Page 34 of A Very Addicted Christmas

PART THREE

DECEMBER 2038

SEVEN

RESCUE MISSION

DECEMBER 2038

AFTER CHAPTER 25 IN SINFUL LIKE US

We listened to "Tiptoe" by Imagine Dragons while writing this scene.

Character List:

Maximoff Hale - 23

Charlie Cobalt - 21

Sullivan Meadows - 20

Bodyguards:

Farrow Keene - 28 Omega(Current Client: Maximoff Hale)

Tony Ramella - 28 Epsilon(Current Client: Jane Cobalt)

Akara Kutsuwon - 27 Omega Lead(Current Client: Sullivan Meadows)

MAXIMOFF HALE

JANIE HAS BEEN GONE for over five damn hours. She should be back from grocery shopping by now.

I get that she’s with her boyfriend, but there’s no way she’d risk exposing the twin switch to spend more time with Thatcher. Not today.

It’s December 18th—Akara’s birthday, which we all planned to celebrate tonight. Thatcher and Jane wouldn’t miss that.

And Jesus, all I have to do is glance outside to know a colossal blizzard has blown into the Scottish Highlands. It looks like Iceman is having a one-on-one fight with Storm. The chances of a car stalling or spinning out arehigh.

Janie is my best friend. My other half. And I’m not leaving her and her boyfriend stranded out in the freezing cold over night.

I spread gear out in the large foyer: hiking packs, headlamps, extra batteries, water bottles, CamelBaks, a ton of dry extra clothes (especially for Jane), a first-aid kit, waterproof matches, and more. I brought all of this stuff to Scotland for recreational hiking—not for a rescue mission.

While I roll fleece pants and place them in my pack, I tell Charlie, “You can join me.”

He’s been slumping back on the last few steps of the winding carpeted staircase. Just watching me pack for what could be a two-day hike. I have no clue how far away Thatcher and Jane are, but I’ve been preparing for the worst. Triple-checking that I have enough extra supplies for a long, taxing duration.

Charlie props his head with a finger to his temple. “I’m staying here.”

I stuff a water bottle inside. “I want you to come, if you want to, and I know Jane would too.” That’s his sister, and I reallydon’t want Charlie to feel like this is a solo-thing. Like I’m taking over and pushing him out.

He locks eyes with me. “I’ll slow you down.”

I’m crouched, switchblade in my hand, and I glance at his right leg, the one that has been causing him pain in the cold. “If your leg hurts?—”

“It’s not just my leg,” Charlie cuts me off and cocks his head. “Even before my surgery, I wouldn’t be able to keep up with you in these conditions. There’snopoint in trailing three or four hours behind you.”

I can’t offer to stay back just to let him be the one to rescue his sister. This isn’t a competition to me. “Jane would appreciate it if she saw that you joined." I know she'd love seeing Charlie there.

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