The entire world spins in my mind, and I wonder if this is what it feels like to pass out. My voice is croaky when I ask, “They paid you to have sex with me?”
There is no denying the hurt look that arises on Evie’s face before she says, “No. They paid me to come here and flirt with you. I had sex with you because I wanted my first time to be on my terms with the person of my choosing, and I chose you. It was my way of taking back some of my power to control my own life.”
She lifts her chin stubbornly before adding, “Marco can never take that choice away from me now.”
I’m trying to absorb it all, but my mind is sluggish as if it is slogging through quicksand. It’s too much to take in all at once.
“I’m sorry I hurt you, but you’ll never have to see me again.” Evie covers her mouth and runs away from me.
I only hesitate for a moment before chasing after her. When she pushes open the release bar on the exit door, the alarm that I set last night after locking up begins screeching. She runs out to the sidewalk, while I pause to shut off the blaring alarm and notify the security company that it was a false alarm.
As soon as I finish the call, I run outside, but Evie is gone.
8
Evie
It’s not worth the risk to go back to Marco’s place to collect my meager belongings. This is my one big chance for escape from his overbearing hold on me, and I intend to take it.
I wish I could pack Adam and bring him with me, but he will probably never forgive me for not being honest with him anyway. At least I can take the memories of our marvelous night together. Last night was the best night of my life, and I’ll cherish and relive those tender, sensual moments for the rest of my days.
I run on the sidewalk for a short while, but my high heels make that a challenge, so I slow down to a brisk walk. I’m heading for the bus station. My plan is to buy a one-way ticket that will take me as far from here as possible. Once I arrive in a new town, I’ll find a job and begin to build a life of my own that isn’t controlled by Marco.
As I walk, I try to envision my new life. I’ve always wanted to visit the East Coast. Perhaps I could go to Maine or Boston. Mental images of colorful leaves and rocky shoreline dance through my mind.
My lips are turned up into a smile as I think of it, but then I realize that is exactly what Marco would expect me to do. Instead of traveling anywhere that he might eventually find me, I decide to go against my instinct and head west to look for a rural town known for its huge ranches and crusty cowboys. He will never think to look for me someplace like that.
I decide to switch buses and routes as many times as my hundred-dollars in cash will allow. Making my route untraceable is more important than food. I’ll eat once I secure a job. With my waitressing experience, it shouldn’t be hard to find something in a local restaurant where they will let me work ‘under the table.’
After that, I’ll find a place to live. Perhaps the restaurant owner will have a studio apartment that I can rent with part of my paycheck. I don’t need much, and anything will be better than staying with Marco.
There is a new pep to my step as I picture my new, Marco-free existence. It may be a simple life, but it will be all mine.
I’m so focused on it that I don’t hear the footsteps hurrying behind me, until it’s too late. In a flash, an arm whips around my head. A beefy hand covers my mouth. I squeeze my eyes tightly shut when I hear Marco’s voice sneer near my ear, “You thought you could get away from me, you stupid bitch? I’ll make you pay for that.”
He yanks me backwards into an alley. I stumble in my heels, trying my best not to break an ankle. The last thing I need is to be hobbled and stuck with this monster.
I want to kick his knee with one of my spiked heels, but we are moving too fast for me to accomplish it. My struggles feel useless against his hulking strength, but I need to at least try to get away.
Freedom had briefly been within my grasp, and for the first time since my mother’s murder and my stepfather’s subsequent incarceration for it, I had actually believed I might be safe. The ray of hope I had allowed myself to begin to feel dims and leaves me cold and alone.
With one last burst of rebellion, I chomp my teeth down on the hand that’s covering my mouth.
Marco yowls in pain, but doesn’t loosen his grip on me. Instead, he yanks me tighter against him. The back of my head slams against his muscled chest just before I feel the cold barrel of a gun press against my temple.
9
Adam
I can’t believe I lost her. I only went back inside the library for a minute to take care of the blaring alarm, but when I raced back outside, she was gone.
How could I let her get away? She’s the woman of my dreams. One night with her in my arms, although splendid, is not nearly enough. I don’t care how or why she came to me. The only thing that matters is that she did, and now that I’ve had a taste of the pure happiness being with her provides, I don’t ever want to let her go.
My initial instinct is to visit the bus and train stations to see if she is there, but my fear that her stepbrother may have found her has me stabbing my index finger at the screen of my cell phone to call my friend, Gabe.
The man answers in a relaxed and happy voice. “Hey, buddy. Did you finally meet the Eve you’ve been dreaming of?”
“Yes, and now she’s missing,” I snap. I give him the CliffsNotes version of the situation before demanding, “Where can I find her brother? I need to go have a serious talk with him.”
Gabe rattles off the name and address of the bar before saying, “I think they live in the apartment on the second floor. I’ll call some friends on the police force, and we’ll come give you some back-up.”
I offer him a brisk thanks and hang up. This is too urgent for me to wait for back-up. If there’s any chance Evie is with that controlling bastard, I need to help her now.
If she managed to leave town without being caught by him, I’ll track her down later. The last thing I want is to be another prison guard to her, but she needs to know that I want to be with her. The circumstances of our introduction don’t matter. She is under my protection. I’ll do anything in my power to be with her, if she’ll have me.
I rev the engine of my aging, dependable Honda, racing along the streets toward Marco’s bar. Getting pulled over would be great because once I quickly explained the situation, the police would likely jump on board to help me save Evie.
Of course, this is the one time I am openly breaking the law and no one notices. Not that I normally break the law, but I’m sure if I did, I’d get caught.
After squealing to a stop in front of the bar, I try the front door and find that it’s locked. Since I’m not sure if the bar connects to the apartment, I run around to the back of the building. The back door is locked, too, so I use a rock to break the small window pane of glass and reach through to unlock it. My arm is just long enough to allow me to flick the deadbolt.
As soon as I open the door, I hear a woman scream. No matter who it is, I want to help her, but the thought that it might be Evie makes fear ice my veins. Lunging up the stairs three at a time, quickly gets me to the top. There’s only one door, so I try the knob. It doesn’t turn, so I step back to karate kick it open. My swirling mixture of fear and determination give me the strength and adrenaline rush I need, so the door bursts open on the first try.