One of the men clears their throats. “I’ll be heading home now. See you in the morning, Mrs. Alderidge. Cleo.”
I keep my eyes closed and hold my hand up, giving Samuel a little wave. The front door opens and closes. I peel my eyes open, hoping I’m alone. Helen has disappeared, leaving me with Fox. He leans against the sink with his arms crossed and a small smile playing on his lips.
“Planning on a big night this Saturday?” Fox asks with a pointed look at the items in my hand.
“A woman can wear nice lingerie for herself. It’s not always about impressing a man.”
“Pity, they’d impress me,” he mutters, exiting the kitchen.
I chickenout of explaining to Helen face to face and opt instead for a handwritten letter.
The pool house has long since fallen silent. Fox said very little after dinner, and I gave false promises to Samuel that I hadn’t changed my mind about Saturday. I pack my duffle bag, count the cash I’ve saved, and tuck a quarter of it into the rucksack. I think I’ll head north next, toward cooler climates. Duke watches me from his lounging position on the bed, his eyes wide open as he realizes something isn’t right. I kneel in front of him and scratch behind his ears. He licks my cheek, making me smile. Damn dog doesn’t get no kisses on the face.
My eyes burn. The last thing I want to do is leave this family behind, but it’s because I care that I need to move on. Every day is like waiting for the sword of Damocles to fall. Iwon’t bring Gideon to their door—it’s not fair to them. Now that Helen has Fox here to help, she can replace me before he leaves.
I stand and huff into the darkness. Time to go. Snatching the bags from the bed, I move quietly through the pool house and sneak out the door. My shoulders shake as I try to hold myself together. A long road stretches ahead of me, filled with cheap motels, dark and scary nights, and looking over my shoulder.
I slip into the garage, open the front door, and drop my bags in the passenger seat of the van before hurrying around to the driver’s side and strapping my seat belt on. The keys slide from the foldaway mirror into my hands, and I insert them into the ignition. I turn the key, but the engine sputters and dies. No. I check the engine every few days for this exact reason. The last time was yesterday. I try again. It coughs and then silence. I hammer my fists on the steering wheel.
“Come on, you piece of shit,” I snap.
“I’m curious. Does verbally attacking your vehicle normally work?” a male voice drawls from behind me.
I scream, grab the gun from my rucksack, and spin in my seat. I pull the trigger without thinking. Fox smirks from his prone position on the mattress, his gaze on the ceiling as he tosses an apple in the air.
“You think I’d risk you being in charge of a loaded gun?” he says with a chuckle. “Been there, done that. You are still responsible for my recovery, Cleo. So where the fuck do you think you’re going?”
CHAPTER 20
HONOR
Don’t play on my weakness to bend me to your will.
“Get out,” I growl as he continues to toss the apple in the air like he’s got all the time in the world.
“I don’t think so. I’m comfortable here. Why would one have a mattress in the back of their van? You know they rent rooms by the hour for this sort of thing.”
“I don’t need to explain myself to you.”
“You were going to leave without saying goodbye? I’m hurt. I thought we had a connection.”
I huff. “The only connection we have is my fist that’s going to connect with your nose if you don’t get out of this van right now.”
“I could get out, but it still won’t solve your vehicle problem.”
A light bulb goes off in my head. “What did you do?” I snap.
“A little snip here and there. Now your van is going to need a week in the garage while they find new parts.”
I turn and face forward before smacking my forehead on the steering wheel. “What is your problem? You don’t like me. You don’t like me being here. You don’t like the fact that you don’t know everything about me. So why not let me leave?”
“My gran likes you. Have you explained to her that you’re leaving?”
“No, I don’t have to explain to anybody.” True, but I have left a letter on the bed for Helen to find which reassures her that my leaving has nothing to do with her. “Please, let me go.”
He rises to sit and his eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror. He takes a bite of the apple and chews as he turns over my request. “I’ll do you a deal, Cleo Williams.” I stare at him and arch a brow. I already know this deal is going to be bullshit. “You tell me your real name, and I’ll give you my car, right here, right now. All yours for the taking for one simple truth.”
“I don’t want your car.”
