Page 67 of Mountain Void

Charlie nodded, but her brain was having trouble processing.

“You’re all here … because of me?”

Tess nodded. “Can we get you something? The coffee’s not good, but maybe some warm tea?”

“Let her breathe, Tess,” Damien said. Charlie had the feeling he was used to channeling Tess’s excitement about life.

“We brought some clothes,” Yvette said. “I know we can find you a sweatshirt that fits better.”

Charlie took the chance to look up at Lorenz.

“They’re all here because of you, honey,” Lorenz confirmed, speaking low into her ear. His voice sent a shiver through her body—the first pleasurable shiver of the night. “But you don’t have to talk to anyone. You want to leave?”

Charlie squared her shoulders. “They came all the way here. And they’re right. Your sweatshirt is really not the right size for me.”

“Three minutes,” Lorenz said. “Then I’m taking you home.”

20

Charlie

Through half-closed lids, Charlie saw Lorenz pull the car into a parking spot right across from his apartment.

“You awake?” he asked softly.

A part of Charlie wanted to pretend she was asleep. It was nice here, in his warm car, with the comforting rumbling of the engine, and Lorenz sitting right beside her. She wanted to pretend she was asleep, so she wouldn’t have to say what needed to be said. But she’d been a coward long enough.

“I’m awake,” she said, turning to look at him.

His gaze moved over her face in that quiet, assessing way of his. Then he nodded. “Come, let’s get you inside. You still look chilled.”

She was chilled. But not her body. Lorenz had covered her with a dry blanket and turned the heating on high. He had to be roasting, but the warmth felt lovely to her. If only she wasn’t feeling so cold inside.

Lorenz unlocked the apartment and stepped aside to let her in first.

The apartment smelled faintly of cedarwood, laundry detergent, and something uniquely Lorenz she couldn't have described if she'd tried.

Safety.

The realization caught her off guard.

She slipped off her Crocs but left on the socks.

"Sit," he said quietly, nodding toward the enormous couch. "I'll make some tea."

Her muscles, tight for what felt like hours, loosened against the cushions. Only then did she realize how exhausted she was. Every part of her ached. Her chest and back burned from being pulled.

The kettle clicked on in the kitchen.

She’d barely closed her eyes when Lorenz was back, setting two steaming mugs on the coffee table in front of her.

"Careful," he said. "It's hot."

Their fingers brushed. She lifted his hand, noticing for the first time the angry red marks the rope had left across his palms. He hadn’t said anything.

“Val should have looked at this.”

“It’s nothing,” he said. “Really.”