Chapter 4
SAGE
Two days pass in the quiet rhythm of the mountains.
Morning light drifts through the cabin windows, soft at first, then bright enough to sting my eyes.
I’ve memorized the sounds here. The clock ticking near the hearth, the faint groan of porch boards when Luka’s men pass, and Vega’s deep sighs from the fire.
It should bring me peace, but it doesn’t.
I run a fingertip over the fading bruise along my ribs, the one that blooms yellow now instead of purple.
My body mends faster than my mind. I tell myself that it’s a good thing, but every improvement feels like a countdown to whatever comes next.
Each shade lighter in the bruising marks another day closer to decisions I’m not ready to make.
Luka left early to meet with Misha, promising he’d be back soon.
The cabin always feels larger without him, the quiet stretching out around me in a way that makes the place feel less warm.
I take my time moving through the space, my legs still holding the memory of the impact.
A dull ache flares across my ribs whenever I inhale too deeply, reminding me how close things came to ending.
I settle on the edge of the bed, my fingers trailing over the quilt Luka pulled around me last night.
The fabric is soft, and it smells faintly of cedar and smoke.
Everything in this cabin smells like him, as if the walls have absorbed him over time.
I close my eyes and try to imagine what my life would look like if Vega had never knocked into me, and Luka had never followed.
The thought dissolves before it fully forms. There’s no version of my life without him now, no path that doesn’t lead back to this mountain, this cabin, and this man who looks at me like I am worth protecting and possessing at the same time.
My cell phone buzzes on the nightstand, breaking the stillness. For a second, I think it’s him. My heart lifts, anticipation curling in my chest before I even reach for the device. When I lift it, the screen shows a name I haven’t seen in days.
Jenny.
My throat tightens as I swipe to answer. “Jenny?”
Her voice comes through bright and relieved. “Sage! Are you okay? I’ve been so worried about you.”
I grip the edge of the nightstand to keep my balance, my knuckles turning white against the dark wood. “I’m fine. I’m safe. What’s going on?”
“I went by your apartment this morning to check on you,” she explains, and I can hear the concern in her words. “I knocked a few times, but nobody answered. Everyone in town has been asking about you, wondering what happened to Bean & Bloom and where you went.”
Guilt twists in my stomach. Jenny has always been more than just an employee.
She shows up early for every shift, remembers how every regular takes their coffee, and covers when I need to take Hope to appointments.
She deserves better than radio silence and unanswered questions.
“I’m so sorry. I should have called you sooner.
There was a car accident on the mountain pass.
Nothing too serious, but I needed some time away to heal. ”
“Oh my god, Sage.” Her voice softens with sympathy. “Are you okay? Was Hope with you? Is she okay? Do you need anything?” The questions tumble out so fast she barely takes a breath.
“I’m okay, really. Just resting.” I pause, considering how much to tell her. “Hope wasn’t with me. She’s okay. She’s staying with a friend. I’m also staying with a friend who is helping me recover.”
“That’s good. I’m so glad you’re safe.” She hesitates, and I hear papers rustling in the background.
“A package showed up at the café this morning. Well, not at the café exactly, since it’s still boarded up.
Someone left it on the steps. It’s addressed to you.
'Sage, owner of Bean & Bloom.' I thought maybe a customer wanted to leave you something.”
My pulse stutters, a rapid kick against my ribs. The room tilts slightly, and I press my free hand against the mattress to steady myself. “A package?”
“Yeah, wrapped in brown paper. No return address or postage, so someone must have dropped it off in person. I didn’t want to leave it there in case it got stolen or rained on, so I grabbed it. I can drop it by your apartment later if you want.”
The chill that lives under my skin spreads, creeping down my spine and settling in my stomach. But I keep my voice casual. “What exactly does it look like?”
“It’s just a small box wrapped in brown paper, tied with string. Nothing fancy.” She laughs lightly. “I was tempted to open it, but I didn’t want to be nosy.”
Relief floods through me. “Actually, could you bring it to me? I’m not too far, just up in the mountains outside Aspen Ridge. And I’d love to see you.”
“Oh, sure! I don’t have class today, so I’m free. Just give me the address.”
