CHAPTER 1
EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER
Naomi King drovefrom Blue Ridge Hollow toward her home, the heater of her SUV humming and a handwritten list of errands folded beside her cup holder—feed store, hardware, post office.
Ordinary things.
Comforting things.
All her tasks completed.
Shopping in Blue Ridge Hollow wasn’t quite the same as shopping in New York City, but it was still fun. She’d even gotten her favorite pumpkin latte from the coffee shop in town. It had been a nice break from her ordinary routine at Refuge Cove.
Sometimes, she felt like she was one of the women hiding out there. She wasn’t, though. She helped run the place.
It was a huge change from her old life in finance in New York.
But it was good . . . especially since her mind still couldn’t remember the violent attack that had almost claimed her life—even though her body did. She reacted to sudden noises and sounds as if her life were in danger. Her therapist had said it was normal as her body processed the trauma.
However, nothing about her jumpiness, sleepless nights, and anxiety felt normal. They were all haunting reminders of what had happened to her.
She cast aside that memory and focused on the road ahead. The curves were tighter here, and trees pressed closer on both sides.
This part of her drive took her through the middle of nowhere. There wasn’t even any cell service in this area.
Naomi eased off the gas as the road bent left.
That was when she saw it.
Movement in her peripheral vision. A flicker of something dark cutting through the woods, too fast, too close to the intersection she was about to pass.
Her eyes darted left.
A red pickup sped down the side road, headed right toward her.
If her calculations were correct, they would collide in less than five seconds if the other driver didn’t slow down.
And the other driver wasn’t slowing down.
If she braked now, he’d hit her door.
She had no choice but to accelerate.
God, help me!
Naomi put all her weight on the pedal.
It was too late.
The truck slammed into the rear corner of her bumper.
The collision jerked the wheel out of her hands and snapped her forward against the seatbelt.
Her ribs compressed.
Her breath punched out.
The SUV spun, tires shrieking over asphalt. For one horrible second Naomi was weightless and directionless. The world tilted sideways as her vehicle slid.
