The light stung her eyes after staring for hours into complete darkness. Natasha groaned and her arm over her eyes as Colin leaned in her doorway and flicked on the light switch. "Rise and shine, sweetheart," he drawled. She could hear the smile in his voice.
She peeked at the alarm clock under her arm. The red digital numbers read 5:34am. She pulled the covers up over her head and curled into fetal position. She heard Colin come to stand over her.
"We're going on a little road trip."
Natasha lifted her arm from her eyes and stared up at him dumbfounded. "You have got to be kidding."
Colin shook his head. "C'mon, Tash, up."
Natasha nearly snarled at him as she threw back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She looked up at Colin. "Does this have anything to do with what you and Gianni were talking about?"
Colin merely shrugged.
"And you're not going to tell me anything?" Natasha ventured.
Another shrug.
"Fine," Natasha said with a sigh as a deep frown marred her brow. She stood brisky and brushed by him, her voice rising. "Everyone seems content to plan my life for me and keep me in the dark, why shouldn't you join in on all the fun?!"
She felt his large hand close tightly around her wrist and she was yanked back against him. The breath whooshed from her lungs as she was crushed against his chest and he glowered down at her. Her mouth dropped open in shock.
His voice was low, an intensity in it that she had never heard from him before. "Stop it. This isn't a game and seems you obviously have no idea what's good for you." He gave her a small shake. "Now pack a bag and let's get going."
Lacey sat in the front seat of the Range Rover and stifled a yawn before she fished into her oversized Fendi spy bag and pulled out a nail file. She tilted her head and examined her nails as she heard a Natasha's high pitched and obviously angry "NO!" from the house. Lacey grinned to herself. Things were always more entertaining when Natasha was home.
Her brows lifted as she glanced up as she heard the front door open and saw her brother striding out, a duffle bag in one hand, a struggling and furious Natasha slung over his shoulder. He opened the back door of the SUV and tossed the bag inside. Natasha was dumped unceremoniously in the backseat before he slammed the door behind her. He turned to head back to the house and lock the front door when she opened the door to the SUV to get out.
He turned and glared at her as he pointed, "Stay."
Their eyes held a moment, dark azure clashing with light cornflower blue. She frowned, pouted and slammed the car door, slumping dejectedly in the back seat.
Lacey didn't turn around but Natasha could hear the smile and laughter in her voice. "Morning, Tash!" Lacey quipped brightly.
Natasha grumbled something unintelligible in the back seat as Colin climbed behind the wheel and they pulled out of the driveway.
Natasha watched the city of Los Angeles melt into the distance as they drove north and further inland. Natasha stared bleakly out the window. They drove for hours and hours, the sun coming up and the early hours of the morning turned to midday. Colin stopped only for gas and to get some breakfast for the girls before he continued driving north.
It was going on ten o'clock when Natasha found herself falling irresistible asleep in the backseat.
She didn't know how long she slept when she felt the car jolt to a stop. She lifted her head from its uncomfortable position to gaze out the window. Her eyes widened. Tall evergreen trees filled her vision and peeking between the slender trunks was the vivid blue of a lake.
Colin and Lacey stepped out of the SUV and Natasha followed.
"Cool, huh?" Lacey stretched languorously and nodded to the cabin that was positioned facing the lake.
"Wow," Natasha breathed. To call it a Cabin was like calling a Mazerati a mere sports car. The ski chalet was a massive structure built out of the very trees that surrounded it. It was truly a beautiful house. She almost forgot her anger at Colin keeping her in the dark.
Colin was pulling the girl's bags from the car and trudging towards the front door. He unlocked it and the girls followed him inside. The lower floor of the cabin was all one room. A large sunken living room was flanked by a full kitchen with granite countertops. Floor to ceiling windows graced the eating area which overlooked a deck and a spot where the trees had been cleared to offer an unobstructed view of the waters of Lake Tahoe.
Colin dropped haphazardly the bags in stone entry way. Natasha glanced at him. He looked exhausted and about ready to pass out right there. She felt a pang of remorse for the trouble she'd given him as he moved toward the stairs that lead to the upper levels of the house. "Don't leave the house. I'm going to bed," he called back over his shoulder.
Natasha wandered over to the tall windows overlooking the lake. Lacey came to stand beside her.
Natasha gazed in awe at the picturesque scene that lay before them. "Where did you guys find this place?"
Lacey smiled faintly. "Dad's company owns it. He brings clients up here sometimes and he had a last minute cancellation." She shrugged. "So the place is ours for a little while. The kitchen is stocked and everything."
Natasha nodded absently and stifled a yawn.
Lacey linked arms with her best friend. "Bed?"
Natasha nodded. "Bed." And the two girl tramped up the stairs to find their own bedrooms.
***
It felt like mere minutes that she had been asleep before Natasha was woken by the intense rapping at the door downstairs. She lay face down in her pillow contemplating the sound a moment before she rose and padded downstairs. To her surprise it was well into nighttime and Lacey sat on the couch flipping through a vogue magazine, ipod earbuds in her ears.
"Lace?" Natasha questioned. When Lacey didn't answer, Natasha shouted over the loud banging at the door. "LACEY!"
Lacey jumped slightly and looked at Natasha as she removed the earbuds from her ears, a quizzical look on her face. "What?"
Natasha stared at her. "You didn't hear the door?"
