Chapter 52

Keara sat, on the floor on an old, empty cement bag, in the unfinished area, her eyes bleary from writing on her laptop in the dark.

Just a few more pages and she’d be done.

The feeling was monumental. She couldn’t believe she’d pulled it off. Though if it hadn’t been for the seniors and all the help they’d commandeered, plus their help itself, she never would have made it.

There was still the very final read-through.

But she’d done the edits. The index was completed. All that was left was the conclusion. The wrap that would make or break all her carefully held ideas about the progress of the science she’d become committed to.

Geophysics. Out here, so close to the magnificent Rockies and living on Terrence Point, it had fired her. Really found her, at last. From Ancient Days to the New Ancient…and Beyond.

She had a feeling this conclusion, this whole damn thesis was more. Much much more, because of her time here. She could barely wait to submit it.

About twenty more pages should do it, she thought, as she unkinked her back. It was a lot, but she could do it. She had Oscar’s special caffeinated blend to get her through it, and energy bars.

And his blend? ‘Le Chock’ he called it. With notes of chocolate, peppermint, orange. And a bit of something she couldn’t quite identify? Possibly caramel, along with a bit of cayenne. She’d smiled, as he’d offered it to her tonight. Whispered that normally he didn’t share it with the ‘proletariat.’ Only with the patrol, when exhausted. And in one case, with a gangly young man who’d been determined to impress the young woman his heart pined for, but fear had crowded him, even on the most basic of slopes.

“Ah, Cherie. Keara. He won her. Now I give it…to you. For you. For your special project.”

And the name? Quite simply? She’d smiled at it. Jolt, in English.

But it was working. And if she stayed up all night, hit ‘send’ on it before 9 a.m. the next morning on this damn thing…

…she’d have done it.

Assuming she passed on the thesis, she’d have her degree. Finally. Then, she could finally start her life. Join the society in Toronto. Tread those hallowed halls…

Or…maybe something out here? The thought had her throat suddenly constricting.

Something to do with the blond soldier, in his mountain cabin.

The thought lulled her. She was so tired. Just for a moment, she thought, as she drifted to sleep, entered dreamland quickly, like she had so many times before.

* * *

Life with the ex-Delta North soldier would never get boring. Come here often, soldier? would be one of their recurring, pet lines for play.

They’d make love. A lot. Seemed they both had much to make up for. She’d grow accustomed to seeing the look of lust narrow his eyes, after a particularly, good evening. And…be ready. Her panties and underclothes would soon be on the floor, discarded, as she faced him, naked. Marveling at the speed with which he could also be out of his clothes.

In bed, out of it, they’d tumble. Connect. One of her favorite ways would be on his lap, his hands filled with her breasts, moaning. Or his finger, salty, between her lips, as she sucked it, bobbing up and down on his thighs.

He’d slowly lower her down, both of them biting their lips until the head of his hard cock was at her entrance. One single, perfect motion, and she’d take him in, with a gasp. Slick, wet, full of the Special Ops solider. The man who’d taken her into his cabin, who loved her and put her first…

* * *

A clatter outside the area woke her with a start. Keara blinked, fought to remember where she was. Sat up with a start.

She was at the chalet, and not on Sven’s lap. Damn. At least, no one had come back here while she was having that erotic dream. But if someone did come back and found her here, she had to get fully awake, fast.

She reached her hand out, called for her dog. “Buddy. Hey, boy!”

But he wasn’t there, nor did he come running, like he normally would. He’d probably gotten bored while she’d escaped to that forbidden dimension. Had she been moaning? Good grief. She snorted an embarrassed giggle, tried to forget the possibility. She snapped her fingers, called for her companion, again. “Buddy!”

Buddy though, didn’t come. She struggled to make sense of it, then remembered. Chilam had offered to take him out to do his business, so Keara could continue to work. Maybe she’d come by, and Buddy had indicated a need. On top of which, he was one dog that did not mind going out into the elements.

That’s probably where he was. With Chilam. She settled back into her textbook. Flicked off the last remnants of that dream, and forced her attention back to her work.

After a few more minutes, though, she glanced at her watch. They still weren’t back?

She strode to the back door, pushed it open against the blizzard, saw nothing, as she peered into the dark sky full of pelting flakes. The first frisson of worry hit her.

She ran back to her spot, quickly grabbed her phone. There was the picture within a picture utility Dante had quickly set up on it, so he, as he put it, could keep eyes on her. And that was even though Ofc. Jacobs had spoken with them, assured them there was no way Blaine could get through this storm to them.

If he hasn’t shown up yet? He’s not going to. Trust me on this. You guys are golden.

She’d laughed inwardly at the joke. But it had relieved her, in no small way. Now, though, something was off.

“Keara. You okay?” Dante’s voice crackled through.

“I’m fine. Listen, have you seen Chilam? She’s got Buddy.”

“Uh, I see Chilam. She’s here at the front desk. But no Buddy.”

Fear skittered through her. “I thought she took him out to do his business.”

“Just a second.” She watched him walk, with his phone, to the desk, and address Chilam. “I’ve got Keara here. She’s asking where Buddy is.”

“I took the dog out a while ago, but I brought him back to her.” Chilam’s face swam in the frame. “I took him to the opening to your area, and he started running in to you. I thought he’d come back to you.”

“No.” Fear grasped her. Either the dog had fallen, hurt himself on some of the left-over construction material or…. “I’ve got to go.”

“Wait, Keara.” Dante was already running, she could see that. Toward her. “I’m on my way.”

But they couldn’t find him. Anywhere.

They overturned packs of supplies, kicking up fine, white dust. Looked behind garbage cans full of dirt, leftover concrete, stone, tugging them aside with all their might. Even looked in the rafters, where an old platform could have served as a base to jump to another platform, then high up into an attic area. In a crawl space, behind nameless garbage.

No Buddy.

Then, her phone dinged. And the email she never wanted to see ever again in her whole life blasted into her inbox. Changed everything, without a sound.

Hey, Little Girl.

You’ll be glad to know that dogfighting is alive and well in snowy British Columbia. First fight? It’s on. Tonight. So many men have come out, through this storm, to enjoy its many pleasures.

Chief attraction? Click on the picture, sweetheart.

Her finger shook, but she clicked, as her throat closed around her gasp.

It was Buddy. Her sweet Buddy…and Blaine Westerling.

They were standing in front of a small, rough-hewn building, lights on inside, with the snow driving down around them.

Blaine had Buddy.

The next thing she heard as she fell against the unfinished wall was a guttural, blood-curdling scream.

Her own.