Page 3 of Heart of Frost and Scars

I look out at Monty again, watching as he climbs into the cockpit, his conversation with the crew concluding.

For all my distrust, Monty’s right about one thing. We need to go somewhere safe, somewhere isolated. The offer of his island, the privacy of his guest house, seems a small solace amidst the madness.

The engines of the plane roar to life, the deep hum vibrating through the tarmac, through my bones.

I turn back to Frankie, her hand clutching Kody’s arm, her knuckles white.

“Say the word.” She sits taller. “I’ll climb into the driver’s seat and drive us away from him.”

If that’s what she wants, she would’ve already done it.

She certainly didn’t ask my permission before stealing my snow machine and crashing it into a hill.

“What’s stopping you?” I narrow my eyes.

“If Monty is the danger Denver warned us about…” She swallows. “He’ll find me. Doesn’t matter where I go or how long it takes. He’ll hunt me down. Stealing his car and driving to another city won’t stop him.”

“He didn’t find you in Hoss.”

She makes a noise in her throat, her face collapsing. “I can’t—”

“You’re not going back there,” Kody growls, spearing me with a threatening glare.

“We’ll go to Sitka then.” I pull on my coat, my voice as steady as I can make it. “We don’t have a choice.”

She gives a slight nod, her eyes glistening. I reach toward the back seat, gripping her free hand, finding her fingers ice cold.

She’s fucking shaking.

Something else is wrong. My gaze flies to Kody.

He directs his eyes to the plane.

The plane…

Fuck.

“You’re not ready to fly again.” I close my hand around hers, trying to warm it. “That’s what this is about?”

“It’s fine.” She blinks rapidly. “I’m fine.”

“Bullshit.” I stroke my thumb across her knuckles. “Don’t lie to me.”

“It’s everything. All of it. I’m trying to be brave. I swear. It’s just a lot all at once.” She clings to my grip, her gaze pleading. “I haven’t even processed Denver’s video or what Monty’s role might be in it. Right now, I can’t think past the immediate danger, which is boarding that plane after…after…watching you and Kody get ripped away in the cockpit and the sound of twisting metal, the terror—”

“Shh.” Kody pulls her onto his lap. “We won’t fly. We’ll find another way.”

“No.” She scrambles off him and slides across the back seat, putting her arm out. “If you two can fly, I can, too. I won’t let fear control me. I’m just acknowledging it, okay? Let me voice it. Let me face it.”

Kody’s nostrils pulse.

Maybe the plane crash should’ve affected me more, but I don’t remember much of it. I recall Kody’s calming voice in the headset, the blinding whiteout of the blizzard, then…nothing.

“What about you?” I ask him.

“I don’t fear the plane.”

No, I suppose he’s more worried about Monty and his plans for Frankie. Same as me.

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