Leigh studied her for a long moment, then asked, "What's going on between you and Hunter?"
Annie blinked, startled."Nothing."
"Then why do all your plans involve him?"Leigh pressed."Why is he helping us?How did he even show up when you needed him?"
Annie opened her mouth, but no answer came.How could she explain how Hunter appeared like a shadow stepping out of the night, and since then, every plan she made seemed to orbit around him.
Leigh's gaze was steady, unrelenting."You trust him."
Annie looked down at her hands."I do."
The admission felt dangerous, like saying it aloud gave it more significance than she was ready for.
Right now, all she could say was that her fear of being away from Hunter stemmed from the fact that he was the only person who made her feel safe.She had no one else to turn to.Her mom was gone.Her sister had almost been killed.She desperately needed someone.
Jason had made her feel small and vulnerable.Something no one had ever made her feel.He'd shoved, slapped, and screamed at her until her ears rang.He'd dragged her by the hair, threatened her and her sister until she believed she had no power left.
Hunter was the opposite.He made her feel stronger and protected.
And that terrified her almost as much as Jason did.
"I'm not letting you go back to that life," Annie said firmly, her voice cutting through the quiet.
"Trust me.I don't want to go back."Leigh's lips trembled."If he finds me, he's going to kill me.All those times he threatened to do that exact thing will come true."
"We won't let that happen.We'll figure this out."Annie leaned closer, covering her sister's hand."Together."
Leigh nodded slowly, her eyes softening."I miss Mom."
"Me, too."
"She'd be so mad at me for not leaving," whispered Leigh.
"She'd kill Jason for hurting you," she whispered back.
Annie's chest tightened, her mind racing.Every plan she made circled back to Hunter.Every thought of escape included him.She didn't know why he'd chosen to help them, but she couldn't imagine facing Jason without him.
And that realization struck her with equal parts fear and relief.
For tonight, they were safe.
Tomorrow will come with its own battles.
She looked at Leigh."You'd better go get in bed and rest.We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow."She leaned forward."Do you want me to help you?"
"No, I can walk.I'm going to brush my teeth first."Leigh pushed off the sofa with a groan."God, I need a shower."
"Do you want to try—?"
"No."Leigh paused."Maybe tomorrow."
Annie softened her voice."Rest and heal."
"Are you coming to bed?"asked her sister.
They were both planning to sleep in the bedroom, while Hunter volunteered to sleep on the couch.Despite her exhaustion, she was too hyper to sleep.The nights were long enough as they were.She dreaded staring at a dark ceiling and overthinking until her stomach ached.
"I'm going to sit out here for a while."She leaned back on the couch."I don't think I can sleep if I try right now."
