bedside and bury myself in the covers, hiding away and trying hard to not cry about the news, but it takes over and I can’t stop it. I muffle the sound, hopefully not alarming Rig so he thinks I have lost it, and I cry myself to sleep.
Blinding light wakes me up, and I scramble to find the time. Once I’m out of my sleepy fog I’m reminded that I’m safe, and in a hotel room with Rig. I see him standing at the window, looking over at me with his hand on the curtain.
“Up and at ’em,” His voice booms and he walks away from the window.
I take a moment to let my eyes adjust to the light, and try not to think of everything I learned last night. I just want to go back to bed and wake up again, hoping this is all just a horrible dream, but it’s not. I find the bit of strength I have to pull myself from this bed, my safe spot last night.
“Let me grab my things. I’ll be ready in a couple minutes.” I throw my legs over the side of the bed. I grab the few things I left in the bathroom from the night before and throw them in my bag. As I walk by Rig, my stomach rumbles.
“I guess we should get you some food first. You didn’t even take a bite of your food last night.”
I curse my stomach for bringing this up. “Would you have had an appetite after learning the whole world is looking for you? I don’t even want to leave this room. He is going to find me, and kill me.”
“Stop it. Do you think I haven’t been through this before, that I would be putting my own life at risk if I didn’t think I could handle this?” His face twists into a scowl.
“Do you think I like feeling like this?” I snap. “That I want to walk around never knowing if someone is going to recognize me and tip him off? You only seem to see things your way, and could care less about what the people you are helping feel.”
I wish Mark was back here. At least he seemed to sympathize with victims, unlike this joke of a person who thinks I should know how to act and feel with this new life I’m trying to get use to. After years of fear and uncertainty, I’m doing the best I can, and trying to not let my emotions control me.
“Don’t ever tell me I see things only one way. I see things the way they need to be seen to not get us killed. Do you think if he was to find us that I would be let off scot-free? This is my choice to help you, but it’s your choice to let me help you. So don’t think any of us HAVE to be here.” He storms toward the door, holding it open for me. “Now are you ready?”
I throw my hands in the air. He’s just not going to see things my way. I stomp past him out the door, like a child throwing a tantrum. He chuckles, which infuriates me more, and the door closes.
“It’s not funny.” I spin around and glare. He smiles at me in heart-stopping, sexy way. I’m fucking pissed he’s doing this right now while I’m trying to prove my point. My lips defy me as they turn up, showing a hint of smile. I quickly walk away so he doesn’t see. The last thing I need is a beautiful distraction like him. Warm chestnut hair, accompanied by those striking blue eyes, and the stubble he has yet to shave off. The untamed just woke up.
We walk silently through the hotel’s halls, making our way to the elevator, which makes for a very uncomfortable ride down to the lobby.
“Are you gonna snap at me if I tell you to remember to keep your eyes down?”
“No. I’ll remember,” I say dryly.
In the lobby, people are shuffling around, checking out, and grabbing the customary free breakfast. My stomach rumbles while looking at all the food, so I make my way to the tables. I grab a bagel, and one for Rig, feeling that it would be easier than stopping somewhere. This just gives us more time to make it to the next place.
The chatter around me dies down, and people stop what they’re doing, looking toward the check-in desk. I glance over to see