Unleashed (The Elliott Brothers #2)

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

A s we wandered through REI, the tang of rubber and canvas filling the air, Erika trailed her fingers over the gear, frowning at the prices on everything. “Where can I reach you?” she asked, her voice edged with concern.

“You can’t.” I pulled a hiking backpack off the rack, giving the straps a test pull. “I don’t think the woods have great reception.”

Her eyes widened. “You’re serious? You’re going out there completely off the grid?”

I slung the pack over my shoulder, adjusting it to test the weight. “That’s the plan. No signal, no calls, no emails—just me and the Appalachian Trail. I need this break.”

“You’re crazy,” she muttered, shaking her head. “What happens if you run into a bear?”

“I’ll deal with it,” I shrugged, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “I’ve hiked and camped alone before. I need a break from technology—and from people.”

Her hand froze mid-reach toward a display of thermal socks. “What happens if you injure yourself?”

I grinned at her worry, but her frown didn’t budge. “It’s summer, Erika. The trail’s packed with hikers. If I trip and break something, someone will come along to save me.”

She crossed her arms, fixing me with a hard stare. “Not if you get bitten by a snake. You could die out there.”

It warmed my heart that Erika worried so much about me. She was the only one who knew I was going alone. I told my parents I was hiking with some friends because I didn’t want them to worry. My father was the one who taught me to hike when I was a kid and I found it relaxing, giving me time to think.

I chuckled, grabbing a pair of hiking boots. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were actually worried about me.”

She scoffed, rolling her eyes but unable to hide the hint of concern in her voice. “Shut up, idiot. Of course I’m worried about you. I love you.”

“I know,” I said with a soft smile, nudging her playfully with my elbow. “But I’ll be fine. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Her gaze flicked to the gear in my arms, and she sighed dramatically. “Fine. Get your stuff. But the least you can do is let me buy you a martini before you head off to the wilderness.” She paused, her tone shifting. “Any word from Slade?”

I winced, dropping the boots into the shopping cart. “No. He’s been freezing me out for the last few weeks. He doesn’t understand why I made the decision to leave Abbott. I needed a fresh start.”

Erika’s lips twisted into a knowing smirk. “He feels like he’s losing you.”

“He never had me,” I said, frustration creeping into my voice. “And if this is how he shows love, I’m starting to think he never really loved me.”

“Move on,” she said bluntly, eyeing a jacket rack. “You live in a city full of men. Come back from your little nature adventure and, for God’s sake, start dating again. You’re a beautiful woman.”

Before I could respond, two men with look-alike sandy brown hair and sharp gray eyes, who had been lingering near the down jackets, smiled over at us.

“You’re both beautiful,” one of them said with a lazy grin. “Come have a drink with us.”

Erika didn’t miss a beat. “We’ve got plans, but thanks,” she said smoothly.

“It’s just one drink,” the older of the two insisted, slipping a card from his wallet and handing it to Erika. “In case you change your mind.”

I leaned into glance at the card as Erika flipped it over. Jackson Fielding III, Stock Analyst at Fielding and Connor.

She arched an eyebrow. “Are you the Fielding in Fielding and Connor?”

“No, that’s my father,” Jackson said, flashing a self-assured smile. “This is my brother, Ross.”

Ross nodded in our direction, staying quiet but watching us closely.

Erika shot me a glance before turning back to Jackson. “I might take you up on that, but she can’t,” she said, gesturing to me.

“And why not?” Ross asked, his voice finally breaking the silence.

“She’s going hiking. Alone,” Erika said, throwing the word like a challenge.

The brothers exchanged glances. “With a guide, right?” Jackson asked, concern flickering in his eyes.

“Nope. Solo,” I replied, feeling a small thrill at their surprised expressions. “I’ve done it before. I can handle myself.”

“How heavy is your pack?” Ross asked, his eyebrows knitting together.

“About forty pounds. A little more once I stock up on water at checkpoints, but it’s manageable,” I said confidently.

Jackson nodded, looking impressed. “Good luck. Maybe we could join you sometime. Do you hike, Erika?”

She shot me a look of barely-contained glee before slapping my hip with the back of her hand. “Sure, I love hiking,” she said, her voice dripping with false enthusiasm. “Being out in nature is one of my favorite things.”

I nearly choked on my laughter. Jackson didn’t seem to notice, though. He winked at her, his charm on full display.

“We should definitely plan something. I know some great spots to camp,” Jackson said, turning the full force of his smile on Erika.

