2. - – Hartley
CHAPTER TWO
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HARTLEY
These two gorgeous, giant men seem sweet, but I can’t let my guard down.
I thought Palmer was sweet at first too.
The tea is good and I can feel my feet now.
But regaining feeling is painful, everything hurts.
If it wasn’t hurt by Palmer, it hurts because of the feeling coming back.
Nerve pain is no joke. It’s like pins and needles only with daggers and fire ants.
Even though I have no clue where I am, it's warm and indoors, a vast improvement from the frozen woods. I need to pee but I don’t know if I can walk, and I don’t want these strangers to help me. Ugh! I hope they’ll let me go on my own.
“Um…I need the restroom.”
They look at each other, the one by my legs, Kade, I think, smiles.
“Will you be able to make it there by yourself?” he asks.
“I want to try.”
Both of them stand. Holy hell are they tall.
I’m five-three on a good day. They’re over six feet, a lot over six feet.
It hurts my neck trying to maintain eye contact.
I fumble with the multiple blankets covering me and the other one, Trick, helps remove them.
Then Kade untangles them from my feet. My socks instantly feel damp outside the warmth of the blankets and I want to take them off.
Sitting up on the sofa the right way, and smiling sheepishly, I ask, “Will you please take off my socks? They’re wet.”
Kade assists me and Trick rushes down the hall. He comes back with a new pair of socks and they each pull one on for me.
“There you go,” Trick says once my feet are covered.
“Thanks.” I try to stand up and the room spins. A pain spears the back of my skull, and I feel a lump there with my hand as I fall back down on the thick cushion.
“What’s wrong?” Kade asks as I try to stand again with his hand holding mine steady.
It feels like an electric shock travels between us and I want to yank my hand away. But he holds on and it simmers to a warm flow of pleasant tingles, like a low setting on a tens machine.
“I’m just a little dizzy. I think I hit my head.”
Trick looks worried.
“Maybe you shouldn’t try to walk. Can Kade carry you?” He asks.
I can feel the heat of embarrassment coloring my face. I don’t want to be carried. Even if I have a concussion, I can still walk.
Shaking my head makes the pain spike just a little sharper in my brain, but I voice my refusal, “No. I want to walk. I’ll go slow.”
“Not that I don’t trust you to know your capabilities, but I’m going to walk with you so you don’t fall,” Kade says without room for argument.
I sigh and let him guide me to the restroom.
I’m shocked the half bath is spotless. Guys don’t usually clean the bathroom this thoroughly.
It makes me wonder if they have girlfriends or wives.
I’ll have to remember to subtly check for wedding bands because if there’s a wife who’s going to be pissed I’m here, I’d like a warning before I receive any more injuries.
When I leave the rustic lodge-styled restroom, Trick is waiting for me in the hall.
He holds out his hand for me to take. I don’t.
The less I touch them the better. I need to get out of here, and far away before Palmer finds out I’m still alive.
My nerves are shot and every time I think of him and what he did to me, it makes my stomach flip over.
When Trick helps me get back under the blankets, he has a tense smile which looks like he’s trying to keep words from bursting free.
While I wait for him to decide if he wants to speak or not, I notice he’s not wearing a ring.
But not everyone wears one. I should probably try to ask in conversation.
I’m dreading it because I know I’ll stumble all over the words. Subtlety is not my forte.
Another guy who looks just like the first two guys comes into the room, his hands behind his back and a nervous smile on his lips. His hair is different and he doesn’t have the hand and neck tattoos of Kade, otherwise he looks just like the first two. This must be the other twin.
“Hi. I’m Kohl. I made some dinner. Do you feel like eating?”
“What did you make?” Beggars can’t be choosers, but my stomach isn’t great right now.
After a few kicks and hits, I may even have internal injuries bleeding out as we speak. Although it’s not likely, I would be feeling much worse if that was the case. I might be enticed with something warm and comforting.
“I made venison stew, steaks, and a salad. I was thinking you might be up for stew.”
Kade returns and watches me carefully from next to his brother. Their startling similarities are easy to compare with them side by side. If they didn’t have different hair and tattoos, it would be impossible to tell them apart. Neither of them is wearing a ring either.
Trick startles me when he asks, “Will you at least try a bite? If you eat you can take some pain reliever.”
