Page 29 of A Snowy Escape

Chapter Ten

Luka

The roads finally clear up early Sunday morning. After spending two damn days hearing all about the omega Bryant stashed at our apartment, I’m up and ready to go early.

Lawson, that motherfucker, barely bothered with a handful of texts. He checked in enough that we knew the two of them were alive and without power, but not much else.

According to the outage map on my phone, they got power back late last night.

I have no doubt Law took good care of her. My brother doesn’t have a dishonorable bone in his body. With that being said, he has much better luck getting along with animals than he does with humans.

Women often find him gruff and abrasive. Hopefully Abby can overlook his growly nature under the circumstances.

Bryant is pissing me off. He made it clear that he wanted to ride into town with me, but I’ve been ready and waiting for his sorry ass for fifteen minutes.

I already know that I’m not making it out the door without Shadow. Bryant better hurry his ass up, or he’ll be driving himself.

I’m anxious to get over there and see how things panned out. If Law wasn’t too grumbly and growly, Bryant and I might be able to do damage control to win her over.

My brother isn’t a bad guy. He’s actually one of the best people I know. He just doesn’t suffer fools, and he never learned how to cushion his delivery when it would come in handy.

* * *

“Shadow can’t come up with us right now,” I tell Bryant, shaking my head as I climb the stairs to the apartment. “He’s too riled. We need to make sure Law is the one who introduces him to Abby and her dog. We can’t risk the two of them fighting.”

“How did I get nominated for babysitting duty?” Bryant grumbles, tugging Shadow toward the grassy area near the drainage ditch.

The ground is covered in so much snow that it won’t really matter where Shadow pisses, but I can’t spend any more brain space on that.

Hopefully the woman’s dog—Echo—won’t attack me once I let myself into the apartment.

I texted Law both before leaving the house and before getting out of my truck after parking, but he hasn’t replied.

* * *

A gust of warm air smacks me in the face as I open the apartment door.

I peek around for the woman’s dog and let myself in.

Law isn’t on the couch.

I’m a little confused because neither is the elusive Abby that I’ve heard so much about.

Pulling off my jacket, I kick out of my boots and drop my coat on one of the hooks by the door.

There’s no one in the office, and that only leaves one room left.

If her car and Law’s truck weren’t in the parking lot, I might be worried that they left. That doesn’t make much sense, though.

Law isn’t reckless.

He wouldn’t risk traveling in such questionable conditions. He’s much more likely to hunker down and ride out whatever comes his way.

I’m still shocked I haven’t found him yet, but that must mean the two of them snuggled for body warmth.

I can’t decide if that’s a good or bad sign. Getting brave, I try the doorknob to the bedroom. It pushes open without any resistance.

My eyes take a second to adjust, and my jaw falls.