Page 45 of Hannah's Dom

“I don’t want you to be alone.”

Hannah tried to smile. “I’m better off that way. Leaving … this feels like my soul is dying. I don’t want ever to feel this way again.”

Cat started to cry and hugged her tight. “I’m so sorry.”

Hannah’s arms tightened for a brief minute. “Don’t be. I loved being near you and getting to know you. You will forever be in my heart.”

“Oh, God. I love you,” Cat said.

“I love you, too.” Hannah released her and threw her bag into the truck. “I’ve got to go.”

“What should I say to Jake when he asks where you’ve gone?”

Hannah thought about it a moment. “Tell him I’m sorry it took so long for me to understand and that he’s free now.”

Cat wiped her eyes and nodded. “Don’t forget to call me.”

“I won’t.” Hannah jumped in, closed the door, and waved.

She looked back in her rearview mirror one more time as she drove away and said a silent goodbye to all the friends she’d met. She had no idea how long she drove before the shaking in her limbs started making her ache and her exhaustion worse. She found an out-of-the-way motel and got a room.

Once she locked herself in, she shed her clothing and jumped into the shower. The sobs tore from her throat. It sounded like an animal had been wounded and was more pronounced when it bounced off the shower walls.

Hannah dropped to her ass, hugged her arms tightly around her legs, and sobbed until she started gagging.

It took several minutes before she was able to gain some control. Just enough to stand, turn off the water, and step out. She dried herself quickly and squeezed as much water out of her hair as possible. It wouldn’t dry for a long time since she had no dryer with her, but she wrapped it up enough to keep from getting the pillow wet.

She pulled on the first thing she dragged out of her bag. She clutched the fabric in her hands when she realized she’d taken one of Jake’s shirts. She didn’t know why, but she pulled it on before crawling into bed. The tears started again and stayed until she fell asleep. She woke up a few more times that night because she was crying but would always fall back into an exhausted sleep.

When she woke up during the night, as much as she tried, she could not move. Her whole body ached like she was ill. She didn’t think she’d be able to do anything in the morning.

There was nothing to get up for anyway. She wasn’t leaving the room and wouldn’t be hungry for a long time. She had the room for a few days, which would give her time. She’d give herself a day or two to plan and then find a bus station. She’d call Cat and give her the location of her truck before she took off.

The thought of never talking to her friend made fresh tears slide down her cheeks. She hadn’t thought she had any left because she’d already cried so much her throat hurt, and her eyes were swollen, but it helped to release the wave of despair she was feeling.

She had to remind herself several times that she was a survivor. Yes, it hurt worse than anything that had happened before, but she was strong. It would take a long while to get over him, but she didn’t have a choice.

She was alone again, and that’s how she’d stay. It was safer that way.

Chapter Twenty-One

“Is that Hannah?” Rick, another monitor he’d been talking to, asked, and pointed over his shoulder.

Jake turned and didn’t see anything. “I doubt it. She wouldn’t come down here without me. She’s still uncomfortable with the unknown.”

Rick shrugged. “All right, I could be wrong.”

Jake turned, and that’s when he noticed the woman hanging on him. Fuck, he was so sick of this shit. He grabbed onto her arm. “How many times have I told you not to touch me?”

“But, Jakey. Don’t you want to have a good time? You know I can make you feel good.”

Jake almost rolled his eyes. “I will say this one more time. I have a sub that will be with me for the rest of my life. Now, if you can’t deal with it and try to touch me again, I’ll ban you from the club. You got it?”

He pushed her away. “Now, get the fuck out of my sight.”

Rick chuckled when the woman scurried off. “I think you’ll have to do that to the other women that have been bugging you.”

“Hell, I never even fuck most of them, but they all seem to think it’s okay to touch me whenever they want.”

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