Chapter 18
It was later than Brick wanted before he and Alaska had been able to get out into the forest. As soon as he arrived back at his place, Spike had called and said there was a water leak in one of the cabins.
Brick had dealt with that, then a guest had reported seeing a bear close to the resort.
It was possible, as black bears did inhabit the higher elevations where The Refuge was located, but in all the years they’d been open, there hadn’t been one sighting.
Tonka and Brick went out to investigate anyway, then spent a good amount of time reassuring the guest that they wouldn’t be eaten, the bear wouldn’t break into their cabins, and even though guests weren’t allowed to have weapons on the property, Brick and the other owners did have them, and could deal with the threat if one occurred.
By the time Brick got back to the cabin, it was pretty much dinnertime. He didn’t want to take Alaska out on a hike, even a short one, without eating first. So she’d volunteered to make them a quick meal while he showered.
It was silly for him to take a shower right before they went on a hike, but Alaska obviously knew he needed a moment to himself to decompress, so he gladly took her up on her offer and disappeared into the bathroom.
He took his time, letting the hot water beat on his back, neck, and shoulders. He felt much better afterward, even smiling a bit, knowing how much Alaska loved the way he smelled right after he’d showered.
They ate the sweet potatoes she’d nuked in the microwave and the roasted broccoli before heading out into the fresh evening air. The sun was just starting to set as they got on their way.
One of the best things about his woman was that she always seemed up for anything.
Hiking in the dark? No problem. Trying a sexual position she hadn’t heard of before?
Bring it on. Tackling an issue with the website?
She was up for the challenge. Brick had never been with a woman who was so willing to try new things.
“You know, most other women would balk at heading out for a hike knowing long before they turned around to go home, it would be dark,” he told her.
Alaska laughed. “You forget that we hiked in the dark last night.”
“True, but you didn’t blink last night either.”
“That’s because I was still high from the sex,” she said wryly.
Brick chuckled.
“But for the record, I’d go anywhere, and do anything, with you by my side.”
Emotion made it impossible for Brick to respond for the longest time. Eventually, he said, “I’m terrified of you getting hurt on my watch.”
But Alaska didn’t tense at all. Brick was holding her hand as they walked and he didn’t see or feel any change in her demeanor.
“You shouldn’t be. You think I haven’t noticed how you’re constantly keeping an eye out for me?
How you slip me an orange after lunch when you think I might need a snack?
Or when you step in to mediate when I’ve got a challenging guest?
Or how you make sure I’m warm enough when we sit outside on your back deck?
Drake, you’re more attuned to my needs than I am. Of course I trust you.”
Her voice lowered as she continued. “You came when I needed you most. You didn’t have to.
You didn’t even really know me. And yet you didn’t hesitate.
I love you because of who you are, but I’ll never forget that as long as I live.
You proved that you have my best interests at heart in the most extraordinary way a person could. ”
Brick’s hand tightened around hers. “I wasn’t there for my team,” he said after a moment.
“Bullshit,” Alaska said fiercely. “And what happened was through no fault of your own. I know me saying you shouldn’t feel guilty doesn’t make it so, but seriously, Drake—surviving that explosion was a gift.
And every one of your friends would say the same thing.
We both know you would’ve done anything to save even one of them. ”
She wasn’t wrong. And Brick had been over and over this with therapists. Survivor’s guilt was an insidious thing. Just when he thought he had it conquered, it would rear its ugly head again.
Alaska stopped in the middle of the trail and stepped into him.
She put her hands on his cheeks and tilted his head down so he had no choice but to meet her gaze.
“You deserve me,” she said softly. “Just as I deserve you. This place, The Refuge, is your tribute to Vader, Monster, Bones, Rain, and Mad Dog. They’d be so damn proud of you. Just as I am.”
The fact that she knew his friends’ names, and wasn’t afraid to talk about them, made his heart lighten. They didn’t deserve to be forgotten.
He nodded, too emotional to speak.
But she didn’t seem to expect him to. She went up on her tiptoes, kissed him oh so tenderly, then grabbed his hand once more and continued down the trail. They walked briskly for a while without talking.
Brick was relieved she didn’t feel the need to fill the silence with chatter.
He needed this. The quiet of the forest. Her hand in his.
Alaska silently supporting him at his side.
