Some of the locations she and Ivy had been staying in over the past few months, scared her enough she was sure she had a few gray hairs as a result of them, but she knew Royce would never have looked for her in them, so she knew she was safer there than anywhere.
The trailer park hadn’t been bad. It was one of the nicer places they had stayed in, even compared to some of the motels along the way. She didn’t see any of her neighbors, but she heard kids playing now and then.
Nothing like this place. Ivy would love it here, and so would she.
“Here we are.” Heath announced, pulling into a parking spot in front of one of the condos.
Olivia wasn’t surprised he lived in a condo. There was no maintenance or upkeep. It didn’t
require a commitment from an owner. It seemed to fit his style perfectly.
Olivia got out of the car silently, taking in her surroundings. Kids were playing in a grassy area out front. A girl with her dolls and a boy with army men. Their mother sat nearby on a bench with a book in her hands, glancing over at them from time-to-time.
Olivia felt tears well up in her eyes. This was the childhood she had denied her child. She
was sure these children never knew fear of a hand or brutal words. Ivy would never get those years back. While she may have grown up with everything her heart desired, everything came at a price or a consequence. Ivy could never leave the premises without guards, and she wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone, including the guards. She wasn’t allowed to go farther than a few hundred feet from the residence, unless it was to school. Royce didn’t even allow Ivy to have play dates with friends.
Olivia had stupidly thought Royce was being a caring person and looking out for her
safety. No, it was because he was afraid his competitors would kidnap her or Ivy and try to use them against him. It wouldn’t have mattered to Royce if anything happened to Ivy, but it would matter to her. Royce needed her connections in the US Customs and Border Protection.
It wasn’t until much later that she realized how blind and stupid she had been, when it came to Royce. Royce was good about keeping the guards hidden throughout the property, so she didn’t notice them. He would tell her he was concerned for Ivy’s safety, and that’s why guards watched her. Like an idiot, she bought into his bullshit, until Royce started monitoring her spending and questioning where she was going. That’s when he started hurting her. Little did she know, he had gained control into her bank account and put restrictions on it. She discovered a tracker in her car not long after that.
That’s when she made the plan to leave him, but she needed money to do that, and Royce controlled it all at that point. She tried taking out the money he allowed her and hid it around the house, but it didn’t take long for him to discover it.
Ivy didn’t know the full story, and she preferred to keep it that way. They were finally starting a new life and could put this behind them and move on.
“Let’s get inside.” Heath touched her arm, bringing her back to the present.
“Lead the way.” Olivia smiled.
Anticipation hummed between them, as Heath led them up to the third floor. It was a simple condo with white barren walls and a neutral gray couch. The walls were void of any pictures, except for the TV, hanging across from the couch. Oliva dubbed it a bachelor pad, and it said a lot about his commitment issues. It wasn’t just affairs of the heart that he avoided but being tied to anything it seemed.
“It’s not much, but it’s home.” Heath said, setting down his keys on a side table under the
TV and walked into the room. “Living room, dining room, kitchen.” He said, pointing to each area. “Bedrooms and bathroom are down the hall.”
Olivia’s gaze glided over the plush, suede couch. It looked very comfortable and inviting.
Nothing like the beds she had been sleeping in over the past three months.
“How many rooms are there?” Olivia asked, as she stepped closer to it to feel it’s velvety softness.
“Why? Thinking about sleeping in your own bed?”
“No,” Olivia chuckled. “I was just curious.”
“Two.”
“It sounds like heaven.” Olivia purred, turning around and wrapping her arms around Heath’s shoulders.
Heath’s eyes glowed. “You haven’t seen heaven yet.” He lowered his head, sealing his lips over hers. Olivia gave herself over to the kiss. She was ready for this. More than ready. The fire that had slowly been burning, during the carnival, blazed into an inferno.
“Take your clothes off.” She demanded, even as her fingers were already pulling his shirt up. Heath helped her pull it over his head and threw it across the room. She reached for his pants, but she couldn’t undo the button. Heath brushed her hands out of the way, opened his pants, and quickly discarded them.
Olivia’s eyes raked over his body. He was truly gorgeous. Her hands glided over his chest, relearning the ridges. She trailed her fingers over his ribs and felt him tense, before giggling.
“That tickles.”
