Chapter 1
Erin
I kneeledin the flower bed that ran along the front of my business, Montgomery Inn. The quaint three-story structure was over a century old. It was one of the many things that I loved about it.
The kitchen was a little dated but had character with its pale blue cabinets and white marble countertops. The appliances were white and more modern than the cabinets. There were six guest bedrooms on the second floor, another on the third floor, and my room.
The inn had an old-world charm with lots of modern amenities tucked in here and there. It was like the old owners had been in the first stages of updating the place but hadn’t finished before I came along two years ago.
On the run, I had sought out Stock Creek because it seemed like a great place to hide out for a while. Ihadn't planned on staying as long as I had, but the elderly couple who had owned the inn, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery, wanted to move south to be closer to their kids and grandkids. Live the retired life with their family.
By that time, I'd already been staying here for several months. I had let it slip that I once dreamed of owning my own little inn.
They made me an offer that I couldn't refuse. The best part was I could buy it using my inheritance and not have to take out a loan, so there wasn't a paper trail. The only thing that ties me to this place is the deed, but even that is under my new last name. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery helped me with keeping the sale of the inn and the deed confidential.
I wasn't sure how they did it. That wasn't normal. Property ownership was one of those public records items. They had ensured me it was done, and I didn't have to worry about anyone finding me through the inn.
I never told them why I was running or who I was running from. They'd never asked and understood somehow. I worried if they ever found out, they never would’ve sold it to me.
The sunlight bathed the flower beds in a warm embrace, and I relished the light breeze that played with the tendrils of my red hair as I worked. In thesequiet moments of early morning, the inn felt like more than just a business. It was a sanctuary, a slice of peace in a world that had been anything but kind to me.
"Erin?" Laurie said. I looked up to see her bouncing toward me, her ponytail swishing from side to side. "The couple from room three just checked out. They went out the back door."
Right on cue, their little blue sedan came down the driveway past us, the couple waving and beaming as they left.
The inn sat on a large plot of land at the edge of downtown Stock Creek at the entrance of a small neighborhood. There was a small parking lot in the back of the inn for guests. Behind that was a garden that had roses, flowering trees, and lots of wildflowers of all kinds that bloomed at different times of the year. There was always something blooming. In the center of the garden was a sitting area.
"Did they enjoy their stay?" I brushed dirt from my hands onto my apron and waved the couple down the street.
"Totally. They left this for me." Laurie beamed, holding up a couple of crisp twenty-dollar bills once they were out of sight.
"Nice." I giggled with her. "Why don't you clean up their room and then take the rest of the day off? No one else is coming untiltomorrow."
"Seriously?" she asked hopefully, as though the idea of half a day off was an immense relief. "I've got a big test on Monday I'd love some extra study time for."
"Absolutely. You deserve it," I said, a genuine smile warming my features. It felt good to give, to make someone's day a little brighter. That had always been my way, even if sometimes I wished someone would do the same for me.
"You're the best." Laurie gave me a quick hug before darting back inside, leaving me alone with my flowers and the gentle hum of our small town.
My gaze swept across the flower beds and along the white picket fence that bordered the property. Then I did a quick scan around the area. I listened for anything out of the ordinary, but there was only the wind whispering through the trees. My heart always took a moment to settle after ensuring I was alone. Being in hiding meant constant vigilance, an exhausting but necessary part of my new life.
I tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear and let out a shaky breath, seeking solace in the routine of tending to the roses and daisies before me.
Kneeling, I resumed my work, humming a tune without words and letting the melody carry away some of the tension. I thought of Laurie, her youthful enthusiasm refreshing. Not that I wasthatmucholder. Ten years or so wasn't so much. Her presencehere, living at the inn while attending college, had been nothing short of serendipitous. She was more than just my employee; she'd become a dear friend, more like a little sister. In exchange for room and board and a wage I could actually afford, Laurie's diligent hands and bright smile made the daily operations of the inn a shared burden, lightening mine considerably.
With one final glance around the perimeter to ensure no one from my past would jump out at me, I pulled my earbuds from the pocket of my apron and fitted one of them snugly into my ear, leaving one open to listen for anything out of the ordinary. Then I switched on my favorite true crimes podcast.
The narrator's voice, rich with the suspense of an unsolved murder, filled my head, and I got lost in the world of red herrings and cunning detectives. The sun warmed my back, and the scent of earth clung to my fingers as they delved into the soil, pulling weeds that dared mar the beauty of my flower beds. My breathing matched the ebb and flow of the story, each twist in the tale punctuated by the uprooting of an unwanted plant.
As soon as I pulled the last weed, the feel of rough burlap scratched against my skin, and the world went dark. Panic filled me.
A scream tore from my throat, but a large hand muffled it immediately, covering my mouth. Panicsurged through me, lighting up every nerve ending with primal fear.
"Shh, it's no use," a gravelly voice whispered harshly in my ear, though I still fought with everything in me. I kicked out my legs, seeking leverage while clawing at the arm that held me tight. He was immovable, which only fueled my panic more. There was no way to stop him from taking me wherever he wanted. His grip was too powerful as he dragged me backwards.
I moaned against his hand, trying to plead, but it did no good. My guests were gone. My only close neighbor had left earlier that morning with his thirteen-year-old daughter, Mirelle. Laurie was in her basement apartment, probably completely engrossed in studying. There was no one to help me.
The ground beneath my feet became slippery, and then it was gone as I was hoisted up and shoved into the backseat of a car. The door slammed with the finality of a coffin lid, sealing my fate. Tears burned behind my closed eyelids, not just from terror but also from a sense of betrayal. How had my haven been breached? I'd been so fucking careful! I writhed against the confines of the car, the fabric of the sack coarse and suffocating.
