Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
That’s undoubtedly how it goes for me.
I find a secluded restaurant in a backstreet, and I stop the truck. Everything hits me so hard; I fear I won’t be able to climb out of the truck and get help. The cramping, the bleeding, the turning of my stomach and the burning on my back, it’s all too much. Gripping the handle to open the door, I clench my eyes shut, praying the cold sweat forming on my body will ease.
It doesn’t.
I open the door just in time for the nothingness my stomach holds to attempt to escape. I gag and gag until my body is heaving. Hope cries, but I can do nothing to help her, to comfort her, everything is shutting down. I need help, and I need it now, but I’m afraid if I go to a hospital, Marek will find me. I need to stay out of the public. Panting through the dry gagging, I finally manage to make it stop long enough to lift my head and see a woman standing on the street, staring at me.
“Are you okay?”
I shake my head. “No,” I whisper. “It’s a long story. I’m having a miscarriage, and I don’t have a phone.”
Her eyes widen and she rushes over.
The kindness of some strangers will forever surprise me.
“Here, let me help you.”
She sits me up straight in the truck as she notices Hope in the front seat. “Oh, are you okay, sweetie?”
“I think she’s a little frightened. She hasn’t seen me like this,” I tell the stranger. “Do you have a phone?”
She nods, pulling out her cellphone.
I don’t know anyone’s phone number, but I do know how to contact the school and if I am directed through to Roger, he can give me Fury’s number from the records. Glancing at the phone, I see it’s a little past seven in the evening. The school phone automatically converts to his cell after hours, so I pray he answers. Knowing the number off by heart, I dial it and after a few rings I hear the distinct change as it diverts to his cell.
Answering a moment later, I thank whoever is helping me tonight because my luck is impeccable.
“Roger. It’s Alexis,” I say, my voice croaky. “I have a situation and I need to contact Hope’s Uncle. I have lost my phone and am injured. Can you please find a way to get his number for me?”
“What’s happened? Are you okay?”
“Not really. It’s a long story. Please, can you get it?”
“Give me a minute.”
I hear him shuffling about as he no doubt goes to his laptop.
A moment later, he returns. “Have you got a pen?”
“No, I’ll type it into the phone.”
I place the phone on speaker mode and open the keypad to type in the number Roger gives. Then, I thank him, even though he continues to ask me if I’m okay. I promise to call him back when I’m home safe, and then I hang up. Dialing Fury’s number, I cross my fingers and hope he answers. If he doesn’t, I’m not certain how I’ll contact the club.
“Who the fuck is this? If you have Hope ...”
Fury’s angry voice fills my ears, but instead of being upset, I am instantly relieved.
“Fury, it’s me.”
A pause.
“Alexis?”
“I have Hope. She’s okay. It’s a long story, but...we need help.”
“You have Hope?”
I nod, even though he can’t see it. “Yes. Please, I don’t feel safe. We need you to come and get us.”
“Where are you?”
I give him the location and the restaurant we have parked in front of.
“Fuck,” he murmurs. “Okay, it’ll take a few hours for us to get there. How did you get into town?”
“I stole one of their cars.”
“Ditch it, right now,” his voice comes out icy, “he will have trackers on those trucks. You need to get out of it.”
My heart skips a beat as I glance at Hope sitting in the truck.
“Okay,” I whisper. “We’ll go.”
“You need to find somewhere safe, somewhere he won’t find you. If he finds you, Alexis, he will kill you.”
“I know,” I say softly. “I just... I don’t know where to go.”
“I have a friend who lives close by. I’ll give you her address. Go there, and we’ll come for you.”
Her?
Shaking my head, I want to curse myself for even worrying about that right now.
What does it matter?
Fury gives me the address and tells me to get away from that truck, then we end the call. The lady who let me use her phone pulls a piece of paper from her purse and hands me a pen, so I can write the address down. I thank her, over and over, and when she offers us a ride, I take it.
I get Hope out of the truck and we follow the lady to her car, as soon as Hope is safely in, I get into the front seat. “I’m Alexis, by the way,” I tell her, as she begins driving.