“What if I’ve done bad things?”
“Then I’m certain you had a good reason to do them, and whatever you’ve done, you did to stay alive.”
She lifts her hand and wipes her face on her sleeve. “I’m in trouble, Cannon.”
“I know you are, angel. But we’re going to get your stuff out of that car, move it to mine, and then I’m going to take you home with me. You’ll be safe there. I promise.”
“I’ll never be safe,” she argues, another sob escaping.
I grip her chin. “You will,” I insist.
She sniffles. “Just like that? You would take a stranger home with you without knowing what I’ve done?”
“Yep.” I nod toward her car. I don’t really want to linger here much longer. I suspect someone is after her. She’s obviously on the run. She’ll tell me who she’s running from when she’s ready. For now, I want to clear out her car and get someone to tow it as soon as possible. Whoever is after this precious girl is not going to find a trace of her today.
I release her, open my door, and jump down before rounding to help her out. With my hand on her lower back, I guide her toward the car.
She opens the door to the back seat and leans in. For a long time, she doesn’t move.
I slide my hand up to her neck. “What’s wrong, angel?”
She pulls out of the car, stands, and looks at me. “This is all crap.”
“Then leave it. Just take what matters to you. We can get you more clothes.”
She heads for the trunk, but when she tries to open it, it won’t budge. She keeps pulling on it while I hurry around next to her. Finally, she takes a step back and kicks it, screaming in frustration at the same time. “No, damn you. You do not get to keep my backpack.”
It takes me a moment to realize she’s yelling at the car.
She spins around, fists at her sides, and screams again.
I come up behind her and gently pull her into my arms. “I’m going to get it open, angel. I promise.” I turn from her to make good on my word. Indeed, the trunk seems determined to remain jammed as though it’s mocking her.
“See?” she shouts. “This is my fucking life. I was born with a hex or something. It’s been making fun of me for all of my life. I can’t take it anymore. I almost begged that asshole to shoot me. It would have put me out of my misery. For a while, I didn’t care if June never came back. I wanted to die. If my mouth hadn’t been taped, I would have taunted that fucker until he killed me.”
I twist around to pull her against me again. Cupping her face, I tip her head back and hold her gaze. “I’m fucking glad you didn’t get your wish, angel, because my life wouldn’t have been complete if I hadn’t met you today.”
She gasps. “You can’t mean that.”
“I mean every word. I know you’re broken, angel. I can feel it. And I can’t explain it, but I also know you’re mine. I know it like I know the Earth is round and the sun rises in the east. I don’t say that to scare you. I say it so you’ll know your bad luck is over. I’ll say it every day until you believe me.” I step back, still holding her face. “Now, don’t move. I’m going to grab a crowbar from my trunk.”
I release her to jog over to my SUV and return a moment later with the crowbar.
She’s watching me, hands fisted at her sides again. “Will that work?”
“If it doesn’t, I’ll shoot it,” I tease.
Her eyes widen.
“I’m kidding, angel. Sort of. I’ll get it open with this.” I hook it under the latch, give a sharp pop, and grin as the trunk swings open.
My girl rushes forward and looks into the trunk. She reaches in to snatch her backpack and pulls it to her chest as though it’s the most important thing in the world.
“Thank you,” she murmurs.
“You’re welcome, angel. Now, do you want anything else?”
She hesitates. “I guess I should take some of my clothes so I’ll have something to change into.”
