Page 17 of Nowhere to Run
“Same,” I agreed.“He’s been on my list for a while now.”
“Who else is on your list?”Charlie asked as she popped a chip into her mouth while she held Molly against her chest.
“Well, Ashley’s dad, for one.My uncle used to be on the list, but now that’s taken care of.My ex-husband.Dr.Foster’s ex-husband.”I stopped and gave it some thought before continuing.“And anyone who ever hurts one of my friends again.I refuse to let anything happen to you, ladies.”
“Nothing is going to happen to any of us,” Charlie said reassuringly.“We’re all safe here.”
“That’s because we’re bad bitches,” Ashley sang.“Anyone who comes here looking for trouble is sure to find it.We’re not those scared girls anymore.We’re tough women who have been through hell and back, and we’ll be damned if we take any more shit from anyone.”
I nodded, not wanting to acknowledge that safety was a false illusion when you lived a life like mine.I had been on the run from Tray for so long that I eventually stopped looking behind me, praying he wouldn’t find me.But then Dom showed up and proved that I hadn’t hidden as well as I thought I had because if he could find me, so could Tray.
Twelve
Dom
Ispent the day gatheringsupplies for the storm while out shopping with Axel and Keith.It felt weird at first, but by the time we were done, it felt like I was one of the guys.I didn’t want to let that feeling of belonging marinate too long, because I didn’t want to get my hopes up that whatever this thing was between Jo and me would last the way I wanted it to.We had managed to spend two weeks together without her trying to kill me, and I wanted to keep it that way.
While I was used to winter weather where I lived, Axel confirmed that Nowhere always got hit super hard.I bought more than I thought we would need, just to be on the safe side, since it would be a while before the roads were clear enough to reach the next town again.
Jo was still at the bar having a girls’ night when I got back to her house and started putting stuff away.I had noticed that the firewood was dwindling in the stacks beside the fireplace, so I brought some in from the pile I had seen outside, thankful that they were already dry.
It was already dark outside and getting late, but I fought the urge to text Jo to see when she was heading home.The snow had already started falling, and I worried about her driving in it if she didn’t have to.I also knew that Jo had lived here for a while and was more familiar with the weather than I was, but that didn’t stop the intense urge to protect her.
Needing something to do, I decided to change the bedding.I had seen where Jo stored the extra bedding and grabbed a set of sheets from the top shelf.As I pulled them down, a small black photo album fell out and landed on the floor in front of me.I tucked the sheets under my arm and grabbed it to put it back when it fell open, and a photo stopped me in my tracks.
I stared at the old photo of when I first met Jo.We were sitting outside of the local pizza shop as Jo held a piece of pizza in the air, cheese stretching from her mouth to the slice as she grinned.Tray sat on one side of her, and I sat on the other.While Tray was smiling at the camera for the picture, my focus was solely on Jo.Even back then, you could see the admiration on my face as I watched her.
The front door rattled as Jo unlocked it.I quickly closed the album and shoved it back into the closet before rushing into the bedroom.
“Hey, I’m back,” Jo said as she walked in with my back turned toward her while I pulled off the fitted sheet.“What are you doing?”
“I thought it would be nice to change the bedding,” I answered.
I tossed the sheet to the floor before walking over to her and pulling her into my arms.
“How was girls’ night?”
