“Pippa,” I whisper. “Wake up.”
She blinks her eyes open, staring up at me. “A-a-a-are they gone?”
“Kennedy is back.”
We pack up our things, and rush across the road. Kennedy sees us and his face floods with relief. He looks terrible, with black under his eyes and sunken cheekbones, but he opens his arms to us. “I was worried, my girls. Where have you been?”
“We were over the road,” I croak. “Someone came here when you were gone, and shot the windows in.”
Kennedy jerks. “Who? Did you see them?”
“No, but they said they were sick of waiting.”
His eyes dart around, and he fumbles about for his keys. “We have to go, let’s go.”
“Where are we going?” Pippa squeaks.
“Be calm, sweetheart,” he murmurs to her. “It’ll be okay.”
He shoves us into his car, and speeds off down the road without any more words spoken. He drives for thirty or forty minutes and pulls up at a secluded hotel. Frantic, he gets out and rushes into the reception. A few minutes later he returns. He throws himself into the car without another word, and drives the car around to an old, crappy room.
We get out in silence, scared. He ushers us into the room and slams the door, locking it. He points to the bed, and mutters, “I’m making some calls. Order some food, have a shower, and get some sleep.”
He takes his phone and hurries outside, shutting the door behind him. I turn to Pippa, who is watching him with wide eyes. “Are we in danger, Santana?”
“No, honey,” I soothe. “Go and have a shower. It’ll be nice, and it’ll warm you up.”
She nods, and hurries off without another word. She loves to shower—it’s like her little piece of heaven. When she’s gone, I walk over to the window and peer out. Kennedy is pacing up and down the footpath, yelling into his cell. I sigh and walk back to the bed, ordering some food for Pippa and I.
By the time our food arrives, Kennedy is back, and still frantic. His eyes are darting around the room, not really focusing on anything. His lips are a fine line, his skin pale. Pippa and I eat in silence as he sits, tapping his foot over and over. Then he turns to us, staring at me. “You trust me, don’t you, Tanie?” he asks.
I nod. “Yes,” I whisper.
“Then you know I’ll try and keep you safe?”
Try.
“Yes.”
He nods sharply, and points to the bed. “Get some sleep. There’s no point worrying over this.”
Pippa and I crawl into the bed.
This feels bad. Really. Really. Bad.
~*~*~*~
2014 – Santana
I pack as many things as I can, without taking too much. I have all the essentials—clothes, shoes, toiletries, and all my creams and makeup. I stuff it all into one big suitcase and drag it down the stairs. My heart hurts, even though I know it’s not forever. The idea of being without this house frightens me.
The idea of being without Maddox frightens me more.
“You ready?” Mack asks, dropping a smoke and crushing it out with his boot.
I stare at him, then his SUV, and nod. He takes my suitcase, and tells me to stay at the door until he’s got it in, and he’s sure we’re not being watched. Then he shrugs his jacket off and then his bandana and puts both on me. He tucks my hair down behind the jacket and tightens the bandana over my head. Then he slinks his arm over me and walks out.
It’s not really a disguise as such, more a precaution. When I’m in the car, with its dark tinting, I hand the items back. He checks around, and then points to the floor. “Down you go.”
“Seriously?” I gape.
“Seriously, now.”
I growl, and drop onto the space on the floor. I tuck my knees up to my chest and glare at nothing in particular. Mack pulls out, and the rumble of the car radiates through my bottom. “How will you know if someone is following you?”
“There ain’t a single person behind me now. If someone comes in the next twenty miles, I’ll drive around in random places to see if they follow, but the fact that no one has popped up already tells me they’re probably not there.”
“Maddox has had watches all night; they probably know that.”
“Won’t stop them. I’d say they’re regrouping.”
Great.
“How far is your new place?”
“About half an hour.”
“And you haven’t moved in yet?”
“Nope.”
“Where will we sleep?”
He smirks. “Side by side in the cubby house out the back.”
“Ha ha. Maybe you can build us a fire, too. Eh, Chief?”
“Smart ass,” he grunts.
“You started it.”
He snorts. “I’ve ordered some new stuff that will come in this afternoon.”
“I’m sorry you have to do this for me.”
He shrugs. “I was doin’ all this anyway, chante. You’re just makin’ it more fun.”
I know he’s just saying that, and it makes me feel worse. My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out, staring down at the screen.
“You’ll need a new one of those. I’ve got one coming.”
I frown, but don’t answer. Instead I stare at the message. It’s from Alec.
A – Hi beautiful, how are you?
I hesitate, just staring at the screen. He’s good for me, he really is. I shouldn’t push him away because I’m confused about Maddox. Right? I reply.