Chapter 14 #3
She couldn’t do this. Couldn’t stand here and pretend everything was fine while a gun was pointed at her friends.
But if she didn’t, they’d die.
Eden would die. Nimue would die. Shot in a parking lot because Meg couldn’t keep it together.
She couldn’t let another person die when she could stop it.
Not again.
Never again.
“I’m just saying, you can’t keep avoiding him forever.” Nimue’s voice carried that particular blend of amusement and exasperation that Eden had come to recognize over the past few weeks of friendship.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Eden kept her eyes forward, refusing to look at Nimue even though she could feel her friend’s knowing gaze.
“Really? Because Teague looked pretty hurt when you basically ran away from him in the lodge a few minutes ago.”
Eden had seen it too—that flash of confusion and pain in Teague’s eyes when she’d said she didn’t have time to talk. When she’d brushed past him like he was a stranger instead of…whatever he was becoming. She’d felt it settle in her chest like a stone.
But she couldn’t afford to feel guilty about it.
Couldn’t afford to feel anything when it came to Teague Hamilton. Feeling things led to caring. Caring led to loss.
“I wasn’t running away. We do have plans.”
“Uh-huh.”
The skepticism dripped from the syllables.
Nimue pulled out her phone, scrolling for a moment before handing the device to Eden with a triumphant grin.
“So you’re telling me you look at this image and feel absolutely nothing?
Liam said Teague used his shirt to pack around the knife in Noah’s side.
But his growing internet fan base thinks it was just how he rolls. ”
Eden eyed the photo—the one that had gone viral a few days ago. Someone with a camera and good timing had captured the moment during the rescue. Teague hanging shirtless out of the helicopter, all muscle and focused intensity, the canyon stretched out behind him in dramatic relief.
Oh, she remembered.
She’d watched and rewatched the footage from one of the guys in the chopper.
Every detail of that moment had been burned into her memory, including the fact that he’d been seconds away from being crushed by falling rock from the explosion.
She’d watched the plateau collapse, watched him launch himself toward that helicopter, watched him catch the skid with nothing but empty air below him.
Seconds away from death because he’d taken an unnecessary risk to mark the shaft that was rubble moments later.
“He’s attractive,” Eden said flatly, handing the phone back. “So what? Attractive doesn’t mean anything.”
“It means you’re human and you’re allowed to—”
“He took unnecessary risks.” Eden winced at her shrill tone. “That explosion took down the whole plateau—almost took him with it. He should have listened to Liam. Should have gotten out when he had the chance. But he didn’t. He never does.”
Nimue was quiet for a moment, studying Eden’s face. “This isn’t really about Teague, is it?”
No.
It wasn’t. It was about climbers falling. About body bags and memorial services. About loving someone reckless and burying them young.
It was about refusing to sign up for that kind of heartbreak again.
“I see Meg,” Eden said, nodding toward the clinic parking lot. “Let’s go say goodbye before she leaves.”
Nimue’s expression said she knew exactly what Eden was doing—deflecting, avoiding, running—but she let it go. They changed direction, heading toward where Meg stood near her car, keys in hand.
“You know,” Nimue said, falling back into her earlier teasing tone, “Teague Hamilton is—”
“A walking insurance liability?” Eden suggested.
“I was going to say kind, brave, and clearly interested in you. But sure, let’s go with insurance liability.” Nimue grinned. “That’s definitely the vibe I get from the way he looks at you like you hung the moon.”
Despite herself, Eden smiled. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re stubborn. We make a great pair.” Nimue looped her arm through Eden’s as they approached Meg.
“Hey! Finished up already?”
Meg turned toward them and Eden’s laughter died.
Something was wrong.
Meg’s face was too pale. Her smile too forced. Her posture rigid in a way that set off alarm bells in Eden’s mind.
“Is everything okay with Noah?”
“I haven’t talked to him. Liam picked him up.” Meg’s voice was strained. “I’m heading out.”
She was alone in the parking lot, but her eyes kept darting toward the shadows near the tree line.
Eden followed her gaze but saw nothing. Just darkness and the edge of the forest.
“You okay?” Eden called, her instincts screaming now. “You look pale.”
“Long day.” Meg’s laugh sounded brittle. “Just tired.”
