A flaming skull. One of Cash’s men. He dropped back so all I could see was the shining headlight in the mirror.
Hope flared in my gut, but I squeezed my eyes shut and forced my voice to stay small. “Babe?” I asked.
“Yes, darling.”
“I really need to pee.”
Henry’s jaw tightened. “Hold it in.”
“I’m so sorry, babe. I know I’m such an inconvenience, but I really need to go.”
“You just can’t make life easy, can you?”
“I’ll be so quick.”
Henry glanced at me, assessing. I kept my gaze wide and guileless, reaching deep in my gut for all the old insecurities that no longer felt like they fit. I hoped they showed in my gaze. Hoped he saw the broken, small woman he wanted me to be.
And then he wrenched the wheel toward the rest stop exit.
I stared straight ahead, afraid to check and see if the motorcycles had followed. What if I was wrong? Why would Cash have sent his men after me, anyway?
But even if it wasn’t him, this was my best chance at escape. I breathed in and out in slow cycles as Henry slowed, turned into the gas station lot, and parked in one of the spots to the side of the pumps.
He shoved his gun in the back of his pants as we got out, then circled the car and grabbed my shoulder to lead me inside. The gas station attendant looked bored. I tried to communicate with my eyes. Tried to mouthhelp, but he just grabbed the bathroom key when Henry asked for it.
“Bathroom’s around the side,” the attendant said, gesturing out the door and to the left. “Bring the key back when you’re done.”
My heart pounded. My throat was dry. I needed to run, but where would I go?
“Be quick,” Henry said as we walked out through the sliding glass doors.
“I will be,” I promised.
He unlocked the bathroom door and glanced inside. There was no window or other way to exit but the door. I had no phone and no way to call for help. He shoved me inside and closed the door, keeping the key. I still locked the door, even though he’d be able to barge in any minute.
Knowing I needed to stall, I sat on the toilet and made myself pee. Henry knocked impatiently. “Almost done!” I called back as I moved slowly through the necessary steps. I washed my hands thoroughly, my heart in my throat.
In the distance, I thought I heard the rumble of engines. Closing my eyes against the reflection in the grimy mirror, I prayed that I was right.
Then I walked out of the bathroom and faced the man who’d almost broken me. The man whohadbroken me.
The man who hadn’t expected me to put myself back together again.
GIDEON
I saw her walk around the corner of the gas station. Saw the other man’s hand gripping her shoulder too tight. Saw the way she jerked her head up when Cash and his men drove up and stopped around them to cut them off.
Then I was out of my car, and I was running.
THIRTY-ONE
SADIE
Henry got so far as reaching behind to the gun at his back before my elbow shot out and smacked him in the face. There was a crunch, and blood sprayed everywhere. It was disgusting. One of the bikers tackled Henry to the ground and disarmed him. Then Gideon was there. He grabbed my cheeks, squeezed my shoulders, and let out a big, gusting exhale. His hair was a mess and his eyes were wild.
“You’re okay,” he breathed, and I wasn’t sure if he was saying it to me or himself.
“I’m okay,” I replied, but my bottom lip trembled.
