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Placing her damp backpack on the floor, she walked over to the sliding glass doors that led to the balcony with a view of the Gulf of Mexico.
“This is more than a room. It’s bigger than my first apartment.”
“We’re a big family. Are you hungry? You can freshen up, and I can go downstairs to the kitchen and see what they have to eat. The hotel is running on a skeleton crew, and there are probably a few cooks on duty, but I can cook as well.”
“What if you lose power?”
“Generators. We have several to run the resort. And I think this entire area is definitely going to lose power. We usually do every storm. As soon as the weather clears, they’ll come through and start getting people up and running again although it might take a few days.”
“I don’t think I’d want to be without power in Florida in August.”
“I’ve experienced that when I was a kid, and I can assure you that it was as miserable as you imagine it was.”
“You want to cook for me, too? In addition to saving my life? Are you some sort of saint or am I just dreaming all of this after being knocked out by flying debris?”
“Yep, you’re suspicious, alright. I was just about to hunker down for the storm when I saw your car. So, I’m hungry. You must be hungry too, I would imagine. As for dreaming all of this, does that mean that I got hit on the head as well?”
“It’s possible. But I am hungry so I’m just going to go with it. And I would like to freshen up. I won’t take long though.”
“Take all the time you need. I’m going to call my brothers and see if they need me to do anything.”
She nodded and then disappeared into the bathroom. This woman was skittish as hell, and he didn’t know how to help her understand that he wouldn’t hurt her. He didn’t take it personally. He had the distinct feeling that she didn’t trust people in general, not just him in particular. He didn’t know her life, but she’d earned that distrust fair and square. Someone had done a real number on her, and she wasn’t going to just drop her guard around him. Even if he meant no harm.
But in the meantime, he’d keep her safe tonight, and in the morning, she’d get on the road again - running from whatever was chasing her.
While she was here? He’d keep the monsters at bay.
3
“How about I go downstairs and get us some dinner?” the sheriff asked Mia. “You can freshen up or rest. Whatever you want to do. If you just tell me what you want, I’ll get it.”
“I’ll eat anything but broccoli. And sauerkraut. I don’t like that, either.”
“I’ll get a variety and we can mix and match.” He hesitated, his hand on the doorknob. “You should probably stay inside the room.”
“I wasn’t planning on leaving it. I’m happy behind a locked door.”
“You can put the deadbolt on if you like,” he offered. “I’ll knock and let you know that it’s me.”
Mia was once again surprised by how kind this man was. He’d gone out of his way tonight to make sure that she was safe, fed, and dry when he could have simply told her that she needed to stay off the roads. She’d bet money that he was kind to kids and animals, too. He had that air about him.
Not that he was soft. Far from it. But he was gentle and thoughtful.
Or maybe it was just that it had been so long since she’d been around anyone like that. She’d become desensitized to being treated like shit.
When the door clicked closed, she slid the deadbolt in place behind him, breathing a sigh of relief. For a moment, she could allow herself to feel like crap without an audience. Tears burned the back of her eyes, but she was determined to blink them away. She was done crying. She needed to be strong because this wasn’t over. It had only just begun.
Flipping on the light in the bathroom, she splashed some cold water on her face, closely examining herself in the mirror. Her eyes were red, dark circles underneath. Her skin was pale, and she looked - and felt - like she hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in months.
She was tired of fucking crying, tired of being scared all of the time. Less than eight hours ago she’d grabbed her backpack, stuffed a few items in it, and ran.
But Kevin would be on her tail.
She knew it. He knew she knew it. He’d already told her many times that he’d never let her go. If he couldn’t have her - all of her - then no one could. He’d make sure of it, too. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to make sure that she was his, completely and totally. He wanted to possess every inch of her, control every part of her and her life. He’d coldly and calculatingly cut out her family and friends over time until all she had was him. He’d isolated her so she didn’t have anywhere or anyone to run to.
But what he hadn’t counted on was her spirit. It simply wouldn’t give up and be defeated. She’d been born stubborn, and that part of her hadn’t changed. It had been cowed, but there was still some of it deep inside of her. Pushing her. Talking to her. Whispering in her ear that eventually Kevin would look away, just long enough. And that would be her chance to flee.
She’d done it a few times, but he’d always tracked her down. He’d played his part well, begging and pleading that he was a changed man. That he loved her so much. Everything would be different. Within days of returning, she’d known that she’d try it again. He’d probably known it, too.
