“I’d say this qualifies,” I mutter ruefully, as Sebastian checks the compass again, and strides on, still heading north.
No rest for the wicked.
I hoist my bag, and trudge after him. It’s easier going now, the road forming a solid surface to walk on, sheltered by the towering fir trees that loom above us, but I’m exhausted, the adrenaline from the crash long since faded, leaving nothing but the icy realization that I don’t know what happens next.
If we reach this lodge, if we survive the night…
What will Sebastian do with me then?
As I walk behind him, my face numb from the cold air, I think about what happened back in Italy, how I arranged the lavish party so Sebastian could share our engagement with the world—and instead, I revealed what a monster he truly is. The look of fury and betrayal in his eyes when he finally realized what I’d been planning all this time… The memory of it chills me to the bone, despite the fact that I’m sweating with exertion now.
Would he hurt me?
He was planning something, that’s for sure. Kidnapping me to a deserted cabin in the mountains? I have to wonder what kind of ‘chat’ he had in mind, before the plane crash forced him to change his plans. The bitter irony hits hard, that now, after everything, the tables have well and truly turned.
Now he’s the one out for revenge.
I can’t even say I blame him. After all, I single-handedly tore apart everything he’d built—including our twisted charade of a love affair. I spent months scheming to earn his trust, investigating his whole life, while I pretended to fall in love with him.
Pretended…?
I feel a desperate ache, deep in my chest. The truth is, the line between love and hate blurred a long time ago. And yes, there was a moment when I thought Sebastian could be redeemed. That his past sins were just that—in the past. That we had the chance to build a future together…
But then he proved me wrong.
The man is heartless. Dangerous.
A monster, just like he always said he was.
Just like I knew, when I set out on this mission to begin with. I was willing to sacrifice my body, my innocence to him, on my quest for vengeance.
But I wasn’t expecting to like it.
Because Sebastian was right with his cruel taunting. The sexual connection between us was stronger than any logic or reason. I did crave him. Beg for him, as he showed me a pleasure I could never have imagined. I submitted to his every filthy lesson, learning just how far I’d go to win his approval.
That bliss of surrender. The wild release of his low, murmured praise. The words that never failed to make me weak. Make me wet.
“Good girl.”
I stumble, suddenly overcome with the haunting depths of my failure. I gave up everything to bring Sebastian to justice, I’ve been torn apart by the war between hatred and desire battling inside of me. I’ve lied and cheated, and destroyed innocent lives…
And for what?
Sebastian is free. Interpol’s handcuffs couldn’t hold him for long. And even at the party as I watched them lead him away, I didn’t feel triumph, or victory in my apparent success.
Only an emptiness, hollow and aching where my fury had once burned, keeping me warm.
Was it worth it?
Was any of it worth the price I’ve paid—with my body… and my soul?
My legs give way, and I crumble to my knees into the snow. I feel something inside of me snap. Grief and exhaustion flood through me, and there are suddenly tears stinging my eyes.
What am I even fighting for anymore?
“What’s the holdup?”
I look up to find Sebastian standing over me with an impatient scowl on his face. “I need to rest,” I manage.
“We don’t have time to rest.” Sebastian snaps. “It’ll be dark soon. And a blizzard is coming.”
I shake my head weakly, still holding back tears. “I can’t.”
His jaw tightens. “Avery…”
“I can’t.” My voice breaks, and to my horror, the tears spill over, hot on my cheeks.
Sebastian’s icy stare doesn’t soften. He just stands there, watching me cry. It’s humiliating, to fall apart in front of him, but I can’t hold back anymore. My body shakes, and my sobs echo in the stillness of the snow, howling with grief and fear, and everything I’ve lost on this futile quest for justice, until finally, I’m too drained even to cry.
Sebastian waits, until my sobs become a faint sniffle. “Are you done now?” he says curtly.
I nod, shame red on my face.
“Then start walking.”
Bastard.
I struggle to my feet again. Sebastian doesn’t offer to help, but when I’m finally upright, brushing off the snow, I find him holding out a mini bottle of water from his pack.
I gape. “You had this all along?”
“It’s the only one.”
I snatch it from him, and gulp it down greedily, forcing myself to stop before I drain the bottle. Reluctantly, I hand it back to him, with a couple of inches of water still left. “You finish it.”
Sebastian arches an eyebrow. “How generous,” he says dryly. “I’m touched you care.”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” I shoot back. “If you die of thirst, then who’s going to lead me to this cabin?”
Sebastian scowls, gulps the water down, and then starts walking again. I hoist my bag and follow.
Everything is a blur after that. Every step along the deserted mountain road takes a massive effort, and as the afternoon stretches into the evening, the snow begins to fall. It doesn’t take long before Sebastian is proven right, and it turns into a blizzard, the flakes whirling around, making it hard to even see twenty feet ahead of us. The sun sets, and the temperature drops even more, chilling me to my core, despite the clammy exertion. Just when I’m wondering if we might actually freeze to death in the dark out here, Sebastian picks up his pace.
“There!” he exclaims, pointing ahead. “Up there!”
I squint through the snow, and just about make out the dark silhouette of a structure, up on the ridge. “The cabin?” I say, my heart leaping with hope.
“We made it.” Sebastian confirms, and it’s not until I see the relief shining clear in his eyes that I realize, he hasn’t been as confident as he’s made out.
We’ve been in real danger.
“Thank God,” I exhale. The snow whips around us, dizzyingly white, but my energy is renewed, and I manage to struggle up the driveway after him.
As we draw closer, I can make out that it’s a rustic lodge, set back near the trees. The door is locked, but that proves no obstacle for Sebastian. He simply hurls himself at it, shoulder-first, and the wood splinters around the lock.
Open.
I stumble inside after him, slamming the door shut behind us against the snow and wind. It’s freezing and dark in here, but there’s an immediate relief to be out of the blizzard. I catch my breath, stamping the snow off my boots as Sebastian finds a light switch and flips it, but nothing happens.
“Damn it,” he curses. “The storm must have knocked out the electricity.” He looks out the windows, but we can’t see a thing through the dark and whirling snow. “The backup generator is out by the shed; I’ll see if I can fix it in the morning.”