After a few more flirty exchanges, we finished our shopping, and Erika promised to meet Jackson for drinks later that week. As we hauled my gear into the back of a cab, she leaned back with a dreamy sigh.

“Oh my God, Jackson is so hot. I think I’d like to schedule a playdate with him.”

I gave her a sidelong glance. “How the hell can you tell that from one meeting? And by the way, you lied. You said you love camping.”

She waved a hand dismissively. “I do love it—when I’m watching people do it on TV.”

I snorted. “You’ll have to go now. He’ll expect it.”

She grinned mischievously. “I’ll talk him out of it. I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

“Does that offer involve sex?”

“Obviously,” she said, flipping her hair with a laugh. “I’d love to get into Jackson’s pants. He’s scorching hot.”

“Then why’d you turn down his drink earlier?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“I didn’t want to seem too eager,” she said, smirking.

I shook my head, unable to hold back a smile. “You’re impossible.”

“And I’m going to miss you,” she said suddenly, leaning her head on my shoulder as the cab rolled through the streets.

“I’ll miss you, too,” I murmured. “But I promise, when I start at Elliot, we’ll hang out more.”

“You mean you won’t work yourself into an early grave?”

I chuckled. “No more of that. This trip is my reset. A new start. No more work without balance.”

“I hope you stick to it,” she said, giving my hand a squeeze.

“I promise I will.” When the cab reached Erika’s building, I helped her out with a hug, watching as she waved goodbye.

“Call me when you get back to civilization,” she called over her shoulder. “I want to know you’re still alive.”

“Don’t worry about me,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Love you.”

“Love you, too,” she said, flashing a grin before disappearing into the building.

As the cab continued on to Tribeca, I felt the weight of the pack on my lap—a reminder of the adventure ahead and the distance I was putting between myself and everything that had come before.

The next morning, I rented a car, aiming to drive up to Bear Mountain. The plan was simple—hike as far north as I could in ten days, from Putnam to Dutchess County, and then rent a car to get back to Manhattan. I didn’t know how far I’d get, but it didn’t matter. All I wanted was to escape.

As I crossed the George Washington Bridge, leaving the city behind, the scenery shifted from the urban grind to something quieter, more peaceful. The Hudson River glinted through breaks in the trees, a sharp contrast to the concrete jungle I’d just left. The Palisades loomed to my right, towering cliffs that paralleled my route.

By the time I reached Bear Mountain, I was more than ready to get started. Glide Ride, the rental company, would pick up the car wherever I left it—one less thing to worry about. I strapped on my backpack, feeling the familiar weight settle on my shoulders, and headed to a nearby water station to fill up my CamelBak. The extra water added pounds to my pack, but in the June heat, I wasn’t taking chances.

Once on the trail, the world fell into its natural rhythm—just the crunch of dirt beneath my boots and the rustle of leaves in the breeze. The river views were breathtaking, sunlight dancing on the water as I snapped a few photos. The trail wasn’t empty; hikers passed with their dogs or kids in tow, nodding in silent camaraderie.

After hours of hiking, I reached Anthony’s Nose, an outcrop with a panoramic view of the valley below. I stopped, wiping sweat from my brow, when I heard it—my name, cutting through the wind.

“Morgan!”

I spun around, confused. Slade Abbott was walking toward me. What the hell?

He looked like he hadn’t slept in days—scruff covering his jaw, his brown eyes dark with exhaustion. He wore tan cargo shorts, a blue t-shirt, and hiking boots, his backpack slung carelessly over one shoulder. He was clearly out of his element.

I narrowed my eyes. “What the hell are you doing here?” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care.

Slade raised his hands in mock surrender. “Don’t be like that. I miss you.”

I crossed my arms, glaring at him. “I’m on vacation. I don’t have time for your petty bullshit. How did you even find me?”

“I know, I’ve been a dick,” he said, ignoring my question. “I thought I could change your mind... but after all these years, I should’ve known better. You’re stubborn, Morgan Kincaid. Downright impossible sometimes. But I’m not giving up.”

I stared at him, incredulous. “You still haven’t answered how you found me.”

He smirked. “You left your itinerary on your desk at work before you quit. I saw it. Got here a couple hours ago and figured I’d wait for you to show up.”

I scowled, the irritation growing. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing?”

Slade shrugged. “Not really. But you wouldn’t abandon a novice, would you?”

Part of me wanted to scream at him. The other part—though I hated to admit it—was relieved. Hiking alone had its perks, but sometimes... maybe a companion wasn’t so bad. Even if that companion was Slade Abbott.

