Page 59 of Bittersweet Redemption

“Jake, my ankle,” I cry out, slowing down my steps. The tape on my mouth has started slipping from the sweat running down my face.

“Shut up. We’re almost out of here.” He tugs my elbow harder.

“It hurts. I can’t keep going.” I fight against his grip, but he yanks me forward.

When we get to the edge of the tree line, he finally slows down to look around. He’s not entirely stupid. He knows they would’ve sent someone after us. I hold my breath for someone to jump out and get him, for shots to be fired, or for someone to yell he’s under arrest. Anything.

But nothing comes.

Is it possible that no one is over here? Is Jake really going to get away with this? Is he going to get away with me?

No. I won’t allow it. I can’t wait for someone else to save me. I can do it myself. I saw even harder at the rope with the tiny knife, biting my tongue to keep from making any noises when I hit the cuts already on my skin.

As Jake starts to move again, I feel my hand release from the rope.

Holy shit. I actually did it.

Part of me thought I was too hopeful because of things I’ve seen in movies, but in the back of my mind, I wasn’t sure it would work.

But now that my hand is free, I’m not sure what to do. I have a knife, but Jake has a gun. If I cut him and run, he could easily turn around and shoot me. And after seeing the officer on the ground back there, I don’t think he’ll miss.

“Alright, Willa. We’ve got to run across this yard over here and then behind those houses until we get somewhere I can get us a car, ok?”

I nod even though I know I won’t be doing any of that.

My heart is pounding, but I manage to slow my breathing so I can focus. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a small movement. A branch moving. It could be the wind. Or it could be someone to help me.

I turn my head in that direction and squint my eyes, focusing on a black boot.

A police boot.

This is my chance.

“On the count of three, we run,” Jake whispers. I exhale after the first two numbers to give myself the courage to do what I’m about to do.

“Three.” He takes off running, pulling me behind him, which works in my favor because he’s more focused on our destination than me.

I take the knife in my free hand and swing, stabbing it into his shoulder. Part of me wanted to stab him in the jugular for what he’s done to me and his threats against my family. But I don’t know if I’d be able to live with myself knowing I took someone’s life. So cutting his arm is what I decide on. It’s effective because he immediately lets go of my arm and distracts him enough to not pull his gun out right away. I hope it causes him pain like what he caused me today.

A look of disbelief crosses his face like he can’t fathom that I would hurt him. He truly believes I want to be with him and that this fantasy he’s concocted is only hours away from coming true.

I don’t wait for him to retaliate. I turn and run back through the woods. My heart beats as fast as my feet fall. As I run, several officers step out from the trees with guns drawn and go after Jake. There’s shouting, but I can’t hear what they’re saying. All I can focus on is getting away. Without stopping, I rip the rest of the tape off my mouth, making it easier to breathe and giving me a second wind to keep going.

No one is following me. Everyone is focused on Jake. But I don’t slow down. Images of my baby run through my head. I need to make it out of here for him. I need to hold him in my arms.

And Kai. I want him to hold me in his arms and tell me everything is going to be ok, that I’m safe.

I run until I see the house I was held in. It felt a lot further away when Jake was pulling me than it really was. Sirens are going off all around me. Hopefully, there’s an ambulance for the officer who was shot. But I don’t focus on that. I focus on the man running across the grass toward me.

The dam on my tears finally breaks as I run straight into Kai’s outstretched arms.

Chapter 30

Kai

The relief that hits me when I see Willa running out of the woods is a feeling I won’t forget. Her chestnut hair blows in the wind as she runs straight toward me.

The closer I get, I see blood caked to her face and red lines running down her arms. All I want to do is make sure she’s ok. But I can do that after I have her with me again.