one-night stand.
“ After tonight, you’ll never see me again,” she had
said. “ You have my word.”
Her warning created an enduring firebrand in his mind,
reminding him of what it felt like to truly fear something, to know that some
things weren’t in his power to control. As he rose to his feet and headed
toward the house, he knew it was time to get his shit straight. The last couple
of months he’d basked in loss and had allowed it to consume him.
Those days were over.
“Sadie, darlin’, I warned you,” he whispered, striding
toward his future with a newfound purpose and a bounce in his step. “Don’t make
promises you can’t keep.”
Chapter Five
If living with insane people had taught Mary anything, it
was that a person carefully planned their escape. It wasn’t as simple as
packing a bag and hitting the road. Every single decision had consequences, and
some of them were more dangerous than others. More importantly, it was
essential that the person running for her life didn’t hesitate. Once done, an
action couldn’t be undone.
There were no second chances.
Minutes after Emory had left, she’d started thinking about
what he’d told her. And every time she came up with a reason they could be
together, she’d find another one to discredit the notion. He might think she
was his mate but he had to be wrong. They were no longer living a bright and
shiny lie while discussing their aspirations over coffee. She wasn’t a
wide-eyed girl with hopes and dreams. Stark clarity was the only thing she had
left keeping her feet planted firmly on the ground.
Shepherds had destroyed so many of his kind—had nearly
destroyed him—and wouldn’t stop as long as they continued breeding more
Shepherds. Their lifestyle was a disgustingly macabre form of tradition passed
down from one generation to the next. Because of that she’d never be free. She
would always be hunted or in danger. If she stayed, it would only bring Emory
misery.
After she’d climbed from the bed and tiptoed around, she
formulated a plan. The bedroom’s bathroom had an enormous clawed tub. Running
water would drown out any noises she made when she scavenged through the
dresser and closet. She wasn’t sure where she was going but she knew it would
be cold. Everywhere was cold in November. Due to that she’d need to find
clothing to protect her from the weather until she could get to a safe hotel.
Then she could take the time to sort things out.
She froze, repeating her thoughts, and stifled a groan.
A hotel. Damn!
Rotating in a circle, she searched for her bag, saying a
silent prayer. Emory had mentioned the money and map so her duffel had to be
somewhere. She inspected the closet, the dresser, the floor—and stopped on the
large armoire across from the bed. Even though she knew her bag wouldn’t be
there, she checked anyway, hoping that for once she was wrong. A large
flat-screen television was inside, along with a remote. Other than that the
shelves were empty. Releasing a steady sigh, she tried to think of a new plan,
having a good idea of where the bag was.
“The other bedroom,” she muttered.
Damn, damn, damn!
Footsteps sounded outside the bedroom door and Mary quickly
closed the cabinet and rushed for the bathroom. She didn’t make it in time,
interrupted halfway to her destination, caught in the act by the very owner of
the home she was attempting to escape.
“Uh…” Mary tried to think of something to say that wouldn’t
make her look guilty.
Ava waved a hand and closed the door. “Don’t even. You could
make up the best lie in the world and I’d know.” She lifted her hand and tapped
her temple. “I can hear what you’re thinking, remember?”
Talk about an invasion of privacy. Fear of discovery faded,
replaced by annoyance. Mary walked toward Ava and stopped a foot or so away
from the small woman. She stood at least five or six inches over her—possibly
more.
“Don’t you think that’s a little
“ After tonight, you’ll never see me again,” she had
said. “ You have my word.”
Her warning created an enduring firebrand in his mind,
reminding him of what it felt like to truly fear something, to know that some
things weren’t in his power to control. As he rose to his feet and headed
toward the house, he knew it was time to get his shit straight. The last couple
of months he’d basked in loss and had allowed it to consume him.
Those days were over.
“Sadie, darlin’, I warned you,” he whispered, striding
toward his future with a newfound purpose and a bounce in his step. “Don’t make
promises you can’t keep.”
Chapter Five
If living with insane people had taught Mary anything, it
was that a person carefully planned their escape. It wasn’t as simple as
packing a bag and hitting the road. Every single decision had consequences, and
some of them were more dangerous than others. More importantly, it was
essential that the person running for her life didn’t hesitate. Once done, an
action couldn’t be undone.
There were no second chances.
Minutes after Emory had left, she’d started thinking about
what he’d told her. And every time she came up with a reason they could be
together, she’d find another one to discredit the notion. He might think she
was his mate but he had to be wrong. They were no longer living a bright and
shiny lie while discussing their aspirations over coffee. She wasn’t a
wide-eyed girl with hopes and dreams. Stark clarity was the only thing she had
left keeping her feet planted firmly on the ground.
Shepherds had destroyed so many of his kind—had nearly
destroyed him—and wouldn’t stop as long as they continued breeding more
Shepherds. Their lifestyle was a disgustingly macabre form of tradition passed
down from one generation to the next. Because of that she’d never be free. She
would always be hunted or in danger. If she stayed, it would only bring Emory
misery.
After she’d climbed from the bed and tiptoed around, she
formulated a plan. The bedroom’s bathroom had an enormous clawed tub. Running
water would drown out any noises she made when she scavenged through the
dresser and closet. She wasn’t sure where she was going but she knew it would
be cold. Everywhere was cold in November. Due to that she’d need to find
clothing to protect her from the weather until she could get to a safe hotel.
Then she could take the time to sort things out.
She froze, repeating her thoughts, and stifled a groan.
A hotel. Damn!
Rotating in a circle, she searched for her bag, saying a
silent prayer. Emory had mentioned the money and map so her duffel had to be
somewhere. She inspected the closet, the dresser, the floor—and stopped on the
large armoire across from the bed. Even though she knew her bag wouldn’t be
there, she checked anyway, hoping that for once she was wrong. A large
flat-screen television was inside, along with a remote. Other than that the
shelves were empty. Releasing a steady sigh, she tried to think of a new plan,
having a good idea of where the bag was.
“The other bedroom,” she muttered.
Damn, damn, damn!
Footsteps sounded outside the bedroom door and Mary quickly
closed the cabinet and rushed for the bathroom. She didn’t make it in time,
interrupted halfway to her destination, caught in the act by the very owner of
the home she was attempting to escape.
“Uh…” Mary tried to think of something to say that wouldn’t
make her look guilty.
Ava waved a hand and closed the door. “Don’t even. You could
make up the best lie in the world and I’d know.” She lifted her hand and tapped
her temple. “I can hear what you’re thinking, remember?”
Talk about an invasion of privacy. Fear of discovery faded,
replaced by annoyance. Mary walked toward Ava and stopped a foot or so away
from the small woman. She stood at least five or six inches over her—possibly
more.
“Don’t you think that’s a little
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