CHAPTER 1
Harper Rain leaned forward, squinting as she tried to see through the thick raindrops. They hit the windshield in quick succession, so fast the wipers barely had time to clear them. Of course, it didn’t help that it was dark and there were almost no streetlights.
God, how was anyone supposed to see in this weather?
She checked the time. One a.m.
So, five hours. She’d been driving for five freaking hours from Hamilton, Alabama, to wherever the heck she was now, through town after town, and she felt every one of those hours. Each had bled into the next, but she hadn’t dared stop.
She blinked, trying to remain awake. Her eyelids had been growing heavier for the last hour.
Dammit. She needed to pull over soon. To stop and rest. But where? She didn’t even know where she was. Her phone had died two hours ago, and she’d left her charger at home with about a million other things she needed.
A familiar panic crawled around her chest, digging into her bones.
Alone. She was completely and utterly alone, in God knows where, with barely any possessions or money.
Her pulse stuttered, her lungs desperate for oxygen.
You’re fine, Harper. Just breathe.
She’d been alone and in crappy positions before, and she’d always fought her way out of them. This was no different. Hell, she was good at being alone. She’d had to be.
She took the next exit and turned onto what looked like a main street. Businesses bordered both sides of the road, but every one of them looked closed. Not a surprise. It was early morning, and even though it was a Friday, this looked like a small town. Places weren’t open late in small towns.
There had to be some type of accommodation, right? Somewhere she could rest for a bit. A cheap motel, perhaps. Yeah, she definitely needed cheap.
Her heart clenched at the thought of her bank balance.
Gone. Her money wasgone. Every dollar she’d worked so hard to save over the years. The money that would have helped achieve her dream.
A part of her wanted to cry, but she’d already shed too many tears, and what would more of them accomplish?
So instead, she clung to the anger. Anger at her family for takingeverythingfrom her. Bleeding her dry while only caring about themselves. Also, anger at herself for not realizing that she should have run long ago.
When her lids began to fall again, she pinched her right thigh, the small sting propelling her eyes open.
Should she give up and sleep in her car? She’d freeze her ass off.
Suddenly, a building with a hint of light poking through the window came into view. Hope warmed her chest. Were they open? Was there someone in there who could direct her to a motel?
She pulled her Camry over in front of the business before leaning forward to read the sign.
Meridian. A bar?
Well, if anywhere was going to be open at one a.m. in a small town, it was a bar.
Before getting out, she flicked the visor mirror down, cringing at what she saw. Dark circles shadowing both eyes and bruising around the left one that was already going a purplish-blue shade.
Great.
Quickly, she rummaged through her handbag and pulled out her small pouch of makeup. It was probably pointless to try to look presentable, what with everything that had happened today and all that she’d lost. But every other action she’d taken tonight had been pure instinct, and so was this.
She flinched as she patted concealer over the bruising, then cringed when she was done. It still looked terrible, and to be fair, the dim lighting didn’t help. But at least it didn’t look any worse.
With a quick breath for courage, she pushed the car door open and stepped into the storm. Immediately, heavy rain soaked her shirt.
Crap, it was cold!
