holster around her calf. She opened the locked gun box and slid the handgun into the holster. The Glock was already loaded. No point carrying an empty gun around. The gun box went in the rucksack. Hopefully, there wouldn’t be a search.
She stood, letting her pants leg drop. There was a slight bulge but nothing that would make anyone think she was packing a piece.
Her phone went in her front pocket. It would be next to useless within an hour if they were going up north, but at least she’d have it. Search and rescue could ping her if she fell down a ravine or something. She’d have to let Emelia and the girls know she was going to be offline for a few days. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been uncontactable for longer than the length of a flight.
She’d need to send some emails on the bus … Focus! Four minutes left.
Lacey grabbed the brand new pair of hiking boots, shoved her feet into them, and laced them with the knot her father had taught her. No time for untied laces when hunting.
Everything else was thrown back into her suitcase. Presumably, someone would come and claim it and store it or send it wherever it needed to go. Shouldering her pack, she pulled open her door and walked into the hall. Only to get knocked down by a blur of khaki.
Before she could even catch her breath, let alone try to get back up, two hands had grasped her straps and hauled her back onto her feet.
“You okay?” Victor’s concerned and harassed face swam above her.
“Fine. Let’s go.” She jogged down the hall before he could even reply.
She didn’t know how Victor—heir to the Viscount of Downley and well-known womanizer—had survived the first cull, but she did know that the man who loved the high life wouldn’t last a night in the Minnesota wilderness.
All going well, she’d be rid of him by this time tomorrow.
Victor: Hey, just so you know, I’m in the US for the next week or so for work and might be off the grid for some of it. I’ve let Mum know, but you know how she worries if she can’t get hold of us.
Peter: Got it. Where are you going?
Victor: Some kind of corporate boot camp, I think. Is there anything you need me to do for the wedding? Mum took my measurements for the suit when I was home.
Peter: Don’t think so. Last I saw, Emelia and Mum had the spreadsheet all under control. I’m at training camp this week.
Victor: Do you want me to organize you a bachelor’s party?
Peter: Nah. Not really my thing. Training schedule doesn’t allow for it anyway. I’ll have a beer with the guys or something.
Peter: You don’t need to worry about a speech either. I’ll ask one of the guys to do it.
Victor: Got it. Hope the training camp goes well.
Peter: Thanks. Good luck at boot camp.
Lacey: So I’m going to be off the grid for a week or so. Is there anything you need from your maid of honor before I’m out of reach?
Emelia: Ha ha, very funny.
Lacey: ???
Emelia: Lace, you consume internet data like the rest of us consume air. Your cell provider would think you were dead if you went more than a few hours without contact.
Lacey: I’m serious. This merger thing is next level. I’m in Minnesota. I’m pretty sure Meredith is sending us off into the BWCA.
Emelia: Sending you where now?
Lacey: Boundary Waters Canoe Area. It’s a wilderness area on the border with Canada.
Emelia: You’re going camping???
Lacey: Camping. Canoeing. Hiking. If I’m right. Which I’m pretty sure I am. We’re almost at Ely. The only thing anyone goes to Ely for is this.
Emelia: Once a Minnesota girl, always a Minnesota girl. I’m sure it will all come back to you.
Lacey: I borrowed a gun from Dad. A nice little Glock.
Emelia: Of course you did. Because Lacey O’Connor in the wilderness without her phone and armed isn’t terrifying at all.
Lacey: I’m not going to be waving it around like a crazy woman. It’s for emergencies.
Emelia: Seriously. When was the last time you were without your phone for more than a few hours? I have clear memories of you being wheeled into surgery to get your appendix out and them having to physically wrest it from your hands.
Lacey: That was because my stupid appendix chose the week of a book release to explode. Thank goodness I don’t have one for another few