Page 32 of Like a Hurricane

She’d hid for half a day after I’d told her about the hit, pushed the dresser in front of the door and attempted to smash a window but I’d caught her and after threatening to take the door off the hinges she stopped.

I felt like I was dealing with a bratty teenager after they’d been grounded, except this was a full-grown woman and she was stubborn as all hell.

“Eat,” I grunt, dropping the plate of food in front of her. She glares at me but picks up the fork and I go to the fire, adding more logs to keep it burning and warming this place.

The snow hadn’t stopped in three days, it was just white outside the windows and bitterly cold. It was actually a good thing. While I didn’t believe anyone would find us here, if they did, it would be tough for just about anyone to climb this peak during this snowstorm. But it did mean we were trapped here until it cleared some. I’d contacted Torin but there was no way any supplies were reaching us until the snow at least stopped falling in torrents.

I’d been keeping a close eye on the file for Arryn, it had yet to tick over to the next hitman since the current one still had a couple of days and even though I had tried to get information through some of my most trusted sources, no one had the information I wanted.

The Wares were still hiding.

When Arryn has cleared her plate and gone off to sulk in front of the fire, watching the snow fall peacefully outside the window, I take a moment to watch her.

So many different puzzle pieces to fit together. She was all sharp edges and venom, her defenses built so high and violently, it was hard to see what was underneath.

But in times like this, when the cabin is quiet, and she isn’t actively trying to murder me, I can see a side of softness to her she doesn’t show anyone. She doesn’t like to be vulnerable, I’ve realized, in front of anyone, but I could see the way her shoulders loosen and her pretty lips part on a sigh, she is somewhat enjoying the serenity this cabin has to offer.

“The TV is old,” I say, clearing the kitchen and taking a few small steps towards her, “but it should get a signal and work, though I doubt there’s many channels to choose from.”

Her eyes bounce to mine before they do a sweep of my body. I was in sweats again today. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gone this long without putting on a suit.

She thinks I don’t notice when she looks at me like that, when her eyes heat and a small pink bloom of color highlights her cheeks, as if she is remembering the night we shared barely a week ago, before everything went to shit.

She averts her eyes and reaches for the ancient-looking remote, pressing the button to turn on the TV. Static greets her but after a few button presses she finds a live channel. It’s just a news channel but she settles into the cushions, pretending to be enraptured by the current story playing on the screen about some new property developments happening on the East coast.

I leave her to it until I hear a gasp from her.

“It’s been almost a week since heiress and model, Arryn Lauder was reported missing. This story comes after her father, Victor Lauder, was found dead at a restaurant in central Portland, Maine. Authorities believe his death follows a string of robberies targeting the dining and hospitality sector of the city. Arryn’s sister, Olivia has released a statement with regards to her sister’s disappearance.”

“Arryn,” I reach for the remote in her hand.

“No!” She cries, “Let me watch.”

The camera cuts to a prerecording of Olivia Lauder standing outside of the Lauder hotel. The young girl’s eyes are puffy and red rimmed from tears. She looks ill, with the dark shadows under her eyes and the pale complexion of her skin.

“Please,” She starts, her voice cracking on that simple word. Arryn’s hand flies to her mouth, eyes glued to the TV as her sister pleas to the camera for any news about her sister, “If anyone, anyone at all, has any information about my sister, Arryn, hand it over to the police. She doesn’t deserve this.”

Arryn jumps when my hand lands on her shoulder, but she doesn’t shove me off which I expected her to do. Instead, she accepts the small amount of comfort I can offer her.

“She would want to say goodbye to our father.” Olivia continues, “If you know anything, call the number on the screen now and help bring my sister home.”

“Can’t you do something?” Arryn whispers, “Send a tip to them that I’m safe?”

“I can’t do that,” I tell her softly, “I can’t risk anyone finding you.”

“But how would they!?” She snaps, “If you do it anonymously?”

“Because it doesn’t work that way, princess, if the people after you get hold of the information, there are plenty of ways to trace the tip back. They would find you. Is that what you want?” She tries to pull away from me, but I don’t let her. I round the couch and grab her chin, not hard but firmly, forcing her to look at me with her hate filled gaze, “They find you Arryn and it won’t just be your father your sister is burying, itwillbe you too.”

“Why the fuck do you care!?”

“Because I fucking do!” I growl, “Because regardless of how long I have known you, you deserve a long and fucking happy life. And if I have to keep you safe for the rest of your fucking life, I will. Because I have taken responsibility for that damn heart inside of your chest and I will do all I damn well can to keep it beating for as long as I can!”

“I’ll get a bodyguard.” She again tries to snatch away from me.

“No one can protect you better than I can.” I whisper, leaning in closer, “No one will stand between you and what’s after you.”

Her eyes bounce between mine, wide and filled with emotion that no matter how hard she tries to hide, she can’t.

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