Page 40 of The Air You Breathe

Once I pulled up into my driveway, I popped the trunk to get all my Target bags.

Today started out so great, what the fuck happened?

“Let me help.” Dev's raspy voice made me want to cry.

“I don’t need your help,” I snapped, grabbing all the bags, even though there were too many in my hands, making them hurt. Dev didn’t listen and grabbed all the bags from both of my hands, walking to my front door. I rolled my eyes as I followed him, possibly glancing at his ass that looked great in his jeans.

He stood off to the side of the door while I opened it. I didn’t want to be near him so I mumbled that he could leave the bags in the dining room. I ran to my room, closing and locking the door just in case he decided to come up here for whatever reason.

Leaning against the door, I slid down until my butt hit the floor, pulling my knees up, wrapping my arms around them and letting go. To keep myself from making noise, I bit my lip, my body needed a release of all the stress and anxiety I was feeling.

I cried for a life that Evan could have had if he hadn’t tied himself to Lucio, for the life I could have had with him, and for the lives of everyone who was being affected by that awful fucking man. Now I was really curious how Dev was involved with Lucio. Was he his son, after all?

I gave myself five minutes to let it out, feeling a lot better afterward, but also so emotionally drained. I stepped away from the door but stopped quickly when I thought I heard something outside the door. When nothing made a sound, I went to my closet to grab a weekender bag and started to pack.

It didn’t take me long to get all my stuff, throwing in my laptop, hoping they had internet so I could catch up on some TV shows. I checked my reflection in the mirror noticing I didn’t look too splotchy but at this point who cared. It's not like I should be trying to impress Dev.

Walking to the dining room, I noticed my bags were nowhere to be found. I heard a cabinet close in the kitchen and I turned a corner to see Dev looking in my pantry.

“What the hell do you think you're doing?” I asked, getting angry again. Who the hell did he think he was snooping through my shit. It was only my pantry, but it was still weird.

“I was putting away the things you got at Target.” Dev looked a little sheepish, that intense blue gaze looking me up and down.

I wanted to be upset that he was doing something nice, but I couldn’t help but find it sweet and endearing.

“I left the clothes you purchased on the sofa in case you wanted to bring them, and I also have a bag of snacks from here. I don’t know how well stocked he has the safe house, but it might be better to go prepared.” His cheeks had a faint blush to them. Damn him for being so thoughtful and that blush was fucking adorable.

“Thanks,” I muttered, feeling grateful but also angry that he was being like this. It was easier to hate a man who was an asshole than a man who was sweet like Dev. “I’m ready to go.”

He nodded his head. “I’ll drive us to the safe house. It will be better if we leave your car here.”

The need to say something snarky or snap at him was on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t find it in me to do so. It was like kicking an injured puppy on the floor. I didn’t want to be a puppy kicker.

I locked up the house, getting a weird feeling that it would be the last time I saw my house.

Dramatic much?

Dev grabbed my bag, opened my door for me, then went to the trunk to put everything there. Once he got into the car, I made sure to look out the window trying not to appreciate his clean smell and soft singing as we drove away from Mountain View.

“Darcy, I know this isn’t ideal, but thank you for coming out to the safe house,” he said, with so much understanding that even though I was angry, I still appreciated his gratitude.

I stayed silent, watching as we left town. Every mile that we drove away from my home caused dread to pool in my gut. Hiding me away wasn’t the solution, this would help for a couple of days but then what? I couldn't hide forever.

I decided to text Mary that I would love a few days off and she was more than willing to give them to me. She said the new girl was doing great and if she needed me she would let me know.

The car ride was over an hour long. When we turned onto a dirt road, I noticed what looked to be an orchard to one side. The entire drive had given me time to stew in my anger that was boiling hot when the car stopped in front of a cabin that I was not expecting. In my mind it was dilapidated, a one-room shack. This beautiful cabin had a wrap-around porch that looked amazing.

Dev exited the car, popping the trunk as I stared at my home for the next few days. I opened the door, following Dev into the house that looked cozy and warm. There was a sectional in front of a fireplace, a few bookshelves and a TV off to the side. To the left was an open kitchen that looked relatively new and a small breakfast nook. It looked like a romantic getaway not an ‘I’m hiding from a psychopath for a few days prison.’

Goddammit, if this is what isolation looked like, then maybe it wasn’t so bad.

I grabbed one of my bags from Dev’s hand and walked to the hallway straight ahead where I assumed the bedrooms were at. I opened the first door and thankfully it was a bedroom, closing the door quickly behind me.

I leaned against the door feeling like—I honestly didn’t know how I was feeling—it was like my mind couldn’t make up its mind. Setting my bag on the wooden floor, I climbed onto the bed that was nicer than the one I had at home.

For fuck sakes, it was heaven.

It didn’t take long before I fell asleep dreaming about Dev and Evan.

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