Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 125465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
It was him or you. Right. I have to remember that.
Instead of standing around and waiting, I begin walking, staying close to the tree line in case I need to hide. There’s always the chance of him following me. He could be right behind me now, speeding his way to the road, cursing himself for not snapping my neck. It still burns, but I have to ignore that. I can’t afford to slow down.
What am I going to do? There’s only one solution. What I should have done all along—God, I’ve made so many mistakes. So desperate to be with him that I ignored what was playing out right in front of me.
I jump like a scared rabbit at the sound of an engine somewhere behind me. Instinct leaves me darting away behind an overgrown bush. This is it, it’s him, he caught up to me. He’s never going to let me go.
Instead, peering out, I find a white truck rolling my way. Before I know what I’m doing, I jump out, waving my arms over my head as it approaches. Hurry… hurry, please.
My heart’s about to burst out of my chest by the time the truck pulls up in front of me, the passenger window rolling down. An older man sits behind the wheel, and it’s clear he’s concerned.
It hurts to raise my voice, but I push through the pain. “Please, help me. I need to get to town. Fast. I have to get away.”
He casts a look over his shoulder. “Away from who? Is somebody hurting you?”
I blurt out a sob, my head bobbing up and down. His gaze lingers on my throat, where—if the pain is any indication—bruises are already forming.
“Come on. Get in. I’ll take you to the hospital.”
Panic rears up at the thought. “No, please, don’t do that. I only need to get to town. Somewhere I can get picked up.” Think, think, what do I do next?
His shoulders sag, and he sighs, nodding. “Fair enough.” He unlocks the door, extending a hand to help me inside. Only when I have the door closed, and we’re rolling away can I breathe freely. I can’t take my eyes off the mirror mounted to the door, staring at it and watching the spot where I was picked up fade until it disappears.
“Do you have a phone? Can I please use your phone to call for help?”
“Of course.” He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a cell. “But I’d feel a lot better if you’d let me take you to the hospital, just the same.”
“No, that’s all right. I just have to get someplace where I can wait to get picked up. I’m sure it won’t take long.” With a shaking hand, I dial the only number that comes to mind. The number I should have tried to dial weeks ago when all of this first happened.
There’s no turning back from this, and I know it.
But I don’t have a choice.
I have to do this for myself, our unborn baby, and Ren.
The phone rings once.
My father’s deep voice vibrates in my ear. “Who is this?”
“Dad?” I whisper, my voice shaking so hard with emotion I can barely speak. “I need your help.”