Page 78 of Snowbound with the Santas

“I know,” I say softly. “But I’m safe here. I’m okay. I choose to be here, and Archer’s right. I would have been back down in a few more days. I’ve just been… apprehensive about the snow.”

“Understandable,” Nick says tightly. He watches Ashton like a hawk.

“No problem. We’ll call again in a day or two and speak to you, Rayne, just for your mother’s peace of mind.”

“Wait, that’s it?” Ashton barks. “You can’t be serious!”

“As you can see, Rayne is fine and this is where she chooses to be. We have to respect that, and we will do some follow-ups, but she is an adult and I see no reason for us to disturb these people for much longer,” Byron says stiffly.

I get the impression he’s been dealing with Ashton’s bullshit for too long.

“Fine,” Ashton snaps, and his eyes flash dangerously. “But when I get back to the lodge, I’m telling everyone the truth, Rayne. Then you'll have no choicebutto stay here because no one will want anything to do with you!”

29

RAYNE

Archer reacts like the snap of a whip. He launches himself forward so fast that his initial movements are a blur, but his fist slamming into Ashton's face? That’s in slow motion.

There’s a fleeting burst of shock across Ashton's face before Archer’s fist crashes into his face, crumpling his nose flat. Crimson explodes from the point of impact, and Ashton's face twists into a wide, open cry. He stumbles backward into Byron, who slowly lifts one hand to try and catch him. Whether from slow reflexes or simply not caring, Byron misses, so Ashton trips back through the doorway and lands spread-eagle on the snow outside.

“Get thefuckoff my property,” Archer snarls. His voice is thick and deep, oozing a dangerous threat that no one in their right mind would want to pursue. Ashton clearly isn’t in his right mind because the very act of being punched in front of a crowd seems to offend him greatly. He writhes around in the snow for a few seconds, spraying blood from his broken nose and equally busted upper lip, then he scrambles to his feet.

“You fucking psycho!” Ashton yells. He tries to charge forward, but he’s prevented by the other member of Mountain Rescue catching him by the shoulder and dragging him backward. Nick moves in front of Archer to prevent any more flying fists while Byron shoots me a look I can’t quite decipher.

It’s an odd mix between sympathy and understanding, but he doesn’t look all that happy, either.

“I’ll let that one slide because I don’t want to do the paperwork,” Byron says as he heads out of the cabin. “But we will need to see Rayne down at the lodge sooner rather than later. If only to keep the peace.”

That’s the last thing I hear. Nick falls into conversation with Byron, and just beyond his shoulder, Ashton is visible as he’s wrangled into the jeep.

Tell everyone the truth?

My heart crashes down into my gut and my stomach twists so violently that I can’t decide if I’m going to puke or if I need to hurry to the toilet.

He’ll tell everyone.

My mom.

Uncle Cecil.

I think back to our argument in that cupboard and how confident he sounded that the way he would tell the truth would absolve him of wrongdoing. It wouldn’t matter that he claimed he was driving all those years ago. He’ll make me look like the threat. I’ve never known Ashton to be scared of anyone. Even now, he’s still shouting and yelling as if he stands any chance in a fight with Archer.

And yet, somehow, he’ll make me look like a psychopath.

What will happen to me?

Will the police be called?

Will I go to prison?

The ground wobbles violently and weakness sweeps up my legs. I stumble and reach for the back of the couch for balance. Frankie is still beside me, and out of the corner of my eye, I can see him looking at me. His mouth is moving, but none of the words reach me.

Ashton must have said something provocative because suddenly, Nick is having to hold Archer back and that’s a clash between two Titans. Archer looks ready to kill, and Nick has enough sense to make sure that doesn’t happen in front of the mountain police. They got one pass. They won’t get another.

If Ashton is going to tell everyone the truth, that means I have to.

I have to tell Frankie, Nick, and Archer what I did.

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