Page 128 of Slay Ride

Grim just glares at the woods.

“Shit, what happened to the limo?” Ezra asks.

“We hit something . . . big. I don’t fucking know,” Bennett says, “but the driver is dead, and I still need to get to that jet.”

Kindra turns to the two men on the snowmobile. “You two, get the driver’s body back to the mansion so that Jim can figureout how to handle this part.” She faces Ezra. “You and I will ride ahead and ensure a clear path to the airport.”

“On snowmobiles?” Ezra asks. “You can’t be serious. These things aren’t meant to run on asphalt.”

“That’s why we’ll run along the side of the road and clear any debris ahead of them.” Kindra takes Ezra’s hands in hers and looks up at him. “Your brother needs to see his mom, and we need to help them get to that plane.”

“Everyone has done enough,” I say. “Bennett and I can make it to the airport. It’s not that far, right?”

Ezra looks at Kindra. “They might make it.”

“No!” Kindra stomps her foot, which is code for an upcoming explosion if Ezra isn’t careful with what he says next.

His shoulders drop. “Guys, you heard her. Do what the boss says. And if we aren’t back in an hour, send the sleigh.”

“That is all we will have left,” Grim says with a dry laugh.

As everyone moves to their stations, Bennett and I head for the snowmobile. Grim and Maverick walk toward the car, and I turn away. I don’t want to see that man’s face again.

Kindra and Ezra climb onto their snowmobile, and she looks back at me. “We’re going. Give us a ten-minute head start, and don’t go too fast. If there’s trouble anywhere ahead, we’ll need time to clear it before you plow into us.”

I nod at her, and Bennett and I walk toward our machine as they speed away into the night, their lone headlight disappearing over the next hill. Minutes later, Grim and Maverick head in the opposite direction as the driver’s body bounces behind them, leaving a gory trail.

“I hate that for the poor guy,” Bennett says with a shake of his head as he looks at his feet. “If I hadn’t told him to turn around . . .”

“You were coming back for me,” I whisper.

Still looking at his feet, Bennett nods. “Yeah. I wanted you to meet my mom before . . .”

He blows out a breath to keep himself from crying, and I step closer. His arms wrap around me, and he pulls me against his chest and allows himself to break. It’s only a slight crack in his armor, but he’s made of tough material. A slight crack for Bennett is like a crevasse for anyone else. The tears falling against my coat are his humanity, leaking out, unprotected.

I wind my arms around his waist and hold him closer. As cold nibbles the tip of my nose, I wait for him to speak. Several silent minutes pass this way, with two lost people finding themselves on a cold Alaskan night.

“Look up, kitten,” he whispers. “Please look up and tell me what you see.”

So I do. I tip back my head and peer into the night sky.

“Oh my gosh,” I breathe.

In my panic to reach Bennett, I’d gone blind to Alaska’s beauty, not once looking up on the short drive to reach him. Now that I’m in his arms, however, my eyes can focus, and the magnificence running across the stars can’t be described with words.

Bennett pulls me against him until I can scarcely draw my next breath. He clings to me like a man lost in a storm. “Tell me what you see.”

I lick my lips and rest my head on his chest. I stare upward, but I’m not looking at the lights. I’m looking at him.

“It’s magnificent. Literally breathtaking. It’s something I never imagined I’d experience in my lifetime, and now, here it is.”

Bennett smirks down at me, with tears still brimming in his eyes. “I meant the Northern Lights, not me, dumbass.”

“That’s what I meant too,” I say, then stick out my tongue.

He kisses the tip of my nose. “Better be careful about making ugly faces like that. It’ll stick that way.”

My tongue slides back into my mouth.

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