Page 111 of Love Me Dangerous

Sofieglances at me with that steely determination I’ve grown to love.

I nod my acknowledgment—we’re staying.

“We’re heading into the basin,” she tells her dad, then silences Rowdy’s flustered curse and tucks the radio back into her pocket.

Our shoes leave crisp prints in the fluffy snow. There’s no sign of Linnie’s tracks here, but I’m not sure we would see them, given how quickly the snow is accumulating.

“Should we call for her?” I ask.

Sofie glances back, her brows knitted together in worry. “Would we hear her in this wind?”

“Even if it’s more for her than us. She’d know she’s not alone. That we’re coming. Maybe those hunters would hear us too.”

She gives me a sharp nod. “Okay.”

We stand back-to-back so our call will expand in more directions. Even through my thick coat, Sofie’s warmth radiates into my back.

“On three,” I say and count down. We cry Linnie’s name to the howling wind, the snow tickling my lips. I close my eyes to channel all of my senses into listening. We stand there, the two of us breathing, waiting, hoping.

But only the wind answers.

“Let’s move a little higher,” Sofie says.

We hurry up the trail, the snowflakes dancing all around us, burning my eyes and fingers. In another hour, we’ll be lucky to find our way out of here.

The radio crackles with Rowdy’s stern tone. “SAR team’s here. They’ll be underway in five.”

Sofie clicks the mike in acknowledgment.

We reach the basin. I swing my arms to get warm blood into my aching fingers. How bad would the cold be without Rowdy’s gloves? “Let’s call for her again.”

Sofie spins and our backs press close. Her warmth pulls at me, makes me want to wrap my arms around her and tell her everything is going to be okay. But I swore not to make promises I can’t keep.

I count down and we cry out Linnie’s name but it gets swallowed by the storm. The seconds stretch, the only sound the wind and mythumping pulse. Sofie’s back presses into mine with each rapid breath.

“Again,” I say, and count down. We call out. I close my eyes and strain for any scrap of sound over the storm.

“Did you hear that?” Sofie asks.

I turn to catch her eye. “What?”

“I don’t know. It came from up there.” She points to the woods flanking the north edge of the basin.

“Let’s try again.” This time, we face the forest. “One, two, three.”

Together, we cry Linnie’s name, the wind blasting down from the pass in an icy gust. I close my eyes and turn my attention to the direction Sofie had pointed. The snow bites at my cheeks and lips.

I hear only the trees swaying and the raging wind. “Maybe it was creaking from one of the trees,” Sofie says, discouragement edging her tone.

That was the same place I thought I saw…

Only a daredevil would try to ride through those trees. “Let’s have a look. Maybe the bike is stuck up there.”

We hurry off the trail, crossing rocky terrain with stunted trees and sections of frozen ground that are slippery in the snow.

The radio crackles, and Rowdy’s voice cuts through the wind and our huffing breaths. “The storm’s getting worse. I need you two to come down.”

A man with a brisk tone interrupts. “We’re at the junction and heading into the basin.”

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