Page 9 of Burning Hearts

He’d known she would. That’s what it was like with family—they understood what you needed. In her case, it was seeing that the people she loved were okay.

But then he stepped back. “I’ll ask Crew to help get you out. He’s one of them, but he’s not the same. I can’t explain it, he’s just different. He’ll help us.”

“You think I’m gonna leave you here?”

Tristan’s expression hardened. “You can’t stay, and I can’t leave until I work out how to stop whatever they’re doing. I haven’t even figured all of it out yet! So I guess that means we’re at an impasse.”

“I didn’t come all this way to turn around and leave again.” She wasn’t going to go without him. If these people were into something, then no doubt it was dangerous.

He ran a hand through his hair. “I could give you a number. Call it twice and hang up. I’ll know you got back to town okay. Then I want you to go back to the Lower 48. Go back to Last Chance County and don’t come back here. I’ll call you when I can.”

“You can’t possibly?—”

“The longer I stand here talking to you, the more likely we’re gonna get caught.”

And yet, with all this talking, what had he actually told her? Not much. Barely anything.

Before she could argue, he stepped away. Jamie didn’t want to lose him again. She tugged the ring off her finger and hurried up behind him. “I can’t believe you’re staying.” She didn’t want to say this, but she had to get close enough. He really wasn’t going to leave this place. “You know you can’t trust these people, right?”

Jamie slipped the ring in his jacket pocket. Not perfect, but it would have to do. This was Alaska, right? He would keep his coat on.

Lord…

The prayer tasted stale in her mouth. She didn’t even know what to say and was only asking for help because she had nothing else right now.

“Wait for Crew. He’ll get you out.”

Jamie pressed her lips together.

Tristan gave her one last look and shut the door. Jamie whirled around. She shook out her hands, her heart pounding in her chest. He was seriously going to stay here? Because he had todo something? Her brother made no sense—and it wasn’t the first time. He probably couldn’t leave because he owed someone money and he had to do a favor in exchange for payment.

Jamie fisted her hands by her sides. As if she was going to wait for a man she didn’t trust to come and save her. If she wanted something done, the only person she’d ever had to rely on was herself. And that was exactly how she was going to get out of here.

She flung the door open.

Crew stood in the doorway, the same look on his face as Snatch when he came at her. “Going somewhere?”

Shivers rolled down her spine. She lifted her chin. “I thought you were supposed to help me get out.”

His expression broke, just a fraction.

Then something swung out behind him and smacked him in the back of the head. Jamie covered her mouth with her hands, trying to muffle the scream.

Crew slumped to the floor, and another man stepped into view.

Logan.

What on earth…

The last man she’d expected to see when she was looking for her brother. Alaska was supposed to be a way for someone to escape the life they’d left behind. And here he was, with a determined expression on his face. One that looked an awful lot like the expression he’d worn that night at Backdraft.

It’s over, Jamie. I’m sorry. I can’t carry your whole family, and you shouldn’t either.

Logan stared at her. “Jamie!”

She shook her head. “What are you doing here?” This made no sense. He was working in Montana, not up here.

“Looking for you.” He held out his hand. “Come on. We’ve got to run!”

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