Page 22 of Escaped
Then, as though someone had hit fast-forward on the movie of my life, my hand grasped for the door handle, and I yanked the metal toward me in one swift motion.My pulse paused altogether as the door opened without consequence, and I found myself staring into the newly illuminated interior.
Thank fuck.
“Is everything okay?”She hovered over my shoulder, much closer than the place I’d left her.
“Yes, but let me start the engine.”That was the only way to know the car was entirely safe.
“Now?”
She sounded confused as I slipped inside the leather interior.Staring around the control panel, I identified the button that would trigger the ignition and, steeling myself, I glanced back to check Erin was still waiting far enough out of the way.
“One moment,” I called as I met her knitting brows.
She didn’t move or protest, but I could see the queries in her gaze, the litany of questions that deserved to be answered, but I’d ignore them all until I knew the car was safe.
Blowing out a breath, my foot slid to the clutch as my finger hovered over the button.One small push would do it.One tiny nudge and I’d know my fate.The few seconds it took to press the silver control seemed like the longest of my life, but summoning the courage, I demanded the engine’s compliance.
The quiet, stealthy mechanism sprang to life around me, emanating a contented purr and little more, and my body slumped back against the headrest in relief.
It’s okay.
The words resonated around me as I climbed out of the vehicle.
We were going to be okay.
“Happy now?”She edged closer.
“Assuming the thing has fuel, this looks like it’s our ride out of here.”In my concern, I’d forgotten to check the tank, but there had to be at least enough to put some miles between us and our current location.
“Thank God.”She rushed toward me, grazing my left side as she grabbed hold of my hand.“Now we just have to wait for your friend.”
Baron.
An image of him sprang into my mind as I guided her into the passenger seat.
What the hell was keeping him?
I couldn’t say for certain how long it had been since we’d parted company, but I knew the things she and I had got through since then; dealing with Hawkins’ latest goons, finding our way out of his hellhole, and me bearing the brunt of my newest gunshot wound while I carried my little girl to the comparative sanctuary of the garage.It must have beenat leasthalf an hour.
He’d been behind us, so I knew it would take him time to fend off the guns-for-hire and find his way out to the garage, but after so long, I was surprised he hadn’t wandered through the open doors.
Surprised and worried.
“Let’s get in,” I told her, watching her slip into the fancy interior.“We can make a hastier getaway when the time comes.”
“Maybe it has a heater.”She glanced at me guiltily.“I know it’s nothing compared to being shot, but my feet are freezing.”
“I’m sure it has a heater.”My lips tugged at her simple needs, but sliding back into the driver’s seat, I couldn’t shake the thought of Baron.
Where is he?What if he hasn’t made it?
I hesitated at the dismal idea, envisioning having to leave without him.How long would I make her wait before I decided his fate was sealed?How much time did we even have before some of Hawkins’ idiots found us and burst the tires of our getaway car with more bullets?
Finding the car’s heater, I raised the temperature and directed the fans toward her.“I’m concerned about Baron.”
It wasn’t like me to be so open about my feelings, especially when fear was concerned, but if the last couple of days had taught me anything, it was that life was too short not to share how I felt.
We never knew what would happen next or which moment could be our last.
