Page 10 of Biker's Baby

“Don’t threaten me. You have no idea who I am,” Joel growled at the other man.

“Just get out of here, okay?” I managed.

Joel left, and I thanked my neighbor for stepping in when he did.

“Are you okay?” he asked. “I’ve seen that guy around here a few times. You must have broken up with him or something?”

“A while back, yes,” I said. “I guess you could say he’s not getting the hint.”

“I guess. That’s not good. Are you safe? I don’t like the thought of him coming after you when there isn’t anyone around,” my neighbor said.

“You know what? I’m getting out of here,” I told him. “I’m sick of that man coming after me time after time, and you’re right. What’s going to happen when there isn’t someone around to help me out?”

“You’re leaving? Where are you going?” he asked.

“I can’t say,” I replied. “I mean, I have a good idea, but I think it’s best if I don’t tell anyone. You know? That way it’s impossible for him to track me.”

“I guess you’re right.” My neighbor nodded. “Well, I’m not doing anything today, so if you need me, I’ll be around. I live just a floor up from you and your little boy. I can give you my number.”

“Thanks,” I said as I took it. “I don’t think I’m going to stay here tonight, either. But I’m going to grab a few things and get my son ready before we head out. Thanks again for your kindness, too.”

“Anything I can do to help.” My neighbor didn’t seem to want to leave me, but without anything else to say or do for me, it was only natural that he did. I followed him into the complex, and we rode the elevator up to my floor together. I got off but was thankful when he decided to ride the rest of the way up.

I just wanted to be alone for a few minutes to breathe.

As soon as I got inside my apartment, I called Maria and let her know what was going on.

“You could have been killed!” she cried. “On your own doorstep!”

“It’s nothing as bad as that now,” I told her. “But if you could keep Tristan with you for another hour or two, I would greatly appreciate it. Then I’ll give you the key to my place and you can come grab anything you’d like. Anything you think you could use is yours for the taking.”

“I can’t do that,” she said, but I wouldn’t hear otherwise.

“I’m going to call the landlord and tell him that I’m not coming back. So you better get in there and get what you want, or he’s bound to have it tossed with the rest of the junk that’s in there when he cleans house,” I said.

“Alright, but I can’t promise you I’ll take anything. It just doesn’t feel right to me to take things from a neighbor,” she said.

“Well, it’s all up for grabs. I’m not coming back to this place after I get out. And hopefully Joel will get the hint that I’m actually gone and leave me alone,” I told her.

“Where are you going?” Maria asked.

“I know someone who should be able to give me a hand out of this mess,” I said. “I’ll go see if I can get some help from him.”

“A man? Really?” Maria sounded incredulous, but I was quick to explain.

“He’s someone I knew from years ago. Might be able to help me again. If he can’t, I’m sure he’ll be able to tell me who can,” I said. “Got to go now, I’ve got some packing to do.”

I hung up the phone, mostly to get out of telling her who I was going to see and how I knew him. I didn’t want to get back into the details of my relationship with Abe. That was a long time ago, and there wasn’t any need to dredge up the past.

At the same time, I wasn’t even sure he would be willing to help me at this point. He might be, but if he wasn’t, then I’d have to get him to point me in the right direction. Surely he would do something like that for me if I asked.

I didn’t know, but I did know that I had to get out of town, and the sooner the better.

I could wrap up most of my loose ends over the phone. I knew that for a fact. I had direct deposit in my bank, so I didn’t even have to worry about a forwarding address. I could take my son, and we could all but disappear off the face of the earth as far as these people were concerned.

Of course, everything in me fought against the idea of going back to Holbrook. But I didn’t see how I had any choice. The only person who could help me was still there, and I knew the only way to get a hold of that person was to show up personally.

He had been willing to help before, who was to say he wouldn’t be again?

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