The click of the front door echoes downstairs. I hear the familiar rhythm of Luka's boots crossing the hardwood. My heart leaps, but this time with relief rather than panic. “Actually, hold on a second. Let me check if now is a good time.”
I hear her agreeable murmur through the speaker as I pull the phone away from my ear. Luka's footsteps grow louder, climbing the stairs with that pace that never hurries but always arrives exactly when he intends. I stand, smoothing my sleep shirt over my thighs.
Luka appears in the doorway, the chill from outside clinging to him. His black coat is dusted with moisture, and his dark hair is slightly damp from the cold. His gaze takes in my face first, then the phone clutched in my hand, his eyes questioning but not concerned.
“Who are you speaking with?” he asks.
“It’s Jenny,” I answer, covering the receiver with my palm. “She stopped by my apartment to check on me and then went by the café. Someone left a package for me on the steps. She picked it up and I want her to bring it here.”
He steps closer, his brow furrowing slightly. “A package?”
“She thinks maybe it’s from a customer. Just wrapped in brown paper, nothing unusual.
” I watch his face carefully, trying to gauge his reaction.
“I would really like to see her, if that’s okay.
I haven’t spoken to anyone from home since everything happened, and I feel terrible for disappearing on her without an explanation. ”
He studies me for a long moment, his hazel eyes searching my face.
I can see him considering the request and examining angles I haven’t even thought of.
But finally, his expression softens slightly, and he nods.
“Tell her she can bring it. But you will need to maintain the story about the accident. Nothing more.”
Relief washes over me, and I mouth a silent thank you before uncovering the phone. “Hey Jenny? Yes, you can bring it here. Let me give you the address.”
I provide directions to the cabin, keeping my voice light and casual while Luka watches. When I end the call, he’s already shrugging out of his coat.
“She’ll be here in about an hour,” I tell him. “Thank you for letting her come.”
He crosses to me and cups my face gently, his thumb brushing over my cheekbone. “You need this. Some piece of your old life that is not wrapped in violence.” His mouth quirks in a way that almost resembles a smile.
I lean into his touch, grateful for his understanding. “Thank you.”
He presses a kiss to my forehead, his lips warm against my skin. “I need to make some calls. I will be in my office if you need me.”
I watch him leave, his footsteps fading down the hallway. When the quiet settles again, I ease back onto the bed. A package was left at the café. It should be nothing, yet the thought of it makes my skin prickle with unease.
I push the thought away and focus on getting ready.
I shower quickly, the hot water easing some of the tension from my muscles.
I dress in soft black leggings and an oversized light blue sweater that smells like lavender detergent.
The fabric is thick and warm, but I still feel cold, chilled from the inside out in a way that has nothing to do with temperature.
By the time I hear tires on the gravel road, I’ve smoothed the blanket on the sofa three times and rearranged the pillows twice. My nerves spark with every sound, and every creak of the floorboards. Vega stations himself by the door, his ears pricking at the sound of an approaching vehicle.
I open the door before Jenny can knock. She stands on the porch, bundled in a puffy red jacket, her cheeks pink from the cold.
Her dark eyes light up when she sees me, relief and warmth flooding her expression.
The small package rests in her hands, exactly as she described it.
Brown paper, rough twine, and my name written across the top in block letters.
“Sage!” She pulls me into a careful hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
I return the embrace, drawing comfort from her familiar presence. She smells like vanilla and cinnamon, the same body spray she has worn since I hired her. “I’m sorry I worried you. Everything just happened so fast.”
She pulls back, studying my face. “You look better than I expected. I mean, you look tired, but I thought you’d be in a full body cast or something.”
I manage a smile. “Just some bruised ribs and a lot of scrapes. I was lucky.”
Her eyes move past me, taking in the cabin’s rich wood walls and the warm glow of the fire in the hearth. “This place is incredible. It looks like something from a magazine.”
“The owner has been very generous in letting me stay here while I recover.” The half-truth comes easily.
Luka emerges from the hallway, and I watch Jenny's reaction. Her eyes widen slightly, and a faint blush creeps up her neck. He’s wearing a black sweater with the sleeves rolled to his forearms, looking every bit the successful businessman rather than the dangerous man I know him to be.
“Jenny,” he greets, his voice warm in a way I rarely hear. “I remember you from the café.”