I slowly climbed the stairs to my room. Standing in the doorway, I glanced around the comfortable chamber, the spacious bed, the frilly curtains. It represented what I’d hoped was a fresh start, a new life, freedom from Carter. Instead, it had become a trap. A corner with my back to it. If I hoped to survive, I must leave now.
First, I brushed my teeth and rinsed my mouth with mouth wash as my mouth definitely smelled bad. I didn’t have much energy to climb the stairs and grab my toothbrush earlier as I felt so weak that time.
Taking my suitcase from the closet, I tossed it on the bed.
I threw my clothes into it without care, without folding them first. Adding my few personal possessions I still owned, I clicked the latches shut, then went to the window to stare out and down. No black sedan cruised past the house.
But I knew it soon would.
“It’s not just a bug, is it?”
I turned.
Avery stood in the doorway, his arms folded across his broad chest. I shook my head.
“No.”
Pacing slowly toward me, Avery stood beside me, then also looked out the window. “What are you running from, Jacy?”
Death.I couldn’t say it, however. I couldn’t speak at all. Sure, I owed him an explanation as to why I packed my belongings with the obvious intent to leave him and Declan. Yet, no words connected from my mind to my mouth.
“You’re afraid of someone?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Who?”
I stared out the window again at the quiet and orderly neighborhood street. “I – I can’t tell you.”
Silent, Avery also gazed out and down. What his thoughts were, I had no idea. Nor could I ask him for them. Despite the keen knowledge that leaving him was the best decision possible, my reluctance to do so felt strange.
“So you’re going to run?” he asked finally.
“I have to. I’m putting you and Declan in danger.”
Avery leaned against the wall, gazing down at me. “You don’t think I can keep you safe? You as well as the two of us?”
Shocked, I looked up. “I can’t let you even try, Avery.”
“I don’t want you to leave.”
“I have to.” I failed to stop the whiney tone from my voice. “He’ll kill us all.”
“Whoever this guy is,” Avery stated flatly, “I’m not afraid of him. There’s more to me than you think.”
“Are you willing to kill to keep me safe?” I studied his dark eyes, the grim slash of his mouth. “I can’t ask that of you.”
“You don’t have to ask,” he snapped. “If any asshat comes in here with the intent to harm either you or my son, he’ll wish he hadn’t. Neither of you know what I’m capable of.”
I shook my head. “Perhaps not. That’s not a risk I want to take. If I leave now, he’ll leave you both alone and follow me. You’ll be safe.”
“But you won’t be.” Avery’s voice took on a hard note, almost a growl. “I’ll protect you, but only if you’re here, not out there.”
I looked away from his fierce protectiveness, his hard gaze. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why would you risk your life for me?”
