Page 91 of Corrupting Ivy

I leaned forward and rested my arms on my knees again, my hands clasped in front of me. “We’ll work on it.”

“We barely know each other, but I feel like I can’t be without you. It sounds stupid.” She chuckled, rolling her teary eyes and looking away. “It scares me to leave with you. You almost killed me and didn’t even know it. What if…”

“We’ll worry about that later. For now, let's get you someplace safe.”

The absurdity of my statement didn’t escape me—ironic.

She sucked in a shaky breath. “But he’s dead. Who do I need protecting from now, that isn’t you?”

If that was supposed to be a jab, I didn’t feel it. She wasn’t going to talk herself out of this, or me, for that matter. “We leave as soon as they discharge you.”

“And if I refuse?”

“I told you that’s not an option.”

“So then you’re no better than Billy or Mr. Grady? You still want to take me against my will. Your reasoning is just more noble than theirs.”

I wouldn’t call my need to keep her around ‘a noble cause.’ It was purely selfish. But to be compared to an abuser and a necrophiliac… well that’s where I drew the line on acceptability.

“I’m sorry you feel that way.” Standing from my makeshift bed, I walked to her side. “We board the Jet in a few hours. Jake packed your things for you.” I pulled out her new phone, tapped it in my hand and gave it to her. “This is for you. I was going to give it to you that morning but never had the chance.”

“I won’t get on the plane. I’ll cause a scene, and security will see.”

I nodded. Eventually, she’ll come to terms with her new situation, and when she does, she’ll be happy again. I can wait. I have time.

Opening the closet door, I grabbed the clothes Jake picked out and set them on the bed.

I placed the tips of my fingers on her stack of clothes, then looked towards the door and then the white-tiled floor. “Security works for me.”

My hands were asweaty mess and my heart wouldn’t quiet, no matter how many calming mantras I recited in my head. No one ever said how terrifying flying would be. Of course, I didn’t know anyone that had flown before and even if I did; I didn’t have enough money to fly, so discussing it would have been moot.

Randall drove the truck towards the small airplane hangar sitting beside a runway that was much too short for any plane to land or take off. There, parked inside, was a black jet with red cloth circling the engine caps, a pointed nose, and three wheels touching the ground. My mother always told me that three-wheelers were too dangerous.

“I thought we were taking a commercial plane?”

He laughed as he put the car in park and stepped out. “I have enough money to buy a fleet of these. There is no reason to fly with screaming kids and smelly old men.” He shut the door, leaving me in deafening silence.

I watched him walk around the front of the car and open my door, then offered his hand, helping me out. Even though I was angry, upset, and saddened by how this had all taken a turn, I still needed to be near him. Having his hand in mine calmed me, and that confused me.

Stepping out of the car, I squeezed his hand, using him for balance. “You didn’t have to get a different rental just for me.”

“You can barely walk, much less climb into a truck.”

Fair point. Walking felt like my stitches would tear out at any moment as each muscle flexed. I thanked God the hospital policy was to wheel you out the front door. I don’t think I could have made it that far.

“You okay?”

I nodded, tears welling in my eyes as I hobbled towards the airplane steps.

“Need me to carry you?”

I shook my head. “I can do it.”

Even though I’d ran through the woods and burned a man alive, something that haunts me, I somehow needed to prove to myself I was still strong. That my tenacity didn’t evaporate while I lay in the hospital bed.

Randall put his hand on my waist and held my hand with his other, bracing me as we walked past the five oval airplane windows. He still hadn’t told me where we were going, and I gave up asking.

He could take me to GITMO, and I’d never know until we’d pull up.

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