“Don’t be stubborn, darlin’. You’re not going to last this fifteen-minute ride without holding on to me.” He leans back and picks up my hand. I roll my eyes ‘cause he’s right. I am stubborn. Getting over myself, I slide forward and place my hands around him.

“See, wasn’t so hard, was it?” His question is light, playful and I want to reply with some smart remark like I normally would, but today I can’t come up with anything. So, rather than dwell on it, I hold on tighter, ready and willing to go wherever he takes me.

Past Mackenzie

“They’re a few minutes out.” Heidi places the phone back in her pocket and moves back to where I’m lying down on the sofa. Every inch of my body is on fire and in pain, aching more than I’ve ever ached in my life.

“Are you sure this is going to work? What if he finds me again?” I can’t help the scared plea that leaves my lips as I wonder just how far Chad will go. I only just tried to escape last night to Heidi’s place and I’m already attempting it again.

“Sweetheart, these men are good at what they do.” Henry, who Heidi found to help me escape, tries to reassure me. I have no idea who he is, all I know is he works with a group of people who help remove women out of bad situations. I don’t know if this is going to work, but I have to believe it will.

“Okay, we need to move her now. They’re coming up the drive,” Henry’s wife, Dorothy, calls from the back barn door.

I don’t even know how this all came about so fast. After Chad found me at Heidi’s last night, I agreed to go home with him. It was my only option. I needed to keep her safe. Heidi fought her hardest to get me to stay, but when she realized Chad wouldn’t give up, she hugged me tight, and promised she would come up with something and to be prepared. I never imagined she would pull this off in less than twenty-four hours.

“It’s gonna hurt, babe. But we don’t have much time.” Heidi gives it to me straight as Henry and Dorothy move into position.

“I think I can walk,” I offer, knowing it’s going to hurt but wanting to make it easier for them.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t come sooner,” Heidi whispers, wincing in sympathy with me as they help me find my feet and we slowly move to the back door.

“It’s not your fault, Heidi. This is what I get for trying to leave. One way trip down the stairs.” I try not to let my emotions take over. I knew trying to escape last night with no plan was a bad idea. Knew the minute he showed up at Heidi’s I would get my punishment. I’m just lucky he had a work function he had to attend and Heidi could get me out before it was too late.

“Okay, they just pulled up.” Henry opens the back door.

“I can’t thank you all enough. I’m not sure this is going to work, but either way, I’ll always remember what you’ve done,” I tell both Henry and Dorothy.

They both nod, but Henry talks, “We’re just doing what any good person would do. These men, they might seem a little rough, but I give you my word, they won’t harm one hair on you.” I want to cry at how nice these people sound, but I stop myself when a man appears at the door.

“We don’t have much time. You have everything you need?” The deep grumble of the stranger’s voice rolls through me. I look up at the man and in the low light, I can only make out his frame and part of his face. This stranger is taking me out in the middle of the night. I don’t know what he looks like, but for reasons I can’t explain, I trust him and what he believes in. I trust Henry when he tells me he will keep me safe from Chad. But most of all, I trust Heidi, who promised me she would help me escape.

“She’s good to go,” Heidi answers for me then steps forward and carefully wraps her arms around me. It takes everything in me not to cry out in pain, but knowing this will be the last time I see her, I let her hug me tightly anyway.

“Are you sure you want to do this alone?”

“I have to.” The last thing I need is for Heidi to become caught up in all of this. “I love you, Heidi.”

“I love you, too, girl.” She gives me another squeeze before stepping back with glassy eyes.

“Don’t you dare cry. You’ll make me cry,” I tell her with a shaky smile, my eyes filling with tears. We give each other one last look, reassuring one another this is the only way.

“Thank you.” I turn to Henry and Dorothy, wishing I could offer something more.

“Time to go,” the gruff voice growls, rushing us along. I give one last look to my friend before telling the man I’m ready.

He doesn’t reply, just steps forward and picks me up in his massive arms.

“Shit!” I cry out in pain from the fast movement.

“I’m sorry, but it’s quicker if I carry you,” he states. Part of me should be scared of him, but for the first time ever, I trust this stranger is going to save me, so I hold on tighter, willing to go wherever he takes me.

Ten

Beau

We pull up to the front of my house twenty minutes later. The ride took longer than it should have because I’m not gonna lie, I fucking loved having Kenzie on the back of my bike and didn’t want it to end.

Yep, fucking goner.

“Wow, it’s beautiful, Beau.” Her head tilts back as she takes in the front of my home. I bought the house a few years ago, just after my mother died. I sold our family home, then used the money to find my own place. I wasn’t interested in living where I grew up, and being constantly surrounded by the memories. I don’t know if I plan to stay here forever, but it’s kind of perfect for me right now.