I sighed. “Fine. I guess you’re my responsibility now. But where are you going?”

“Wherever you are,” he said simply.

“Let’s go, then,” I muttered, adjusting my pack and stepping back onto the trail. “I hope you can keep up. I’m not stopping until it’s almost dark.”

“I can handle it,” Slade said, falling into step beside me.

“Sure you can,” I said, glancing sideways at him. He met my gaze, determination written on his face.

God help me, this was going to be a long hike.

The truth was, Slade Abbott, city boy through and through, couldn’t handle it. By the time we stopped for the night, he winced as he pulled off his boot, revealing a blister the size of a dime on his heel. His groan echoed through the quiet wilderness while I focused on setting up the tent.

"You didn’t break your boots in first, did you?" I asked, not bothering to hide my exasperation.

Slade grimaced. "No. They’re brand new."

"First mistake," I muttered, finishing the last pole and securing the tent in place. I turned to look at his blister, swollen and filled with fluid. With a sigh, I rifled through my bag and pulled out some salve and a bandage.

Slade sat there, sheepish, as I knelt in front of him. “I guess I bit off more than I could chew,” he admitted, watching as I carefully applied the salve.

“Maybe you should go home,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.

His eyes flicked up to meet mine, a question hanging between us. “Do you want me to go?”

“I wanted this trip to be relaxing,” I replied, avoiding his gaze as I pressed the bandage onto his heel.

“And I’m ruining it for you?” His voice was softer now, a trace of vulnerability seeping in.

“I didn’t say that,” I said, standing and brushing off my knees. “But I worry you won’t be able to keep up.”

Slade straightened, a hint of defiance creeping into his tired face. “I won’t let this get in the way of our trip. I promise.”

I glanced at his blistered foot and then back at him, shaking my head. “I don’t want you to get injured. That could get infected.”

He raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Is that care I hear in your voice?”

“Of course, idiot,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “I care for you.”

“But you don’t love me,” he said, the statement hanging in the air between us like a challenge.

I paused, biting back the response that surged up. “I wish it was that easy,” I finally said, the words tasting bitter. “Let’s get some food in you.”

We fell into a silence as I busied myself with dinner. The ready-to-eat meals were easy enough—beef stew for me, chicken and rice for Slade. After heating the water over the small fire, I poured it into the meal packages and handed one to him. We sat across from each other in the fading light, eating quietly. Despite everything, it wasn’t bad for a dehydrated meal.

As we finished up, I broke the silence. “I guess you’re sharing the tent with me.”

Slade looked at me with a teasing glint in his eye. “Unless you want to help me put mine up?”

I shook my head, exhaustion creeping into my limbs. “I’m tired, and it’s not necessary. Let’s turn in. I want an early start tomorrow.”

He nodded and hobbled into the tent, leaving me to put out the fire. By the time I crawled in after him, he was already unrolling his blue sleeping bag. I unzipped mine, a flash of red against the dim light, trying to ignore the way my heart jumped when he pulled off his shirt. His chest, muscular and tanned, was hard to miss. I quickly averted my gaze, focusing on my own bag. But as I tugged off my gray t-shirt, revealing my black sports bra, I felt his eyes on me.

“Your stomach is pretty muscular,” he said, breaking the tension. “Do you still work out?”

“Not as much,” I admitted, settling into my bag. “I let my job take over.”

Slade frowned, leaning back on his elbows. “I’m sorry.”

I shrugged. “It was my choice, Slade. You had nothing to do with it. I thought it would help me advance.”

“For what it’s worth,” he murmured, “my father’s not happy that you left.”

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “He should’ve thought about that before putting Thomas in the position. What’s he going to do without me carrying him?”

“There’s already talk of replacing Thomas,” Slade said quietly, glancing at me.

“He’ll be an easy act to follow.”

Slade turned toward me, his voice soft. “I wish you would change your mind.”

I shook my head, reaching over to turn off the small lantern. “Go to sleep, Slade.”

The darkness wrapped around us, and I closed my eyes, hoping for sleep to take me quickly. But just as I started to drift off, I felt his hand, tentative and warm, brush against my arm.

“I love you, Morgan,” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the rustling of the tent.

My breath hitched. “Slade…” I cautioned, my voice low. He pulled his hand back, but it was too late. His touch had ignited something deep within me, a fire that had been dormant for far too long. The throbbing between my legs returned with a vengeance, making it impossible to ignore.

I clenched my eyes shut, trying to fight it, and eventually, after what felt like hours, sleep came—fitful and restless.