Then, Maren called the cabin home. Home. There was no such place anymore. Those words got people hurt. This was a safe house. A means to an end. When I’d killed all those assholes after me this time, I’d help Maren disappear. Then, I’d walk away from her and not look back. There was no straying from the motto. The motto of not having anything in my life I couldn’t walk away from kept everyone safe. If only I’d never gone to Alaska. Jasmine and Faith would be alive. Without me. But, nonetheless alive.
I leaned against the wood wall and let out a breath trying to rid my body of the restless energy. Now that the generator worked, I’d unload the car and get the place cleaned up. Looking at my watch, I noticed I’d been gone for a couple of hours. Shit. Abruptly, I stood and dashed to the cabin. It was dark. Maren was probably scared.
Entering the cabin, I came to a halt. Candles and a few lanterns were lit giving enough light to see. The place was spotless. Maren came out of the bedroom and screamed when she saw me. “Oh my gosh. Bane. You scared the shit out of me. I didn’t hear you come in.”
Her hair was thrown on top of her head. Dust streaked her face. She looked beautiful in the dim light. I wanted her.
Nervously, she continued, “I cleaned up the place a little bit. I hope that was okay. I found some vinegar, a broom, and a mop in the closet.”
“It’s fine. I got the generator going.” My tone came out harsher than I intended. I flipped the switch and the power came on.
Maren tucked an escaped hair behind her ear. “Once we have water, I’ll get the dishes cleaned. Tomorrow I can wash all the sheets that covered the furniture to get the dust out.”
Going to the sink, I hoped the water pump still worked. Digging through frozen ground to fix it was the last thing I wanted to do tomorrow. I lifted the facet knob. It sputtered. Then
water flowed freely through the nozzle. Finally, a break. “We’ve got water.” My tone was hollow and ice.
Why was I being such a jackass?
I turned and Maren was within inches. “I’ll wash the dishes.”
“Maren, I don’t expect you to be my maid. You don’t have to do anything. The cabin looks great.” There, that was better. More appreciative sounding.
Watching me closely, she asked, “What happened today? Why are you being so cold to me?”
Leaning against the counter, I scrubbed a hand down my face. “Maren, I like fucking you. Maybe too much. But, I don’t want you to get any false pretenses. When all this is over, when I know you’re safe, it all ends. We go our separate ways. I don’t want living together to bring some false sense that something has changed.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I haven’t given you any impression that I wanted more, Bane. Not once! I’ve been a human to you and that’s it. I’m not some desperate girl who doesn’t know the score. I’m fully aware we’re simply fucking. But that’s fine, we can become roomies until you sort through whatever mess this is.”
With an animated turn, Maren stalked toward the bedroom. “I’m going to bed.”
The door slammed.
“Fuck,” I muttered to myself knowing I deserved all that. Maren wasn’t the one running hot and cold and sending mixed signals. I was.
Shit!
Tomorrow I’d try to make things right between us. It looked like it was the couch for me. That was better anyway. I’d get the car unpacked, computers up and running and catch a few hours of sleep. Distance was a good thing.
I pulled Jasmine, but nothing happened. Dead weight was all I was greeted with. Turning back, I had a sickening feeling I wasn’t willing to admit. Before my eyes, Jasmine was slumped over as a red pool of blood spread into the white snow from her head.
Grabbing her shoulders, I brought her to me. “No! No! No! Baby, wake up!”
Jasmine laid before me. Lifeless. Dead.
Sobs erupted from me. “NOOOO!”
Everything worth living for was fading in this moment. I had to be there for my little girl as her movements faded. “Faith, I’m here! I’m here, Faith! Daddy is here!”
There was nothing I could do. Helpless. I prayed for a miracle as I begged, “Baby, don’t leave me! Please don’t leave me!”
“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Nothing I did brought Jasmine or Faith back.
“Bane! Bane! Wake up!”
I stirred as the darkness let go. A pressure shook my shoulders and my defenses went on alert as I sprung, putting the body underneath me. With a firm grip on the person’s neck, I squeezed. Who the hell was with me? Who the hell entered my place? Whoever the asshole was would see what happens when you break and enter.