The Bodyguard: A BWWM Bad Body Romance(54)

“No!” Juliet winced as her voice came out far sharper than she’d intended. “I mean, I’d like to come, if at all possible.”

Crowley immediately shot her a death glare. “You’re not allowed to leave the safehouse. Under any circumstances.”

“I know, I know.” Juliet was going to have to play her cards carefully now. Crowley might be a jealous asshole, but he wasn’t stupid. “I’ve just been here for months. It’ll be fine. I’ll stay right between the two of you. It’s only getting a candy bar and coming right back. I need to interact with the outside world.”

Bosh looked at Crowley. Of the two of them, he was far more inclined to comply with Juliet’s wishes, so she had to hope for his support. “It’s just a chocolate run, man.”

“One Simmons will have our balls for,” Crowley was hasty to remind him, cutting his gaze in Juliet’s general direction. “If you need chocolate that badly, we’ll get it for you.”

“I also need tampons.” Trump card time. Juliet had only planned to pull it out if all else failed, but it seemed as if she had no other choice. Both Crowley and Bosh immediately blanched a moment before the former groaned, standing from his chair.

“Fine. But no messing around. One convenience store, we’re in and out.”

Juliet could have crowed for joy. She barely waited for Crowley and Bosh to get out the front door before she was on their heels, headed for the car. It was a little hard to believe that she was finally getting out of the cabin after months of isolated solitude. When Hank was around, she was usually up to her ears in trying to temper the emotions he incited. But now, she was so worried about him that this trip would be a welcome distraction from her solitude.

It was strange, driving up the dirt road that led to the cabin. When she finally saw a proper street it surprised her. It wasn’t as if she’d forgotten that they existed, but she had definitely grown used to being surrounded by nature. It took about half an hour, but finally, two lane roads turned to four and, ultimately, they merged onto a highway.

Juliet took in everything silently from the back seat. The open, blue sky, the plethora of cars whizzing past them and the city that rapidly approached. When she’d first come out of the hospital, all of these things seemed threatening. She imagined that Solomon and his men could be lurking around every corner.

Months later, it didn’t even seem like her ex was putting many resources into finding her. Certainly, he had to be looking. Juliet didn’t expect him to give her up without a fight. But she hadn’t heard Hank talk about the man going insane trying to locate her. She could only assume that he had bigger fish to fry - mainly edging in on his father’s market.

Juliet wasn’t idiotic enough to believe that she could relax completely, but a little jaunt to the city to clear her mind? That, she was brave enough to try. As they reached the outskirts of the city, Juliet realized just how much it had changed in the past years. The last time she’d been able to go out under her own steam was years ago. Back then, everything was different. Now there were new shops and restaurants on every corner - shopping malls seemed to have popped up overnight. She found herself eager to sample some of the new flavor, and, for the first time since she’d woken up that morning, she thought, not of Hank, but of what her future might be without him.

The notion was both painful and promising all at once.

They reached the convenience store all too soon. It was nestled between a shopping center and a steakhouse at the outskirts of the city - a cute little bodega with fresh fruit in the window. The moment Bosh opened the door for her she sprang out, making a beeline for the store.

It was nothing special, really. The kind of little shop Solomon and his family would have classified as nothing more than trash. But, for Juliet, it was enchanting. A corporeal representation of her freedom. Thankfully, Crowley and Bosh stayed near the entrance, giving her a bit of space to peruse the wares.

Juliet picked up a bag of cookies, some chips and her favorite chocolate before grabbing a compulsory box of tampons. She wasn’t really on her period. She hadn’t even had one since Solomon declared her cycle disgusting and carted her to the doctor to get a ten-year IUD. He had never even considered if she might want children or not.

Of course, now, Juliet was grateful. She couldn’t imagine bringing a child into the hell that Solomon inhabited. She’d rather die.

Thankfully, it wasn’t a decision she’d have to worry about anymore.

Juliet was contemplating a box of gummy candy that she definitely didn’t need when she heard a voice that made her blood run cold.

“Just some Marlboros. Hurry the fuck up, we’ve got a meeting we need to get to.”

She’d know that sound anywhere. How many times had she woken to his demands? Had him yank her out of bed or grope her until he left bruises?

Blackjack.

Juliet went rigid. Her body actually refused to respond to the panic that flooded through her. All at once, it was like the last few months didn’t even exist and she had returned to her nightmare. To her cage.

How the hell were they here, of all places? She knew that Solomon had his run of the city, but what were the odds that they’d be in this bodega at this exact moment? Had to be one in a goddamn million.

And yet here she stood, paralyzed with fear, wondering how the hell she was going to get out of this one. Did Bosh and Crowley recognize Blackjack? There was no way they didn’t. He had to be on their list right under Solomon. She’d told Simmons enough damning information about the man to put him away for life.