Some of the guilt would always be there, deep down, but he’d do his best to keep it at bay as much as possible.
She was right. They deserved each other.
They walked with no real destination in mind. At one point, Brick steered them off the main path toward a lesser-used trail. There weren’t as many good overlooks or views, as it took them through a thicker part of the forest, but Alaska didn’t seem to mind.
They were probably about two miles from The Refuge, the last of the day’s light quickly waning, when Brick’s phone vibrated in his pocket.
He sighed in frustration. He could’ve left his phone back at the cabin, or turned it off, but he felt too much responsibility to his friends to do that. Looking down, he saw it was Tiny calling.
“What’s up?” he said as he answered.
“Where are you?” Tiny asked in lieu of a greeting.
The tone of his friend’s voice had Brick immediately on alert. He stopped walking and could feel Alaska staring at him in concern, but all his attention was on his conversation with Tiny. “On trail number four. About two miles out. Why?”
“We heard back from Elizabeth about Choo,” Tiny said. “First of all, his name’s not Bolin Choo. It’s Yong Chen. It’s him, Brick.”
“Him who?” he asked in confusion.
“Him. The person who bought Alaska from the Russian.”
The whole world went black for a second or two. Then fury rose within Brick so intense, he thought his skin was on fire. “What?” he bit out.
“The guy’s good. Really covered his tracks well.
But Elizabeth’s better. Her tenacity paid off and she found him.
Apparently, he used the name Bolin Choo when he was first getting into sex trafficking.
He’s changed his name several times since then, but it was enough for Elizabeth to eventually find him.
He bought Alaska from the Russian, and she wasn’t his first purchase.
Elizabeth has traced about twenty missing women back to him—so far.
From all over the world. They literally disappeared without a trace and were never heard from again.
I’m guessing Choo—sorry, Chen—was pissed when Alaska didn’t arrive as scheduled, and he immediately began to make plans to get her back. ”
“He’s here for her,” Brick said. “So it was all a ruse.”
“Looks that way. But that’s not the worst,” Tiny said.
“What?” Brick barked.
“He’s lined up three million dollars’ worth of clients who want a turn with her.
From the messages and chat rooms Elizabeth found, he’s sold time with her to over three dozen men.
It looks like his plan is to take her to Los Angeles, stay there for a month or so, then head back to China with his bank account fat and happy… and without Alaska.”
Brick knew without having to ask what that meant. The asshole had sold Alaska to other men and, when it was time for him to go home, he’d dispose of her without a second thought.
“Drake?” Alaska asked in a shaky voice as she put a hand on his arm.
“Give me a second,” he told her, struggling to control his anger.
He hated when she took a step away at his tone, but at the moment, it was taking all of his control not to completely lose it. This was literally his worst nightmare come true.
“Where is he now?” he asked Tiny.
“We don’t know. That’s why I called you,” Tiny said. “He’s not at the hotel, but he hasn’t checked out.”
“He’s coming for her,” Brick said almost flatly. He’d tamped his emotions down so far, he was running on pure instinct at the moment.
“We think so,” Tiny agreed.
“It’s why he was so interested in touring the property,” Brick went on. “He was casing the place.”
“Right. So you need to get back here and hole up. We’ll—”
Tiny’s voice cut out when a massive boom sounded through the phone line.
“What the fuck was that? Tiny?” Brick yelled.
“Holy shit! Fuck! There was an explosion near the POW cabin. It’s on fire. Thank fuck no one’s in it right now,” Tiny replied.
Brick’s stomach clenched. This Chen guy wasn’t fucking around. Then he heard more noise through the line. “What’s that?”
“Fireworks. A shit ton of them. Going off all around the camp.”
“Distraction,” Brick said. All of a sudden, he felt utterly calm.
“Yup. The guests are freaking out.”
“Lock ’em down,” Brick ordered.
“Already in the process. Stone’s putting the emergency procedures into place now. But the guests who’re triggered by fireworks are going to be difficult to calm.”
Brick had no doubt Chen knew that.
“We aren’t coming back there,” he told his friend.
He could hear Tiny breathing hard, as if he was running somewhere. “All right.”
He was relieved his friend wasn’t questioning him.
“I’m taking her to bunker one-eleven,” Brick said.
“Ten-four.”