Say It's Forever (Redemption Hills #2)(113)

Juni whimpered from the backseat, more afraid than I thought she’d ever been, while I mashed the accelerator to the floor. The SUV fishtailed as I skidded out of the Iron Ride parking lot and onto the street.

My hands cinched around the steering wheel as I prayed. As I prayed for a moment. For a break in time. For a fighting chance.

For escape.

Tears blurred my eyes as I sped down the street, barely slowing as I took a sharp right.

I flew past Absolution then took a left at the next intersection.

Prayed these wings would give us flight.

I barreled down the roads of the small town, spinning it into chaos, the brightening sky ominous as the sun lifted on the mountain.

As the glimmering rays gave way to a new day that I was terrified would be our end.

How could this happen? How could I let this happen? I’d known not to come here. Not to become complacent. Not to fall.

I took the few quick turns before I made the last left onto the sleeping neighborhood street. My aching heart was lodged in my throat, and my stomach was twisted in knots of terror as I quickly approached the narrow driveway of the small house that had come to mean so much.

I knew Darius and Mimi had wanted to give us this home, while home had begun to feel like it was in the arms of a man who I’d left behind on the other side of this city.

This sweet, hopeful town that now felt like a trap.

An ambush.

I rammed on the brakes and came to a jarring stop.

Juni cried out through the bottled fear. “Mommy.”

“I know, sweetheart, I know.”

My entire being shook uncontrollably as I rushed out of my seat and yanked open the back-passenger door. I fumbled to remove my daughter from the straps—my reason, my purpose, my life—knowing I’d only have to put her right back in them.

I hated it.

Hated it.

I guarded myself against the pain, against the coming hurt and loneliness, and focused on what I had to do.

Run.

With my daughter in my arms, I jogged up the sidewalk. I was barely able to get the key into the lock. When I finally managed it, I tossed it open. The wood slammed against the interior wall, shaking the little house like an earthquake had come to toss it from its foundation.

I wondered if it had.

The door banged shut behind us, and I bolted toward the suitcase I’d shoved in the corner. One I had believed I would never have to use again.

A fool.

A fool.

I set Juni onto her feet and began to stuff our necessities inside.

“Mommy, no, I don’t wants to go on another adventures. We like it rights here, remember? We gotta stay here forever, and the bads man can never come here because it’s the bestest place we ever gots.”

For a beat, my eyes squeezed shut, wishing it were true. That I could offer it to my daughter.

Give her the life that she deserved.

“We’re going to go someplace extra fun, Juni. I promise. Don’t cry. Please, don’t cry.”

“Mommy, no.” She pressed her little fists to her eyes.

God.

How could I keep doing this?

But I had no other choice.

We’d left that night under the cover of darkness. Amid the agony of leaving half myself behind. The cutting away of life that had scourged me to the soul.

My son lost to a battle he never should have had to fight.

I’d been helpless to change it.

Helpless to do anything but fight for my daughter.

I’d been running ever since. Unsure if Carlo was one step behind me. My gut had told me he’d never believed the reports that we’d all perished that night, even while I’d prayed that he was gone himself. That when he’d disappeared, he’d disappeared from this earth.

He’d never stood trial.

Had never been held accountable.

Had never paid for the sins that he’d perpetuated because the only choice I’d had left was to run. To protect my daughter.

Trust no one.

I grabbed Juni’s shot records and the few documents that I had, my sight blurring over as the hope dimmed from my sight.

The hope of her going to school.

Of living a normal life.

Of having a home.

A family.

For the joy I could feel fading away.

“What are you doing?”

A tiny scream got free when the voice caught me unaware, and I was on my feet and swinging my attention toward the hall.

Darius stood at the end of it. His arms were stretched across the length, and he hung onto either side, like he was holding himself back, like he’d been caught up in the turmoil, too.

“Leaving,” I told him.

I hated that it was true.

“What? No. You don’t have to be afraid, Salem. Told you that you were safe. That you don’t have to run anymore.”

My head shook as grief fell down my face in hot streams of despair. “He found us.”

Darius’ brow curled and he roughed a hand over the top of his hair. “What?

What are you talking about? You’re fine, Salem. Just calm down.”

“I…” I trailed off, unable to form the words. The trust Jud had given me, the truth he’d confided in me.

I’d had to stomp all of it under my feet.

“Tell me what the fuck is goin’ on, Salem.”

“Jud…he knows Carlo.”