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I have no real life here. No real job. No family. One wrong move and I’ll be arrested. One slip and the mob will find me.
I walk over to my desk and sit down with my box of IDs and passports. It’ll take a day to create everything I need to start over somewhere new.
Then, it’s time to go.
CHAPTER 21
ANNA
Ipeek through the blinds and look down at the street outside the bakery. The normal, everyday crowds walk through their normal, everyday lives while I feel like my own is anything but normal.
I don’t run from my problems. I always fight them head-on. But today, I’m stuck. Now that the adrenaline has faded, I’m paralyzed.
They went after my baby.
They went after his baby. Milo risked his life to save us, but I panicked in his arms and pushed him away.
I glance around Vincent and Evey’s apartment. It really does feel cramped. It’s about to get worse with me and Charlotte hiding out up here, but we won’t be here forever.
Hopefully.
Things will go back to the normal, everyday routine, but I’m not sure how it could. No, scratch that.
I’m not sure I want it to.
The door opens at the bottom of the stairs. I listen to the familiar stomp of Vincent’s tough stride. He walks in with a duffel bag in one hand and Trevor follows close behind him.
“How did it go?” I ask.
Vincent reaches into the bag. “Cell phone,” he says as he pulls mine out.
“Yes! Thank you.”
He tosses it underhand and I catch it. “Also grabbed a few pairs of clothes for you and Charlotte.”
“How did the house look?” I ask, dreading the question.
“It’s trashed,” he says. “Doesn’t look like they stole much — if anything — so I think they just wanted to piss you off.”
I flex my jaw. “It’s working. Did you talk to Sally?” I ask Trevor.
“Yeah,” he answers. “I explained the situation. She’s keeping it out of the press for as long as she can and wants you to stay here until we can figure out who attacked you.”
“Sounds good,” I say.
Trevor shakes his head. “How did you know they were coming?” he asks.
“I didn’t. I saw them park in the street outside,” I say, making it up as I go. “Saw the guns, grabbed Charlotte, and ran out the back. Once they kicked the door in, I put her in the car and bolted.”
“Where’d you go?”
“Motel,” I answer. “Paid cash and laid low until morning.”
“Lucky break,” Vincent says, his nose curling. “You looked outside just in time?”
He senses bullshit. If there’s anyone more tuned to it than me, it’s my ex-Navy SEAL little brother. “Well, sometimes paranoia works out,” I say, deflecting.
He nods.
