Page 34 of Deadly Sins

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that isin Christ Jesus our Lord,” she read softly, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Those words had seen her through countless challenges, through moments of doubt and despair. They reminded her that no matter what she faced, no matter what mistakes she made, she was never alone. God’s love was a constant, unwavering presence in her life, a light that guided her through even the darkest of storms.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway. Instinctively, she grabbed her weapon and yanked the door open, her heart pounding in her chest.

She found herself face to face with Jimbo, the clerk, still bundled up in his parka and heavy boots against the biting cold. He was holding a tray, which he nearly spilled in surprise at her sudden appearance.

“Saila’s been baking,” Jimbo said, his voice muffled slightly by his scarf. “Thought you might like some fresh cookies to go with the hot tea.”

Kate’s stomach rumbled at the mention of food, and she realized with a start that she couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten. She accepted the tray gratefully, the warmth of the tea seeping into her chilled fingers.

“How’s Fenn doing?” Jimbo asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

Kate glanced over her shoulder at Fenn’s sleeping form, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “He’s resting,” she said. “I think he’ll be okay.”

Jimbo nodded, but his expression remained serious. “Storm’s coming in,” he said, his tone grave. “Wind’s kicking around from the northeast earlier than expected. It’ll hit tonight, tomorrow morning at the latest. And it’s gonna be bigger than they first forecast.”

A chill ran down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold. She knew all too well how dangerous an Arctic storm could be. How quickly it could turn deadly. The thought of being trapped here, with an unknown enemy lurking in the shadows, was enough to make her blood run cold.

But as she looked down at the tray in her hands, the scent of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon tea wafting up to greet her, she felt a sudden, overwhelming sense of gratitude. Even here, in this harsh and unforgiving landscape, there were people who cared, who went out of their way to show kindness and support.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “Please tell Saila how much I appreciate this.”

“Will do.” Jimbo gave her a nod and a small smile and left.

She closed the door softly, careful not to disturb Fenn, and set the tray down on the small table beside her chair. As she inhaled the comforting scents of the tea and cookies, she closed her eyes and offered up a silent prayer of thanks.

Fenn continued to sleep peacefully. She took the opportunity to look her fill, marveling at how young and vulnerable he looked without his usual mischievous energy and constant vigilance. It was a side of him she’d never seen before, and it made her wonder about the burdens he carried beneath his carefree exterior.

She’d always assumed that his aversion to serious conversation and deep emotions was simply a part of his personality, but now she began to suspect that there might be more to it. Perhaps his lighthearted demeanor was a way of shouldering his friends’ burdens, of easing their troubles even as he kept his own carefully hidden.

The thought made her heart ache in a way she hadn’t expected, and she found herself reaching out to brush a stray lock of hair from his forehead before she could stop herself.The gesture felt intimate, almost too intimate, and she quickly pulled her hand back, her cheeks flushing.

Shaking her head, she tried to drag her tired mind back to the task at hand. As much as she hated the idea, it was time to call in the team, to confess her sins and face the consequences. She couldn’t keep this secret any longer, not when it put Fenn and the others at risk.

Not everyone would be as forgiving as Fenn. She had to be prepared that her revelation would change things between them all. It was unavoidable, a necessary evil. But the alternative—the thought of Fenn getting hurt again because of her hesitation—was unthinkable.

With a sigh, she reached for her tea, taking a sip of the warm, fragrant liquid. She nibbled on a cookie, the sweet, buttery flavor a momentary distraction from the thoughts swirling in her head.

Outside, the wind shrieked.

Trouble was coming.

21

Consciousness came back slowly,more like trying to pull himself up off a hot sand beach than the crisp shock of diving into a mountain lake.

Fenn forced his eyes open. For a moment, he couldn’t quite remember where he was or how he’d gotten there, and a dull, throbbing ache pulsed behind his eyes, making it hard to think straight. He lay still, trying to piece together the fragmented memories that danced just out of reach.

And then, like a dam bursting, it all came flooding back. The abandoned comms station. The eerie stillness of the frozen landscape. The sudden, violent attack that had come out of nowhere. He remembered the way the assailant had seemed to materialize out of the shadows, moving with a speed and agility that was almost inhuman. The blow to his head had sent him reeling, stars exploding behind his eyes as he’d crumpled to the ground, the icy cold of the snow seeping through his clothing. Sickening pain and then…nothing.

How had Kate gotten him back to the hotel? The thought flitted through his confused mind, but he let it go. There were plenty of capable sorts around who’d help her drag him in.

His gaze settled on Kate, sleeping in the chair beside him. There was a new softness to her features, a vulnerability that he’d never seen before. It was as if her revelation last night had somehow bridged the gap between them, creating a new intimacy that he hadn’t even realized he’d been craving.

Outside, the wind howled like a wounded animal. Reaching behind him, he lifted the corner of the quilted window covering and peered out into the unrelenting darkness. A few tired flakes of snow scudded past, old snow scoured off the ice by the coming storm. But the real storm was still out there, lurking just beyond the horizon, threatening to unleash its fury at any moment.

As if sensing his movement, Kate stirred. Her eyes fluttered open. In an instant, she was fully awake, her body tensing as she scanned the room for any sign of danger, shifting into what he privately thought of as her “Go mode,” her mind already whirring with plans and strategies.

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