I forgot he was there when the others came into the room. Each of them has such an imposing presence about them; it’s like all of the energy in the room orbits them.
“I’ll try.”
“Would you like to sit at the table? Or would you prefer the sofa?” Kade asks.
“The sofa, if it’s alright?”
Trick rushed to my side to help me back to the comfortable, plaid cushions. Kade held my other elbow, and between them I made it there without falling. I swear Trick leaned close and smelled me, but that’s too weird, right? Maybe I stink.
Kohl brought a bowl of stew on a tray, with some crusty bread. It looked delicious. I have no clue why these men are helping me, but I’m grateful. I know without them I would’ve died tonight. A shiver shudders up my spine and it makes the pain in my head spike.
When I touch my head all three of them stop moving.
Realizing I’m somehow responsible, I take in a soothing breath and lower my hand.
My eyes meet Kohl’s first, his are narrowed and his brow furrowed as he stares at me.
Kade and Trick’s eyes are locked on me as well and my cheeks heat with embarrassment.
A small twinge of fear claws inside my chest. I don’t like so much attention on me.
I’ve survived this long by hiding in the shadows as much as possible.
Trying an experiment, a forced grin is aimed at them and the tension releases as they return to what they were doing. Hmm…
Finding their concern is directly connected to my comfort, or lack thereof, makes me more nervous.
But I’m able to take a few deep breaths to ease the fear their attention brings.
The stew is delicious and the warmth finally raises my core temperature to a suitable degree.
With a full belly and cozy blankets surrounding me, I can’t keep my eyes open and drift off hoping they’ll continue to take care of me. That they aren’t evil like Palmer.
With a jolt I sit up wide awake in a strange place with a strange guy in a nearby chair watching me. After a moment, the nightmare clears. I remember who I’m with since it’s their cabin. Kade is the statue in the overstuffed chair by the glowing fireplace.
“Did you have a bad dream?” He asks in a whisper.
“Yeah,” I croak, my throat dry.
He jumps up and offers me a glass of water.
Watching him, I take a sip and it tastes so good and soothing on my parched throat that I end up gulping most of it.
He sets it back on the coffee table and sits on the edge of it, closest to me.
His knees almost touch my hand and I shift away, out of reach.
“Do you want to talk about it? Or what happened to you?”
“Not really. No.”
“Where do you live?”
“I’m not sure anymore.”
“Would you like to call someone and let them know where you are? That you’re safe before the storm comes.”
Looking at the blanket, I watch my fingers play with a thread while I think of how to answer. He waits patiently.
“I…I don’t have anyone.” It’s as truthful as I want to be. Honestly, I have no idea where what’s left of my family could be.
“No parents? Siblings?” His head tilts and it strikes me as a canine-like movement.
“No. My father left before I was born and my mother is dead. I have an older brother, but I don’t know where he is or if he’s even alive.”
Not sure why I spilled my guts to a stranger, I lifted my eyes to his and pondered what made me trust him so easily just now.
“I’m sorry. Once the storm is past, we’ll help you get to where you belong.” The burn of tears filled my eyes and I tried to hide it but they fell down my cheeks as if a dam burst.
He kneeled next to me.
“Hartley, what’s wrong? I promise I only want to help.” I flinched when his hand patted my foot and he jerked his hand away.
“I’m sorry,” I quickly told him.
“Why are you sorry? I shouldn’t have touched you.”
His eyes were so kind, I needed to believe he was genuine at this moment. I needed help from him and his brothers. I couldn’t keep acting like a scared kitten.
“I’m nervous, it’s not your fault. I just…um…I’ve just left a bad relationship and I’m on edge. I know you’re trying to help. I don’t mean to be evasive or difficult.”
My lip trembled and I chewed on it trying to get it to behave, forgetting it was split until I tasted blood.
“Do you know where you want to go after the storm?”
Once again my eyes fell to the blanket, my hands now shaking too as they swiped at my damp face. How could I tell them what happened? Should I admit I have nowhere to go? What if they’re worse than Palmer?
“I’m really tired, would it be okay if we talk in the morning?”
He looked frustrated and a little sad, but he sat back on the coffee table giving me some space.
“Yeah, of course. Goodnight, little angel.”
I turned away from him and mumbled, “Goodnight.”