Eden started to move closer, but Nimue’s hand tightened on her arm, holding her back. Eden glanced at her friend and saw something sharp and focused in Nimue’s expression.
Recognition.
“Why don’t you come grab dinner with us?” Nimue asked, her tone deliberately light. “My treat. You shouldn’t be alone tonight.”
“I can’t. I have to—” Meg’s voice cracked slightly. Another glance toward the shadows. Longer this time. “I have plans. But thank you.”
Something moved in the darkness—or maybe it didn’t. Eden couldn’t be sure. But Meg flinched, her whole body going tense. And Eden’s blood ran cold.
“I’ll see you both later,” Meg said, each word sounding forced. “Have a good evening.”
She was dismissing them.
Trying to get them to leave. Pushing them away. Protecting them from something.
And the way she kept looking at those shadows, the fear in her eyes—
Eden started to say something, to push, to demand answers. But Nimue spoke first.
“Well, give me a hug. This might be the last time we see you.” Nimue stepped forward and embraced their friend in a very brief hug, and Eden could have sworn that Nimue dropped her wallet in Meg’s coat.
But Meg didn’t seem to notice.
Or pretended not to.
“Thank you for everything.”
Meg gave Eden a hug next—trembling, brief—then stepped back. Her gaze flicked to the shadows again, and this time Eden was certain—there was someone there.
Watching. Waiting.
“I have to go.” Urgency sharpened her tone.
Nimue stepped back, looping her arm through Eden’s again.
“We should get going. Lots to do. You take care, Meg.”
They walked away, and every instinct Eden had screamed at her to turn around, to go back, to get Meg away from whatever was waiting in those shadows.
But Nimue’s grip on her arm was firm, guiding her forward, around the corner of the building.
The moment they were out of sight, Nimue pulled her into the supply building’s entrance, already digging for her phone.
“What just happened?” Eden demanded, voice low. “Something’s wrong. We need to—”
“I know.” Nimue was dialing, her face set in grim determination. All the playfulness gone. “I spent too long on the run not to recognize the signs. She’s in trouble.”
“Then why did we just leave her there?” The question came out harsh.
“Because with the way she was acting, the person must have had a gun pointed at her…or us. But there’s a tracker in my wallet.”
Understanding dawned. “That’s why you slipped it in her pocket.”
“I’m just hoping whoever was watching didn’t see.” Nimue held up a finger as the call connected. “Liam? We have a problem.”
Nimue rapidly explained the situation—Meg’s behavior, the nervous glances, the forced goodbye. The way Meg had looked like she was barely holding it together. The presence she’d sensed but couldn’t see.
Nimue listened for a moment, then said, “Okay. Yeah. We’ll stay here.” She ended the call and looked at Eden.
“They’re almost here. Liam and Noah. They’ll pick us up and we’ll follow the tracker.”
“Noah just got out of the hospital,” Eden protested. “He should stay out of it. He’s recovering. He’s wounded.”
“The woman he loves is in danger. You tell him that. I can’t wait to see how that goes.” Nimue leaned against the wall, her jaw tight. “Someone was watching her, Eden. Watching us. I could feel it. Like eyes on the back of my neck. That feeling you get when you’re prey.”
The words sent ice through Eden’s veins. Because she knew that feeling too. Had felt it on mountains when rockfall started. When weather turned. When everything went wrong.
“We should call the police.”
“Already on it. Noah’s making the call now.” Nimue closed her eyes briefly. “Maybe I should have—”
“You did exactly right.” Eden put her hand on her friend’s shoulder. “You got her a way for us to follow her. You didn’t escalate the situation. If you’d confronted whoever was out there—”
“Things could have gone bad fast.” Nimue opened her eyes. “I know. Doesn’t make it feel any better. Doesn’t change the fact that we left her alone with a threat.”
Liam’s truck roared into the parking lot, and Nimue grabbed Eden’s hand. “Let’s go get our girl back.”
They ran for the truck as Teague sprinted from the main lodge. Noah must have called him too.
As mad as she was at him—at his recklessness, his risk-taking, his complete disregard for his own safety—she was glad he was coming. Glad he’d be there.
Because two things were crystal clear—Meg was in danger, and they were running out of time to save her.
Every second counted.
And Eden knew enough about rescue operations to know that timing was everything.
They had to move. Now.