“Did I hurt you?” she asks.

“Nah, I’ve been through worse.” I wink at her and she smiles in return. “Come on, let’s go.” I hold her hand again and lead her down the path I usually take when I’m sneaking up to see her.

We make it to the street, but I know we’re not in the clear yet. Cal could be leaving the house any second. We need to get as far away from here as we can. Glancing at her, I see the worry etched into her face. It’s in the lines around her eyes and the tightness of her lips. I hate myself for bringing her into all of this. Part of me wonders if I had stayed away from her if this would all be happening. I’ve caused her a lot of pain and now I’m putting her in danger by going on the run with her.

“When I saw the window was closed, I thought you were bailing on me,” I joke a little. “I almost went in there after you.”

“Cal came up to my room.” Her voice shakes a little, and I don’t know if it’s from the rush of leaving, or because that prick did something to her.

“Did he touch you?” I ask, my eyes traveling all over her body to examine her. I’ll go back and kill that fucker with my bare hands if he put his hands on her again. It’s hard enough to restrain myself now as it is.

She shakes her head. “No, he just gave me a hard time about not responding to him.”

I relax a little, but not completely. The mark on her face is a constant reminder of the hell he put her through. A hell that I look forward to introducing Cal to when this is all over. But it’s not just the physical abuse she’s endured, it’s mental too. How he could treat her like shit when she’s nothing but selfless and caring is beyond me. He doesn’t deserve her. He never did.

I lead us purposely past the SUV Tyler is sitting in. Even though I can’t see him through the tinted windows, I know he sees me. He’s probably shaking his head for bringing Elizabeth with me, but I don’t give a shit.

We stick to little back roads, avoiding major intersections to keep from being seen. It’s doubtful anyone would pay much attention to me, but Elizabeth is a public figure, and people might notice her. About twenty minutes later, we’re walking into a convenience store. I need to call Turner and find out where the hell I’m supposed to go.

“Turner,” my boss answers the phone.

“It’s Matthews.”

“What the fuck are you thinking? I just got a call from Tyler. Have you lost your fucking mind thinking you could bring her with you?” he bellows at me. I look at Elizabeth and turn my back to her, hoping she can’t hear everything he’s saying. I knew he’d be pissed.

“Look, I get it. I just need the address.” I can’t say much more since Elizabeth is standing close by.

He lets out a deep sigh. “It’s a bit of a drive. I don’t want anyone to know about this location, and that includes a cab driver. There’s a car parked in a lot nearby. The keys are sitting behind the front tire. You’ll find directions and a burner cell phone in the glove box. Take that car and text me when you’re there.” After telling me exactly where the car is, I hang up, grab Elizabeth’s hand, and head that way.

TWO HOURS LATER and we’re driving down a dirt driveway tucked away in some woods. The sun has started to set, and I’m sure Bruce and Rodney know something’s wrong by now. The whole time we’ve been in the car it has been pretty quiet. I guess we’re both caught up in our own thoughts. I know she’s afraid. Hell, it’s written all over her face. I just hope I haven’t done the wrong thing by bringing her with me.

A little ways down this gravel path, an old log cabin comes into view. “I think we’re here,” I say. She turns her head and looks straight ahead.

“Do you think there’s electricity?” She almost looks horrified at the prospect of there not being any, and while I’m surprised this is her first thought, it still makes me laugh.

“Probably,” I reply through my laughter, which earns me a glare from her. “Sorry, but you should see your face.”

Her features relax a little but she still cuts me a look from the corner of her eye. I stop the car in front and look around. “I’ve never been camping before, so that’s why I was asking.” She scrunches up her nose in the most adorable way.

“No need to get your panties in a bunch, sweetheart, but this,” I pause and wave my hand toward the cabin, “is definitely not camping.”

“If it doesn’t have running water and electricity, then it’s camping.” I try to hold it back, I really do, but a chuckle escapes me anyway. I’m expecting her to be mad, but she finally cracks a smile. It’s a welcomed reprieve from today’s events and gives us a hint of the normalcy that we’re both seeking.

“Come on, Bear Grylls, let’s go play man vs wild.”

We walk in, and much to Elizabeth’s delight, there’s electricity and running water. “Looks like we won’t need to teach you survival skills this time,” I joke with her. She sticks her tongue out at me and I enjoy the moment. She hasn’t been this carefree since all hell broke loose. Now that we’re here, maybe she can relax a little and feel free from him, from her old life. What she doesn’t know is we just dug ourselves deeper into shit. And I’m an asshole for not being upfront with her about it.

I have a mental war with myself constantly trying to decide if I should tell her exactly what she’s gotten herself into—rather what I’ve gotten her into—or if I should keep quiet. Every time I weigh my options, I always settle on not telling her. I have her best interest at heart, but she might not see it that way when everything comes to light. And, because I’m a selfish bastard, a large part of me is afraid she’ll walk away when she finds out. If I can delay that from happening, I will.

The cabin is very bare, housing only basic necessities. It’s obvious it’s here as a hide out and nothing else. There’s not one single luxury item to be found. All that’s here is a few pieces of lumpy furniture, a refrigerator with some water in it, and a pantry with a lot of canned goods. But it’s the note on the counter which catches my attention.

Don’t you just hate when they freeze your assets?

“Freeze your assets?” I mutter to myself.

“Whatcha looking at?” she asks as she looks over my shoulder at the note in my hand.

“A clue of some sort.” I rub my unshaved chin trying to figure this out. I know Turner left it intentionally, but why?

“The freezer,” she says matter-of-factly. I look up at her. “Haven’t you ever seen Coyote Ugly?”

“No, is that more of your brain-killing TV?” She smacks me in the arm.

“Real funny.” Walking over to the freezer, she opens it and pulls out an envelope. “I think I’ll hold on to this.” She holds it behind her back with a challenge in her eye.

“Don’t make me come over there and get it,” I warn her.

“You don’t scare me, Matthews.” I’d be a damn liar if I said my dick didn’t harden with the way she’s biting her lip and arching her eyebrow at me. Her sassy attitude is begging for me to tackle her to the ground and fuck her until that smug little smirk is wiped off her beautiful face.

I stand in my spot, unmoving, staring her down like a lion stalking its prey. She shifts her weight from one foot to the other, clearly uncomfortable under my predatory stare. Without warning, I make my move. In two long strides, I’m on her. She doesn’t have time to react to my advance and gasps when I have her pinned against the kitchen cabinet.

“Do you know what it does to me when you challenge me? How hard it makes my dick and how much I want to be buried inside you?” She swallows hard and I have a small sense of pride that I’ve rendered her speechless. I bring my lips to her mouth and she opens in invitation, but I don’t give in. They whisper over hers, just barely touching, making her want more. I trail over to her cheek and continue down to her neck. “Is that what you want, Elizabeth? For me to take you right here and finish what we started that one day?” She moans in response and my lips feather down her neck. My hands go up her rib cage and skim over her breasts before going around to her back. Her head tilts back and her eyes close in anticipation. The affect we have on each other is undeniable.