Page 75 of Newton

Blood streaks her face, and I know I can't take her anywhere looking the way she does, and I'm chastising myself as I pull over on the side of the road, cutting the lights on the SUV and turning off the engine so I'll be able to hear or see anyone approaching. After climbing out from behind the seat, I grab the emergency medical bag from the back before going around to her side.

I open the door and take a second to look at her. Other than the blood, I see no other marks on her skin, but that doesn't mean that Nathan didn't hurt her in other ways.

"Brielle," I whisper, but her eyes are locked forward. "I'm going to clean the blood off your face."

I busy myself with finding an antiseptic wipe rather than thinking I can talk some sense into her on the side of the road. She flinches like she always does at first when I lift the wipe to her cheek.

I'd risk everything for this woman, and she needs to know it, but I also struggle with telling her again because it sort of feels like I've got her trapped and I'm taking advantage of the control I have in this situation.

"I love you," I whisper, using the wipe gently under her eye. "If you let me, I'll protect you from every bad thing that would ever think to hurt you. You're worth protecting."

My words are low and soft, and a hundred percent from the heart.

"I need you to trust that, baby. Know that I'll do anything in my power to keep you safe."

Her chin trembles, telling me that what we had isn't a lost cause. She may not be able to open up now or even any time soon, but she cares for me.

She doesn't resist when I cup her now clean cheek and turn her attention to me.

"I'll keep you safe or die trying," I vow.

"I'm not worth dying over," she whispers.

I give her a weak, sad smile. "Of course you are, baby, and I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it to you if you just let me."

"I'll never be safe so long as Nathan is alive."

I know she truly believes that, and unfortunately there's a lot of truth in what she's saying. Nathan has vowed that she's his, and as much as I want to protect her, I know in that evil man's mind he thinks she's his.

I lean closer and press my lips to her forehead before getting rid of the trash from cleaning her up. I make sure her body is clear of the door before closing it once again and putting the supplies back into the back of the SUV.

I drive to a smaller town outside of Columbus and don't stop again until I get to a roadside motel that looks like it takes cash. I can't be too careful where she's concerned. What I do know is that we haven't been followed. I also know that the SUVs we've been using in Ohio would track back to Blackbridge if they could dig deep enough.

I don't leave her in the vehicle. After grabbing both of our bags that we brought to Ohio out of the back of the SUV, I open her door and hold my hand out to her.

Her eyes dart everywhere when we walk across the parking lot, but I can't really blame her. I'm exactly the same way.

The woman at the checkout counter eyes Brielle more than once. It's clear that she can see she's in distress but the woman doesn't say a thing.

I'm disgusted with the human race as a whole by the time I'm handed room keys. Not that I feel like explaining myself or having to deal with the cops right now, but people need to speak up when they see shit that doesn't seem right. Brielle could easily be an abducted woman, and the lady standing at the counter could be the very last person that could assist in rescuing her.

I'm telling myself that not everyone has my training, and that I know the clerk might be concerned for her own safety because I am a big scary tattooed man, but it makes me no less annoyed when we walk down back outside toward the room we've been given.

"This one is yours," I tell her as I carry her bag into the bathroom. "I packed it up at the hotel after leaving the courthouse."

"Thank you," she says, waiting for me to step out of the way so she can go inside.

When the lock clicks on the door, I'm not so certain she won't try to stay in there forever.

Chapter 36

Brielle

He has to know the danger he has put me in, but as I stare at the darkness under my eyes, I have to wonder if it really even matters any longer.

Nathan will get his vengeance. Why not try and live while I still have the chance? There isn't much more that I can do to make things worse where my stepfather is concerned.

If he's able to get his hands on me again, I doubt he'll waste time punishing me like he did today. It's something I'll be blamed for of course.

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