Page 8 of Guarded By Them

Ryan nodded. “Sure, but I need to stretch out first.”

“We’ll stop at the next gas station,” Kodee said.

“What about finding a motel?” Dillon asked. “Are we far enough from the city yet?”

Kodee pursed his lips. “I think we need to keep going a little longer. We don’t want for the majority of the drive to have to be tomorrow.”

“Do you think it’s safe for us to stop?” I asked.

He reached back for me, squeezing my knee in reassurance. “If we were going to be followed, one of us would have spotted something by now.”

I wasn’t so sure. I knew what kind of men were after us, and it made me nervous. “They could be waiting for us to stop and take us out then.”

Kodee looked between us both in the back seat. “Have you seen any vehicles that look like they might be following us?”

Dillon shook his head. “Nah, and I’ve been watching out. I think we’re good.”

“Well, we’re going to have to stop at some point,” Kodee said. “Ryan needs the break.”

Ryan gritted his teeth. “I can keep going, if we have to.”

The driving must be causing Ryan pain. I guessed it had something to do with sitting in the same position for the last couple of hours.

“We’ll stop at the next gas station,” Kodee said firmly. “No arguments.”

Ryan didn’t give him one. I guessed he was probably thankful for the excuse to stop. He was a proud man, and he was probably feeling terrible about what had happened. I was putting all the blame on my own shoulders, but if I hadn’t woken up to Ryan strangling me, I would never have walked out.

Ten minutes passed, and a sign appeared up ahead, advertising a gas station.

Ryan signaled and took the exit.

The gas station was a small one, but Ryan drove around the back of the building, hiding the car from the road. He kept the engine running for a few minutes, and we all stayed inside, waiting and watching to see if any other cars pulled in after us. I hadn’t seen any sign that we were being followed, but it was better to be cautious.

“All clear.” Ryan finally switched off the engine.

The men were all still armed. I took comfort in that. Maybe I should get one of them to teach me how to shoot—Ryan, I guessed, since it seemed he was the expert. I would bring it up later.

We climbed out, everyone stretching out stiff backs and arms and legs. It felt good to have a little space around me.

“Bathrooms are inside,” Kodee said. “Let’s use them and get some snacks, then we’ll fill up on our way out.”

“Wait.” Ryan raised his fingers. “Is Rue going to go on her own?”

Dillon chuckled. “I think we’re going to get a few eyebrows raised if she goes in there with us trailing along behind.”

Kodee didn’t crack a smile. “I’d rather eyebrows are raised than her getting into any trouble.”

I lifted both my hands to stop them. “I’ll be fine. It’s only a bathroom. You can wait outside.”

“We don’t have much choice,” Kodee grumbled. “The attendant will probably call the cops on us if we’re spotted going into a women’s restroom.”

Together, the four of us entered the building. The bathrooms were located at the rear, and we headed straight to them.

I slipped into the ladies’ room to find it mercifully empty. I used the facilities, then washed my hands and splashed some water on my face.

Pushing the door open, I found all three guys standing there, looking as intimidating as hell, guarding the bathroom door.

I couldn’t help laughing. “I don’t think anyone is going to want to come in here with you three standing there looking like that.”

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