Page 13 of Cabin Fever

"Try three. You walked exactly three miles."

Olivia halted her digging and stood. "No, it couldn't have been that small. I felt like I was going to die."

"I admit, if we drove to The Lodge then it would take about thirty minutes to get around the mountain. But to walk straight here from one end of Fire Mountain to the other, it's only about three, maybe four miles." I shrugged. "I'm guessing you weaved up and down the mountain. Since you trekked through the snow and terrain, it took you longer and required more effort."

I had the strange urge to hug her the more she frowned. "But, that can't be. Wouldn't we have heard helicopters and people searching the woods for me? I ran from The Lodge without telling anyone, not even my sister. I left all my things behind. Wouldn't that make people suspicious?"

With a shrug, I stood from the chair. "I would assume. Maybe they're looking in the wrong area?"

It did seem suspicious that we hadn't heard a search party, but I wasn't about to add to her worry by telling her that. I made my way over to Olivia and patted her shoulder. That wasn't enough for the overly affectionate woman. She flung herself at me and buried her face into my chest.

I stilled but soon relaxed. Just having her here was softening some part of me that was never meant to be abated. My father had warned me against people like her. He explained that people don't become rich and powerful by luck. They had to give up pieces of their soul to gain their wealth.

Was Olivia any different? I didn't have to ask as it was obvious that she came from money. Even if she didn't gain that wealth herself, she was raised by a family who lived that corrupted lifestyle.

Perhaps they taught her the way to trick people was through affection. Make others believe they're sweet and caring. I wasn't so easily duped.

With a gentle grip on her shoulders, I pulled Olivia from my body. "Maybe the phone line will be up tomorrow. You'll be out of here before you know it."And hopefully, before I lost my mind.

FIVE

Olivia

"YOU'LL SLEEP WHEN YOU're dead," Carter, who I had now nicknamed Mr. Grumpington, said as he glared down at me.

My fingers grasped at the covers and I held them to my neck as if I was a damsel being attacked by a marauder in bed.

It was worse than that. At least I knew how to defend myself against an attacker. My father made sure all his children trained with black belts and prized fighters growing up so we would be able to protect ourselves. I may not have grown up in the streets, but you'd be surprised how many trust fund guys felt you owed them whatever they wanted to take.

"Then kill me," I bit back as his eyes narrowed.

"The sun has been up for an hour. I've been generous letting you rest, but since it seems like I'll never be rid of you, then you have to earn your keep." He held up my coat and boots.

"I can't even have breakfast or get dressed or have a long soak in the tub? This is worse than being forced to do manual labor."

He groaned. "Thisismanual labor."

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