. I’m okay. I choose to be here, and Archer’s right. I would have been back down in a few more days. I’ve just been… apprehensive about the snow.”
“Understandable,” Nick says tightly. He watches Ashton like a hawk.
“No problem. We’ll call again in a day or two and speak to you, Rayne, just for your mother’s peace of mind.”
“Wait, that’s it?” Ashton barks. “You can’t be serious!”
“As you can see, Rayne is fine and this is where she chooses to be. We have to respect that, and we will do some follow-ups, but she is an adult and I see no reason for us to disturb these people for much longer,” Byron says stiffly.
I get the impression he’s been dealing with Ashton’s bullshit for too long.
“Fine,” Ashton snaps, and his eyes flash dangerously. “But when I get back to the lodge, I’m telling everyone the truth, Rayne. Then you'll have no choice but to stay here because no one will want anything to do with you!”