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“Not much. Really nothing.” Squeezing my legs together, I remember that I’m naked under the sweatshirt. Luckily, Ryder’s clothes are five sizes too big on me. Even sitting down, his shirt covers half of my thighs.
“Of course, you don’t,” Maddox growls, annoyance lacing his voice. “This is useless.” He waves me off as if he is really saying I am useless.
“Go back to bed. Catch up on sleep,” Ryder says dismissively as he pushes me off his lap.
I stand on shaky legs but manage to walk back into his bedroom without falling. Closing the door behind me, I lean against it for support.
“I’m taking her back to the club,” Maddox growls. “We’re putting her in a room with Tucker and ending this shit once and for all.”
His words knock the air from my lungs. He might as well have sucker-punched me. They’re going to take me back to the club… put me in a room with Tucker.
No.I can’t let that happen. I need to get out of here.
Frantically, I look around the room until I find a pair of leggings to wear. Luckily, my shoes are in here as well. I slip them on and walk to the window. Unlocking it quietly, I push it open as quickly as I can.
Lifting my leg, I half climb out, fear swirling deep in my gut—for two reasons. I’m scared that Ryder is going to catch me, and I’m terrified that he won’t. Because the truth is, after everything that has happened to me in the last five years, this is the only place I’ve felt safe.
I stare at the door for a few more seconds, but it never opens. I finish climbing out of the window, my feet landing on the soft grass below, and I take off running.
Without looking back or thinking about where to go, I just keep running.
I run until my legs give out, until I can’t do anything else besides sit down on the sidewalk, my back leaning against a building. My legs are sore, my lungs burn, and my ribs ache.
Closing my eyes, I concentrate on breathing evenly. Wrapping my arms around myself, I bury my face into the crook of my arm. The material of the sweater is soft, and it smells of Ryder. A deep ache forms in my chest, thinking of him… I miss him. I miss the comfort he gave me.
“Are you doing okay, sweetie?”
I lift my head to see where the voice comes from and find an older lady standing a few feet away. She is carrying two grocery bags that look way too heavy for her to carry.
“I’m fine,” I lie, “but you look like you could use some help.” I push myself up to stand. “Can I help you carry those?”
“That would be very nice of you.” She hands me one bag. “I don’t live far from here, just another block down.”
I follow the sweet old lady to her building, glad that she doesn’t ask me any more questions.
“This is me,” she says when we get to an apartment entrance. “Set the bag down on the steps for me, please. I got it from here.”
I do as she asks, leaving the bags on the top step. I turn around, ready to walk away, when she reaches her hand out to me.
“Here, take this for your trouble.” I look down at the twenty-dollar bill in her hand.
“It’s fine, really. I’m happy to help.”
“So am I, child. Please, take it. Maybe for a bus ticket out of here.”
“Thank you,” I take the bill from her hand and stuff it in the sweater pocket. “Really, thank you.”
“The bus station is that way.” She points the way we came from a moment ago. “Good luck.” She smiles at me sweetly, and her kindness almost brings me to tears.
I watch her grab her bags and disappear into the building before I turn around and start walking.
After a few blocks, I find myself at the bus station. Walking up to the booth, I wonder if I really have the guts to take the bus, I know I should.
* * *
The bus rideisn’t long. Only twenty minutes outside of town, and I’m here, stepping off the bus and onto the street I grew up on.
As I walk to the house I used to call my home, fear swirls around my stomach. I haven’t talked to my parents in so long. They probably don’t even want to see me.
