AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He wasn’t wearing the pajamas he had on when we escaped our old apartment. I’d changed him into the spare clothes I kept in my duffel bag of supplies. I would need to get him a new wardrobe—and one for myself.
Fear and sleep deprivation drove me to the edge of insanity. I needed to go inside the new apartment and crash hard. Then I had to get busy earning a living and keeping my son alive in this new place.
I’d never been to Wyoming before. Bellamy was right. I’d already worked my way through nearly every other state. The only ones left were Alaska and Hawaii. I might as well leave the country if I went to either one. It would cost less and be easier in the end.
I got out of the car, went around to the passenger door, and put on the backpack full of food that I’d stocked up at our last gas station stop. I’d already hidden my weapons before I came into town. I didn’t want anyone to get any ideas, although this was supposed to be one of the most pro-gun states in the country—not that I cared.
I opened the door and scooped up Connor in my arms. “Come on, sweetie,” I murmured. “Let’s go inside.”
He stirred again. “Mommy…..where are we?”
“We’re at our new place. We’re going inside.”
I carried him up the stairs. The guys leaning against the railing moved out of the way and gave me strange looks, but at least they didn’t bother me.
I carried Connor into the new apartment and put him down on the couch. He opened his eyes and looked around. “Where are we?”
“Wyoming,” I told him.
He looked out the window at the horizon. “Those mountains are huge! Could we go hiking there? Could Kingston come with us?”
I winced. Connor didn’t even know where Wyoming was. He didn’t know we’d left Kingston far behind. Kingston had no idea where Connor and I were.
“We can go hiking there.” I opened the backpack. “We’ll deal with Kingston later.”
“You could call him,” Connor suggested. “You could tell him we were going and he could meet us there. Come on, Mommy. Please?”
I concentrated on unwrapping a sandwich. I didn’t dare to tell Connor that I didn’t even have Kingston’s phone number. Forget about the fact that calling Kingston on the phone would be too dangerous. Someone might be able to tap my phone and find out where I was.
I’d already dumped my old phone and bought a new one with a brand new number. Kingston wouldn’t be able to find us even if, by some chance, he got my old number.
I didn’t tell Connor that, though. I couldn’t explain any of that to a five-year-old. I just said, “We’ll see.” I held out the sandwich. “Do you want some?”
“I’m not hungry.” He laid back down on the couch. “I’m tired.”
“You’ve probably been sleeping too much. If you get up and move around, you’ll feel better.”
He sat up, dug into the backpack, and pulled out the pad of paper and colored pencils that I’d bought at the gas station. I always cashed out my pay from working online and carried the cash everywhere I went so I would be ready to run at any given second.
He knelt down next to the coffee table and started drawing on the paper. Seeing him settling in so easily made me relax. Fatigue and tension were catching up with me.
I leaned back on the couch and immediately sat bolt upright. Loud footsteps drummed on the balcony outside and a large, male shape passed the front window.
I sprang to my feet ready to make another run for it, but I froze when Kingston walked straight through the door without knocking. “What the hell are you doing here?” I demanded. “How did you find us?”
He marched right up to me and I realized for the first time that he looked awful. Bruises and scratches covered his face, neck, and the small part of his chest I could see above his t-shirt collar. He had a black eye and a deep gash sliced through one eyebrow.
He shot out one hand. “You have to come with me right now—both of you! Come on! There’s no time to explain….”
“You better explain.” I pulled away and crossed my arms over my chest. “How did you find us? No one is supposed to know where we are.”
“Will you stop arguing?” he fired back. “Both your lives are in danger. You have to come with me before they find you. If I can find you, they can.”
I opened my mouth to argue again….and stopped. “Who can? How do you know about that?”
“I went to your old apartment. I found the place a wreck with bullet holes all over the place and I called Bellamy.”
“You…..what?” My jaw dropped and I gasped in horror. “She did NOT tell you where I am.”
