Twinsequences Ivy (Twisted Twin #2)(29)
“For what it’s worth, I did love you. I still do. I think you’re the only man I’ve ever loved, Stoshua. That’s why I’m going to let you live. Your daughter needs you. Please don’t come looking. You’ll never find us.”
I started running toward the car.
“Us?” He asked.
I looked in the backseat and then climbed in, not giving him enough time to understand what it implied. Marcus was coming with me. He’d never remember the day I became his mother. He’d never question our relationship. He’d love me unconditionally, which was all I’d ever wanted.
With no time to spare, I hit the gas and pulled away, watching as Stoshua struggled to catch us for only a few seconds. He knew this was the end of our agreement. I wouldn’t be back to find him again. I’d never try to contact him, or return the child. He got to keep his daughter. That should have been good enough for him, especially since the baby was too young for him to bond with. Surely it takes years for a man to love something that shits and pisses all the time, right? The baby would be a burden without Willow to help him. I was taking that burden off his hands.
It was a win-win scenario.
Since I was on back roads, I didn’t know the way to the airport. I knew I had to change cars before I was tracked down. When I came up on a truck stop, I pulled in and hid the vehicle in the back of the building.
I took the baby carrier out and walked inside, where a bunch of husky men sat together at a bar counter, eating their lunch. They all gave me a once over, and I knew what I had to do next. “Excuse me. I was wondering if one of you could give me a lift to the airport. Is anyone headed out that way? I’ve got an afternoon flight I’m trying to make, and my rental car broke down. It’s going to take them two hours to get to me, and I won’t have time to make it without missing my connection.”
An older man, probably in his sixties, with a head full of gray hair stood up and wiped his face. “I’ve got to run by there today.”
“Oh really,” I said with excitement. “I have money to pay for gas.”
“Nonsense. I was just finishing up. Do you have any luggage you need me to carry? I’d hate for you to have to lug it across the parking lot.”
“What truck is it? I’ll grab my things and meet you there. It’s not a lot.”
“It’s the green rig with the produce on the trailer. You can’t miss it.”
“Great. I’ll be there in a second.”
Just as I was walking out back I spotted one police vehicle blowing by the restaurant. I hurried to the car, grabbing my things and the diaper bag. I put both over my shoulder and used my other hand to hold the baby carrier.
A second police vehicle rushed by as I came up to the huge rig. The man was waiting for me, and grabbed the bags, lifting them up into the high truck. I climbed in and held the carrier, since there wasn’t a back seat to strap him into.
The old man climbed in and looked at me. “I’ve got a bucket you can sit on if you want to buckle him in the belt. It’s probably a good idea. This load is heavy, and it’s been a shaky ride.”
I did as he suggested, taking the aisle bucket and sitting down, while strapping Marcus in tight. The tractor trailer began to move slowly out of the parking lot, just as another two police vehicles passed us. “Wow. They seem to be in hot pursuit. We’ll probably catch up to an accident within the next mile. The roads are steep up ahead with the mountains.”
I kept quiet, playing with my hands and hoping his radio wouldn’t come on with news of a runaway woman with an infant. Just because I was packing didn’t mean I could operate a truck this size. I’d be looking for another ride, and out in the open for the cops to find me.
“So, are you from around here?”
“Originally. I’ve been away for a while. The baby and I came to say goodbye to some family members who unfortunately didn’t make it. We’re headed back to Reno now. My husband owns a cattle business there. My flight was delayed last night, so we really didn’t want to miss this one, right little guy,” I said while talking to the baby.
“Don’t worry. The airport isn’t far. Truth be told, probably half the men in the restaurant were headed in this direction. It’s right beside the interstate.”
More police vehicles rode the shoulder to get by us. “Must be something serious.”
“As long as it doesn’t hold us up, we should be fine. I see this stuff all the time.”
We drove in silence for a few minutes until I noticed we were driving into the city. A plane flew over and landed close by.
“We’re almost there. My truck isn’t allowed in the terminal drop-off area, so I’ll have to drop you off right before it.”
“That’s fine. I can manage.”
“I can park and carry your things if you’d like.”
“No. It’s fine. I’m a mom. I can handle it. Thank you for the ride. I really appreciate it.”
His radio buzzed on, and someone named Cowboy Tom was asking if others had heard what was happening with the police activity. Before the old man could respond, another person came on. His name was Cotton-eyed-Bo, and he claimed a woman had shot an officer during a routine traffic violation. She fled the scene and was just identified as someone who kidnapped a family, but was on the run with an infant.