A spray of gravel, the squeal of tires, and the truck took off—as far as I could tell. I slowed my descent, rolling to a stop at the base of a narrow pine tree.
Fuck. Once upon a time, I’d known these mountains like the back of my hand.
Once upon a time was a long fucking time ago. I’d left my phone back at the house, just wanting quiet for my run. Stupid. Stupid and careless. My father was dead, and his killer was still out there somewhere. I couldn’t afford to be stupid and careless.
My life wasn’t just about me anymore. If I died, everything Sawyer would pass to Bryce. My siblings would lose their livelihoods, their home. Hope would be alone with no one to look out for her.
Looking back up the side of the mountain, I thought about the direction I’d run, and how far I’d come after I’d turned off the Heartstone drive. Below me, the fading light showed an endless sea of trees and not much else.
I could drag my bruised and bleeding body back up the side of the mountain and follow the road back to the house, but I’d be exposed and vulnerable if the pickup truck came back for another shot. Or I could risk a hike through the woods and hope I knew where I was.
I thought I did. Standing, I used the tail of my shirt to wipe my face, aggravated to see the gray fabric rusty with blood. Fuck. Another glance at the sky and I started to move. I’d come a long way by the road, straight out from the house and then right on the main road perpendicular to the drive. Theoretically, if I headed away from the road, angled back the way I’d come, I should end up near Heartstone.
My brisk pace turned into a trudge sooner than I would have liked. With each step, I felt every rock and branch and log I’d bounced over as I’d rolled down the side of the mountain. Somewhere, I’d slammed my still healing shoulder into a log or a rock and it ached like a bitch. I had a cut on my forehead that wouldn’t stop bleeding, the salty, warm fluid stinging my eyes. Despite the cold, I wanted to take off my shirt and use it to bandage my head, but the temperature was dropping as the sun set. Until I found a solid landmark, I wouldn’t run the risk of hypothermia.
No water, no food, no phone. Fucking idiot. As I followed the bearing I’d set, I castigated myself. No more running without a phone and a weapon. Maybe no running by myself for a while. I’d have to get the gym at the Manor set up.
I kept my mind busy running through lists of things to do. Otherwise, I’d start to worry. What if I didn’t find the house? What would happen when Hope realized I was missing?
Ignoring my aches and pains, I stepped up my pace as the ground leveled out. A glimmer of light peeked through the trees. Finally. I never thought I’d be grateful Heartstone Manor was so fucking big. Gradually, step by step, the house took shape through the trees, looming over the flat land surrounding it. Lights flickered in windows here and there.
Relief flowed through me and I found the energy to break into a slow jog. I just had to get to the house. Call West. Get cleaned up before anybody saw me. I headed for the side door by the mudroom. Nobody used it since everyone came in through the garage or the front door, but I was betting it would be unlocked with everyone moving in. If I could get through the mudroom, I’d use the elevator to go upstairs, and from there it was a short walk to our room.
The door handle resisted before it turned, the hinges squeaking as I pushed my way into the mudroom, relieved to find it empty. I strode across the hall to the elevator, also empty. So far, so good.
A short ride up, the elevator doors opened, and I ran out of luck. Royal was walking by and stopped, startled by the sound of the metal grate as I pushed it out of my way. His eyes landed on me and his face went pale. I must look like shit.
“What the fuck happened to you? You look like you got hit by a car.”
“Close enough. Lower your voice,” I said, checking the hall. Empty. I turned and jogged toward my room, Royal on my heels. “Do you have your phone?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Do you have West’s number in there?” I asked. I didn’t want to call in front of Hope if she was in the room, but we needed West.
“Yeah. What you want me to tell him?”