Her car was parked by the Garth house. She hadn’t even locked it. She’d bolted out without thinking. Her phone was there too.
"Perfect, Nina. How exactly are you supposed to call a cab now—with no phone, no cash, no cards, nothing?"
She turned back toward the entrance, about to go inside and ask someone to call a ride for her, when Jasper stepped out of the hospital.
Her feet wouldn’t move.
He stopped near the doors and scanned the area. He was probably looking for her.
A chill ran through Nina.
Had he remembered her after all?
She took a step back. Then another. Then she turned and started walking along the road, farther from the hospital, farther from him. She no longer felt safe.
Cars passed by. She couldn’t just stop a random car. She just had to wait until a cab passed by the hospital and ask the driver to take her home.
A car pulled up beside her.
Nina tensed as the window slowly rolled down—then relaxed slightly when she saw a familiar face.
“Please, get in, Ms. Osborne.”
It was the family driver.
How had they found her?
Had someone been following her all this time?
Damn it, she didn’t wantFrank finding out about Lynn. And if Frank’s people had been watching her, they could’ve at least helped her fight off those bastards earlier.
She glanced around, then threw one last look back toward the hospital, where Jasper was still standing near the entrance.
And at that exact moment, he noticed her.
Even from here, she felt his gaze bore into her, and her entire body broke out in cold, sticky sweat.
She acted on instinct. She yanked the door open and climbed into the car.
She had no choice.
CHAPTER 16
Hot water wrapped around Nina from all sides, filling her body with a pleasant, heavy warmth. Steam drifted up toward the ceiling, and notes of lavender and vanilla dissolved into the air, forming a soothing scent.
The house was quiet. Unnaturally so.
For the first time in a long while, she felt safe. At least for a few minutes. She’d already called a locksmith and had every lock in the house replaced. Now all that was left was to finalize the contract with the security company. She’d decided to install surveillance cameras throughout the entire house and switch service providers. From now on, she didn’t trust anyone connected to her husband.
She sank deeper into the water, closed her eyes, and realized she was no longer thinking about divorcing Frank.
Now all her thoughts were about Lynn. How was she?
Nina’s car, which she had left near Lynn’s house, was now in the garage and she had no reason to go back there anymore. Facing her nightmare again was the last thing she wanted.
How could she have been so wrong?
She had convinced herself that her daughter was safe. That she had a good family. That Nina had done everything right.
