Page 81 of Snowbound with the Santas

“And forcing it out of her?”

“I didn’tforceit?—”

“Enough,” I snap, raising my voice before their bickering takes over everything else. Setting the cup of water aside, I move past Nick and crouch next to Rayne.

“Rayne?”

She doesn’t respond. It’s hard to tell if she even knows that I’m here. Exhaustion lines are prominent on her face and her eyes appear glazed over. Whether it be shock, pain, or the after-effects of the panic, she is definitely not with us right now.

“It’s okay, Rayne.” I scoop her up into my arms and she still doesn’t respond. Nick rises with me as I stand, but I move past him and carry her through the cabin toward her bedroom. Rayne’s head lolls on my shoulder, but the closer I get to her room, the more she nuzzles into my neck. Her face is burning up, which I suspect is from her panic attack. I’ve had enough of those in my life to know how hard the adrenaline crash can hit.

In her bedroom, it takes some quick maneuvering to get her into bed. Pulling off her boots and socks, I lay her down as gently as I can and then draw the covers over her. She continues to stare blankly up at the ceiling, showing no reaction even when I kiss her forehead. I have to leave her briefly to collect the cup of water, and when I return, her eyes are closed.

Rest feels like the best option for her right now.

I linger in her room for a few minutes to watch over her, then I close the door and head back to the lounge where Nick and Archer are deep in conversation.

“Do you think it’s recent?” Nick asks, pacing in front of the fireplace. His somber expression is extra jarring when surrounded by sparkling Christmas lights.

“What, you think there are two bodies out there somewhere?” Archer remarks. He stands by the window, leaning against the curtain and staring out at the darkening world.

“I don’t know,” Nick replies. “She wasn’t exactly forthcoming on the details, was she?”

“So you think she was telling the truth?” I ask. I stop by the couch, standing just behind it and lightly knocking my knee against it. The slight movement helps keep my static nerves in check.

“Yes.” Archer sighs deeply. “You don’t say something like that while in that state andnotmean it.”

“Unless she onlybelievesthat’s the truth,” Nick points out. “We’ve spent these past, what, three or four weeks with her? I don’t think she has a cruel bone in her body.”

“So either she killed people or she didn’t and just thinks she did,” I murmur. “Either way, if that’s her truth, then we have to take it at face value, right? Until we know more.”

“Right.” Archer nods. “Regardless, that Ashton guy seems to know all about it. But…”

“But?” Nick’s head snaps up.

“Ashton… you heard him. He was going to tell everyonethe truth, he said. He didn’t mention going to the cops or anything like that. He spoke as if he wanted to expose her.”

“So… you think she didn’t kill anyone?” I ask, trying to follow his thought process.

“Maybe. Or it wasn’t recent, in which case we don’t need to worry about stumbling over some bodies.” Archer snorts. “If that little fucker is planning on telling everyone that, we have to plan for the worst-case scenario.”

“Which is?” Nick asks, although he sounds like he already knows.

“Rayne is as she says. A murderer. And the reason she ran that night and nearly got herself killed is because she ran into her ex who, for whatever reason, knows about this. Why he hasn’t told anyone before now is… odd.”

“Not really.” I press my knuckles into the couch. “You heard him. Calling hermy girl. I don’t know. I don’t get the feeling that he kept this a secret through the goodness of his heart.”

“Whatever his reasoning,” Archer says, “he seems to have no qualms about spilling the beans. So whatever he knows, he must be confident in it.”

“Okay,” Nick says, and he slows his pacing. “So, we assume Rayne is telling the truth. She’s a murderer. Her ex is about to tell everyone at the ski lodge about it, which could result in two things. The cops come looking for her or her family does.”

Silence falls. Nick’s pacing picks back up, and Archer taps his fingers against the windowsill. The urge to fill the silence grows, but there’s nothing I can say. My thoughts keep jolting to a stop as soon as I consider that Rayne could have taken a life.

“Well, whatever happens, whatever help she needs, we’ll help her.” Archer moves away from the window.

“We will?” Nick asks.

My heart jumps. “What do you mean by that?”

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