I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes. “What are you talking about? What do you mean?”

“Darby,” Trex said.

“Darby?” My nose wrinkled. “She thinks you’re a hotshot,” I said, my tone accusatory.

“I’m aware. Did you tell her otherwise?” Trex asked.

“No,” I said.

“Good. We need to keep it that way,” Tyler said. “That’s the deal.”

“That we let Trex lie to Darby?” I asked. “Who is she?”

“Just a girl,” Trex said. “But you blow my cover with her, and you’re back in that cell.”

I settled back into my seat, unhappy about his conditions. “You’re not going to hurt her, are you?”

He grimaced, his thick eyebrows pulling together. “That’s the point, Ellison. Do you agree or not?”

I looked up at Tyler. “Do you trust him?”

“He got you out of jail, didn’t he?”

I pressed my lips into a hard line, shaking my head. “You’re not investigating her?” I asked.

“No,” Trex said simply.

“Fine,” I snapped. “You’re a hotshot.”

I could see Trex smiling in the rearview mirror. “Thank you,” he said.

When we arrived at the hotel, I passed Darby. She waved at me, and I smiled, hoping Trex was telling the truth. I had talked her again during my fourth-ish drink, and from what I could remember, she was in Colorado Springs to start over, running away from someone or something. Darby didn’t need more trouble. She’d been hurt enough.

Tyler walked me to my room, pausing just outside my door. He looked pained over what he was about to say. “I know you’ve had a long day, but I need you to go in and pack your bags.”

“What? Why?”

“Because Trex might have gotten you out of jail, but Chief is beyond pissed. He wants you back in Estes Park. He’s already called Jojo.”

I covered my face. “Fuck. Fuck … Because of one mistake?”

“Sneaking into a restricted area, and then getting arrested is a big one.” He looked down the hall at nothing, having a hard time looking me in the eye.

“Am I out for good?”

“I don’t know. Give me some time to talk to him. I’m going to let him cool off first.”

I exhaled, wishing I could rewind the day and start over. “What about you? Are you still mad?”

Tyler’s jaw clenched, and then he folded his arms around me. I closed my eyes, pressing my cheek against his chest. There was nowhere safer for me than Tyler. “I’m just glad you’re okay,” he said.

“Stay with me,” I whispered.

He kissed my hair. “A car will be waiting for you outside in fifteen minutes. Chief wants you on the road heading north. I’m just here long enough to make sure you’re packed, checked out, and on the road. Then I have to get back to fire camp.”