Page 7 of Finish Line

Her perfectly manicured eyebrows snap together. “How?”

I point to the floor. “Roger made a mistake. He forgot to shackle your leg. Come here.” I wave her over to me, reach out, and rip her cape off of her.

“Hey!” she shouts.

I wrap it around my hand and shuffle over to the window. “Drag the cot over here, then stand back.”

Once the cot is in place, I climb onto it, then wait for her to move. I tighten my hand around the material and punch the small window out. Sweeping my hand back and forth, I make sure to clear all the glass.

“Okay, Hannah, I need you to listen to me.” I grab her shoulders. “You’re going to go through the window and run like hell.”

“Wait, aren’t you coming with me?” she cries.

“I can’t.” I shake my leg, and more tears flow down her cheeks. I grab her and shake her a bit. “Listen, Hannah, we’re not friends, but my life is in your hands right now. You can do this. You’re stronger than you think. You need to run until you find a cop or find a way to call Nick. While you’re running, try looking for a street sign or something, so you can tell them where I am.”

“I can’t do this.” She wraps her arms around herself.

“Hannah, your one tough ass bitch. You can do this. Now come on. You need to go find Nick and tell him everything.”

After pushing the cot out of the way, I stand beneath the window, bend my knees, and cup my hands for her to put her foot in, giving her more leverage than the cot would have provided.

She wipes her tears before placing her foot in my hands.

Grunting, I boost her up.

“This might hurt a bit,” I say as she’s halfway through the window.

I push her harder by her leg, and she wiggles her way through.

She turns and peeks through the window. “I’m out.”

“Good.” I reach up and hand her the cape. “Use this to cover your legs in case it’s cold out. I’m trusting you to save me. Now go. Hurry.”

She puts her hand in the window, and I grab it. “I won’t let you down.”

She takes off, and I watch her run until she is out of my line of sight.

Letting out a deep breath, I slide down the moldy wall.

“I’m counting on you,” I murmur to myself.

That is something I never thought I would say about Hannah. I lean my head against the wall as tears fall down my face, and I just let myself grieve for everything that has happened in the last week.

I should never have believed Roger was dead. But what was I to do, constantly look over my shoulder for the rest of my life? I’m going to have to end him myself. That’s the only way I can be sure he’s gone.

While thinking of the guys, I rub my chest over my heart to ease the heartache. It’s not that I didn’t expect the guys not to have any doubts about our relationship. It’s so new, but it still hurts hearing Roger throw their doubts in my face.

God, I hope Cam will be all right.

I wipe away the tears. The pity party is over. If I’m going to survive this, I need to be strong. Roger will do everything in his bag of tricks to put me under his control. He’s always been a bit unstable, but now, he’s psychotic. But I’ll fight him with everything I have.

Stealing my spine, I lock in a tight box in my mind all my feelings, any doubts about the guys or mom, and anything else Roger can use against me.

Time slips by as I wait for him to return.

I must have nodded off as I’m jolted awake by the slamming of a car door.

“That fucking bitch,” Roger seethes.

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