Page 6 of Daddy's Desire

Larkin paused for a second to listen to someone.

“You have a side door that goes into the garage?”

“Yes.”

“We can see from the satellite that there is a fence behind it. Is there a gate?”

“Yes,” Courtney said.

“Good. Go through the gate and walk between the two houses. They’re far apart, and there are a lot of trees between them, so you shouldn’t be seen. Sienna just told me Nia can get a car and we can be at your house within the hour. Can you be ready by then?” Larkin asked.

“Yes. I’m already packed,” Courtney said. She barely kept from screaming with joy.

“Can you carry it easily?”

Courtney hadn’t thought about that. “I have three suitcases.”

“I don’t think you’ll be able to carry those. Can you leave some behind? The girls and I have plenty of things we can give you.”

“I’ll just bring one then.”

“Okay. We’ll be in a blue four-door car,” Larkin told her.

“Okay, I’ll be there, and I’ll hide behind a tree until I seeyou guys.” Both excitement and fear raced through Courtney. Was she finally going to get away from this house and her mother for good?

“Okay, great. See you soon.”

Courtney hung up and then deleted the number she called from the phone before heading back inside. She handed it off to Mary. “Thank you so much.”

“Is there anything we can do for you?” the cook, Betty, asked.

Courtney thought maybe she should tell them, but she didn’t want them to get in trouble if her mother found out they knew she was leaving, and they didn’t stop her or inform her mother.

“No. Thank you.”

Courtney headed up the stairs, practically running. She showered and dressed in jeans and a dark shirt before pulling everything out of the three bags and finding the things she absolutely needed. She placed the picture of her father, her bank information, and important papers her father had given her in between some clothing and zipped it up. She lifted it, and although it was heavy, she decided she would be able to carry it for a short distance.

Courtney checked the time and realized the girls would be in place in less than ten minutes, so she had to hurry.

She pulled out the letter and stood it up against the lamp on her nightstand so her mother could easily see it. She looked around one more time. She didn’t think she’d miss anything, even her mother.

Courtney made sure to go down the front steps quietly and the hallway to the side door. After closing the door behind her, she took a breath and leaned against the house before heading toward the gate.

She kept looking over her shoulder, waiting for hermother to jump out and drag her back. It sounded funny that even at the age of twenty-three, her mother kept her a virtual prisoner. But until she turned twenty-five and got her inheritance, she had no money, and her mother prevented her from having anyone around who would help her.

Courtney relaxed. She knew she was really gone because her car hadn’t been there, but she wouldn’t feel safe until she was with the girls, in the car, and speeding away.

Chapter Three

Courtney hid behind the tree closest to the road. Every minute that passed, her anxiety rose to another degree. God, what if they didn’t come? Or couldn’t come? They wouldn’t be able to contact her to tell her about the change in plans.

Her eyes widened, and it felt like her heart would pound out of her chest when a car that Larkin described came around the corner going very slow. She picked up her bag and dragged it to the curb. The car stopped, and Larkin jumped out of the passenger-side front seat and hugged her.

“We’ll get you out of here. Let Brylee take your bag and put it in the trunk.”

Courtney smiled at the girls and fought to keep the tears of relief at bay. “God, I’m so glad you guys came.”

“Nothing was going to hold us back,” Sienna said when she slid into the back seat.

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