Page 49 of Strictly Forbidden

“One of your neighbors?” Maybe I was hoping since they were one of the most popular vehicles in the United States.

“I don’t think so but I’m not close with either of them,” she answered but I heard a tremor in her voice. “I keep to myself. Remember?”

“Yeah, I got it.” I continued watching. When another vehicle of the same type rolled down the street at a higher rate of speed, I was now certain we’d made it out just in time. “Do you know how to get out of here from this street?” The bad feeling remained swelling in my stomach.

“Of course. Why?”

“Because, darlin’. In about one minute they’re going to realize you left hastily, which means they will be on the hunt.”

She was visibly trembling, now holding her arms. “This is insane. Go down the road to the second left. From there take your first right and you’ll get to a major road.”

“Good girl.” I didn’t waste any time, exceeding the speed limit as I made it out of the neighborhood without being seen.

The roads were a shit show all the way around. It was as if Mother Nature was pissed off at something.

Thankfully, the truck maneuvered over fallen debris with ease but the drive itself was still tense. I continually looked into the rearview mirror, certain we were being followed. I didn’t feel even somewhat secure until we’d gotten on the highway. That allowed me to push the limit, keeping my speed high.

Now she remained quiet, doing nothing more than stroking Max’s head. He’d poked it between us from the backseat. I could feel his hot breath and it bothered me on so many levels. I was placing his life in danger too. Just like I had years before.

“What happened to those men who broke into your house?”

I twisted my hand around the steering wheel, not enjoying the thought of answering her. “They’ve been disposed of.”

Her look was instantaneous, but this time not filled with horror, more like dazzled amusement her life had taken such a turn after everything she’d been through. I wanted to tell her I knew what she’d endured but until I had her safe and secure, I couldn’t trust she wouldn’t continue doing everything in her power to get away from me.

And I simply refused to allow her to face additional shit.

When she burst into laughter, I had a feeling she was close to becoming hysterical. I wouldn’t blame her but at this point, I needed us both keeping a cool head.

“A book in the making.”

Huffing, I checked the rearview mirror again. “My life isn’t that interesting.”

“Oh, I beg to differ. Where are we going? I deserve to know.”

“My grandfather has a cabin in the mountains no one knows about. We’re going there.”

“A cabin in the mountains,” she repeated.

“Yep.”

“So you really do have a grandfather.”

I laughed. “I said I was a bad guy, but what I told you while spending time at your house wasn’t a lie.”

“Were you there spying on me? Are you some kind of… copycat killer?”

Of course, I knew exactly what she was getting at. Something had happened prior to my arrival. “What? I’m nobody’s anything except a man given a raw deal because I trusted the wrong people at a time I was still suffering.”

“What were you suffering from?”

That I definitely wasn’t ready to share with anyone. Even my prison shrink had been forced to pry it out of me, although she’d known the moment she’d stepped inside the cage. “Just shit like everyone has in their life. Why don’t you relax, even close your eyes if you can. It’s going to take about an hour to get there.”

“Relax? Around you? Not a chance at this point. You lied to me one way or the other. I can’t let that go.”

I couldn’t blame her. That was for certain. What I needed to do was concentrate on getting us there in one piece, not coddling her.

Damn it. If only this once, I’d followed the rules.

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