“Oh, God. Oh, God, Rabbit. Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“No. No hospital. He’ll only get angrier if I do.” Her anxiety kicked in again and the adrenaline pumped through her veins and amped up her system. When it finally wore off she’d crash. Hard.
“I can’t explain away these kinds of injuries. They’ll have police and reporters there asking more questions. They’ll find out who I am. He doesn’t want the publicity. He’ll take me from the hospital and do worse to me.” He’d kill her if she went to the hospital. She knew it like she knew her name.
“I don’t know what happened this time. He worked himself into a rage before he even got me in the door. I can feel the gash on my leg oozing blood, and I can barely sit down in the seat to drive this car for the strapping marks across my backside.” Her whole body shook and she sucked back a wracking sob.
“Rabbit, I’m so sorry. Tell me where you are. I’ll come get you. Protect you. I promise.” His voice pleaded and the sadness overwhelmed her.
“Please no. So far, we’ve been lucky he hasn’t discovered you’re helping me. You know what he did to my bodyguard. I couldn’t stand it if he came after you, or hurt you too. All I can do is give you the evidence and wait for the right time to end this.”
“Please, Rabbit, he’s going to kill you.”
She swiped the tears away with the back of her hand and took a deep calming breath. “I need to do this my way. It’s the only way. Have you started making arrangements?”
Resigned to the fact she refused to let him come and get her, he resumed with their business arrangement.
“I contacted the Berringers. They told me about the cottage and the police. They’ll total the damages and send me the bill. They’ve agreed to throw out your belongings. Most were destroyed anyway. They’re worried about you.”
“I hope you told them how truly sorry I am for what happened. The rest, well, it was only clothes. Oh, if he didn’t destroy my computer, try to get that back.” Her mind shut out the pain and terror and shifted to more practical matters. Easier to think about the mundane than her crazy, evil ex. Time to put the attack on the back burner and get on with hiding again.
“I spoke to the police. They’re not happy you left. If you refuse to identify him as your attacker, they can’t move forward. Let’s file charges, fight him in court, and let people see what a monster he is.”
“He wore a mask and gloves. No prints. No other witnesses. My word against his. Play that scenario out in court and I lose.”
“We can build a case based on past behavior and the evidence we’ve collected.”
“It’s not enough.” She sighed, the weight of the last few years too much to bear right now. “Ben, I’m tired. Get me to a safe place.”
“Actually, I thought ahead this time and already have a place ready.” His voice was filled with how much he hated anticipating another attack and the need for a new place to run to. All he could do for her, all she’d let him do.
“Just so happens, a friend recently moved back to his family ranch in Hidden Springs, Colorado. A huge spread, about three hundred and forty acres. I’ve secured a cabin for you on the property. Jack says it’s away from the other buildings, across one of the pastures. He’s a friend, but he doesn’t know anything about you.”
“If he’s your friend, I don’t want to put him in jeopardy.”
“He’s an old college buddy. I haven’t seen him in years. When we ran into each other, I asked about his place and thought it would make a great hiding spot for you if you needed to run. I paid the rent for the next year. I’ll call Jack and tell him you’re coming. Don’t worry. You’ll be safe there. Jack is ex-military. He’ll protect you, Rabbit.”
“No one can protect against his kind of madness.” A chill ran up her spine. What she wouldn’t give to have someone in her life to protect and love her, instead of hurting her all the time.
“Either way, it sounds nice. Thanks for working so fast. I’ll spend the next few days driving around a few of the southern states. You know, the