by Craig Zerf
***
Emily woke to find herself being carried like a small child. She didn’t need to open her eyes to know that she was in William’s arms.
Not only could she feel his heat but she could smell him. That unique, clean leather and ozone musk that enveloped her like a summer’s morning in an Alaskan spring. Steel and Pine trees and freshly cut grass.
‘You’re awake,’ he said.
‘Mmm,’ mumbled Emily. Not yet prepared to face the world in any way whatsoever. Not even to communicate.
‘You’ve been asleep for almost three hours.’
‘Where are we?’ She asked.
‘The New Forest. The Yardies are back with their boss, except for Tag who wouldn’t leave you. Don’t think that he fully trusts Sylvian or me. And of course Bastian is with us. I thought that we needed to get out of London. Re-plan and re-strategize.’
William pushed a door open as he spoke and Emily finally opened her eyes. She saw that it was still dark outside, then William nudged the door closed. They were in a large, low ceilinged building. Stone walls, exposed beams that were black with age and a rough stone floor.
William placed her back onto her feet. ‘This place has been in my family for many generations,’ he said. ‘It’s a hunting lodge. But it’s registered as crown property so no one knows that I actually own it. We’re safe here from any attacks or prying eyes. The locals are all loyal to me. No one will get close to this place without me knowing about it.’
‘Where are the others?’ Asked Em.
‘It’s getting dangerously close to sunrise,’ answered William. ‘So Sylvian is down in the cellar. Bastian is in the kitchen with Tag. They’re stoking up the coal stove. Bastian’s going to cook and Tag said that he’ll make us a pot of tea.’
Emily grimaced at the thought of Tag’s tea, but said nothing as she followed William through the house and into the kitchen.
Chapter 32
