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“I promise. Th-they’re my f-family. They’re going to be worried and—” A sob cuts off my words.
“Okay, can you tell me the address? But I must warn you, if we turn up there and I suspect for a second that—”
“I promise, they’ll take care of me. I need them, please,” I beg.
With a single nod, she starts the car and opens the maps app on her phone.
“Thank you,” I sob, the thought of being wrapped in Alex’s arms too much to take, and I break down with Murphy’s jaw resting on my thigh supportively.
2
EVIE
The farther we drive, the harder it is to ignore the pain and desperation that seeps through every inch of me.
I close my eyes, wishing that when I open them, I’m pulling up to a house I once prayed I’d never have to see again, but that I now crave for my safety.
Sleep never comes for me, no matter how much I might try.
Instead, I spend my time staring at the map on Trudi’s phone, watching the minutes and the miles count down to when I’ll be safe, surrounded by those who will do anything to protect me.
I want to be mad at myself for screwing this all up. I thought going outside to do yoga was a risk, but it turns out, it was probably what saved me. If I were inside the cabin when they’d ambushed the place, I’d have had nowhere to hide. They’d have found me, and I’d be in a much worse position than I am right now, I’m sure of it.
Despite my exhaustion, as the clock ticks closer and our surroundings become familiar, my heart starts to race.
I’ve no idea if Alex will be here, but I know Blake and Zay will. They’ll pull me into their arms and look after me. And I’ve no doubt that Alex won’t be far behind. As soon as they call him, give him the news that I’m okay, he’ll be there. He’ll surround me with his strength and whisper everything I need to hear in my ear.
Trudi remains quiet. She’s not happy about this; she wants to be taking me to get medical attention, but thankfully, she’s listening to me.
I’ve no idea who she is or where she came from, but I’ll be forever grateful.
It may have turned out that I was right on the edge of those woods, but if I’d turned the wrong way, I could have walked straight back into the thick of it. And then what? I could have been in there for days. Days with no water and no food. A violent shudder rips down my spine as the reality of that settles in.
I could have died in those woods and no one would have known. No one would have found me.
A sob erupts, making Murphy place a giant paw on my knee and Trudi look over.
“We’re almost there, sweetie. Just keep it together a little longer.”
I nod—not that she can see me as she focuses on the road.
Dropping my attention to Murphy, I stroke the top of his head, silently thanking him for finding me. He stares up at me with huge brown eyes.
“Thanks, pup,” I whisper, the familiarity of that name slamming into me.
Please be there. Please be there,I silently beg.
I need you.
“Whoa, can’t say this was what I was expecting when you requested this,” Trudi says, her eyes widening as she drives down the street of mostly hidden mansions that Alex grew up on.
I wait a few minutes and then point to the right. “That one.”
Sucking in a deep breath, I wait for the house to reveal itself.
The first time I was here, I was terrified of it, of the people I was about to be surrounded by, what I was going to have to do. The second time, there was only one person in my mind, one person I didn’t want to see. But hell, I’m so glad I practically ran straight into him.
And now, all I want to do is get inside. The building is no longer petrifying. It’s my refuge, my sanctuary from everything I’d just managed to leave behind.
