She drew a shaky breath. The mere thought of the men getting lost, having to build another snow cave from scratch made her feel dizzy. Both men had shown to be so instrumental to the events that had happened since their plane had gone down, she couldn’t imagine anything happening to them. At first she had hated Justin as much as she had hated his brother Hugh, she remembered, but that had now changed, as he had changed, as in their own way all of them who stood huddled in this small corridor of their self-built snow cave had changed. Jake had been cold and distant the first few days out here, she reminisced, but something had changed between her and him too that made her feel a little light-headed. A sensation she had never experienced with Alex, her boyfriend back in London.
“Stay together,” Parker instructed Justin and Jake, his voice heavy with emotion. His gaze shifting between the two men. “Whatever happens from here, we’re all proud of you, and grateful that you’re willing to do this for all of us.”
Nina’s gaze flicked from Parker to Justin, amazed how their ordeal out here had revealed to Parker that Jake was his long lost biological son. And revealing to the rest of them that Justin and Hugh were not.
Neil, an arm around Rita’s waist, studied Justin and Jake with narrowed serious eyes. “Try and keep track of where you’re going.”
“If things get crazy you head straight back here, right?” Rita asked with worried eyes.
“We won’t get lost out there, don’t worry,” Jake said with determination.
It was the reassurance they all needed to hear, Nina realized, as everyone seemed to relax a bit more.
Justin and Jake exchanged a look. “We’re hoping things won’t get crazy,” Jake said. “The snow’s cleared; the avalanche has given us access so we’re hoping to find civilization. And hopefully find it soon.”
“Keep the markers outside the cave visible,” Justin instructed. “No doubt those rescue planes have kept our locations, but those markers will make it easier for us to spot the cave when we get back.”
Nina swallowed. “And, uh... when do you think you’ll get back?” Her eyes locked with Jake’s.
“Soon, hopefully,” he said, his gaze steady on hers.
“We better head off,” Justin said to him.
With a nod, Jake turned to Justin. A moment later they were gone.
AWAKEN is coming soon. Stay tuned....
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Spiral and Torn Books 1 and 2 of The Salzburg Saga Trilogy Page 28
