Kings of Decay (The Winston Brothers Duet #1)

39. Ainsley

Chapter thirty-nine

Ainsley

" H ow the hell did you not wake up?" I shouted.

Pearce pulled up his pants. "I don't fucking know. Why didn't you?"

"I don't know," I snarled back.

"Whatever, we just need to find her," Pearce said. He marched around the cabin, checking for her in every room.

I flung open the closet by the front door. "She's gone. She took boots and ran."

Pearce ran out of the extra bedroom, his eyes wide as he saw the empty closet. "God dammit," he sighed. He pushed his blond hair back. "Well, grab the ATV. Let's go find that dumb bitch."

I threw on my jacket as Pearce got the ATV. I didn't know how long Willow had been out there, but even with proper clothes, it was a death wish. We got on the ATV and started following her tracks.

The snow was treacherous, and the ATV fishtailed as we slid on and off the road. We traversed through the dark forest, following her trail and hoping she hadn't gone too far.

The sun was starting to set, and the temperature was dropping rapidly. I could feel it in my bones.

Willow's footsteps were nothing but a faint track by now.

Pearce pressed the throttle, pushing the ATV as fast as it could. The snow started coming down harder, covering her tracks beneath a fresh white layer. I could feel my heart in my throat, knowing every second counted. We needed to find her before it was too late.

"How did she get so far?" I shouted.

"That little mouse can run," Pearce shouted back over the wind.

Snow was falling faster, threatening to bury any evidence of where she’d gone.

Then, we saw a flash of orange in the snow.

It was Willow, sitting in the snow and shivering in her oversized ski suit. She was alive. She was awake, but barely. Her pale face turned to us as the headlights flashed over the snow.

"Oh, thank God," she cried out, trying to stand up.

The relief that flooded through us was indescribable. I jumped off the ATV, ran to her side, and wrapped my arms around her.

"What were you thinking, Willow?" Pearce asked his voice a mixture of anger and relief.

"I-I had to get away from you," she whispered, her teeth chattering. Her lips were blue with cold, and her tanned skin was somehow pale as snow.

Pearce looked down at her. I read his expression, knowing his heart ached as he realized the extent of her hatred for us. She was fragile, but there was also a fierce fire burning within her, a spirit that wouldn't be silenced.

"Listen, Willow," Pearce said, trying to infuse his voice with warmth and gentleness. "We don't want to hurt you."

Willow looked up at him, her eyes accusatory. "You sure have a funny way of showing it."

"What I mean is, we don't want to. But we will." Pearce said. He held her tightly. "You're ours, Willow. I don't know how many times I have to say it before you believe me. You're perfect for us."

Willow forced him away. "Shut up!"

I moved between them, glaring at my brother. This was not the time to start another fight, something he was an expert in. "Let's just get back to the cabin."