Excitement coursed through her.
The happy feelings didn’t last for long though. She wasn’t safe as long as she was still here. If Liam found her…she sighed loudly. If her sick, fucked up excuse for a boyfriend ever found her, she was dead. There was no doubt in her mind that he would kill her. They would never find the body. Even if, by some miracle, they did, the cops in Sweetwater stuck up for each other. Evidence got lost or buried on occasion. At least according to Liam, who made sure that she was well aware of the fact. He and his cop buddies were in a brotherhood. Badge before blood was their motto. Point being, she would be murdered and Liam would get away with it.
Her heart raced and her palms felt sweaty. It wasn’t from the exertion. Lord help her, please. Jenna raced to the bathroom and quickly packed a toiletry kit, loading in all the basics. She threw that into the bag and zipped it closed. Her back protested, big time, when she picked the suitcase up.
She had noticed blood in her urine the last time she had used the restroom. Liam had kicked her so damned hard that he had definitely caused some damage to her kidneys. Her only hope was that it would get better on its own in time, and that her face would heal up quickly as well. She had a plan, one that she had been working on for a while now. Getting into the new vampire program was merely a stroke of luck. A way to make her hopes and dreams a reality. This had to work. It just had to.
Jenna had to put the bag down every few strides. Not only did her back hurt but her ribs and abdomen didn’t fare much better. Sweat beaded on her brow and she sucked in deep breaths. The only thing that kept her moving was the thought that Liam might catch her. He liked to drop in on her sometimes during the day. He texted her all the time, wanting to know her whereabouts and exactly what she was doing. Heaven help her if she was slow to respond, or if she didn’t disclose her movements in minute detail.
Hopefully her cab would be waiting outside. She prayed to god that Liam wouldn’t be able to find her. Because he was a cop she knew that he could find anyone…anywhere…if they weren’t careful. Well, not this time. Jenna planned on being extra careful. She took her phone out of her purse and left it on the table. It was traceable so it wouldn’t be coming with her. She had a small list of hand written contacts in her bag and would purchase a burner phone once she was safely settled elsewhere.
She had so much riding on this. What if Gideon had moved on? What if he already had someone else in his life?
No!
She couldn’t think like that. Refused to. Miracles happened, they really did. She only prayed that one would happen to a nobody like her. Even if she didn’t deserve happiness. She squeezed her eyes shut for a few precious seconds and then willed her beat up body to keep moving.
Chapter 2
One and a half years ago…
Jenna wasn’t much of a drinker. After three pink cocktails, that tasted too much like a cold drink and not enough of like alcohol and a couple of shots, she was pretty well oiled.
Although she wasn’t slurring or stumbling, she also wasn’t thinking completely straight anymore and was giggling way too much. By then, her lips were even pretty numb. There was an old jukebox in the corner. The bar smelled of cigarettes and beer. Her work friend, Tracy, had her arms around some guy. They were slow dancing to a fast beat. Jenna found that she didn’t care, she carried on dancing all by herself.
The guys in the bar, had long since stopped offering her drinks and trying to make moves on her. She was a hundred and fifty percent on the rebound and wasn’t about to tumble headfirst into another relationship. Her and Rob were technically still married anyway. She even still wore her wedding band, showing it to any guy who approached. Using it to ward them off like a shield.
Worked every time.
She giggled to herself, continuing to move to the beat. Jenna had always loved dancing but couldn’t remember the last time she had been out like this.
Her whole body felt warm, the edges of her mouth hurt from smiling. That last drink had done it. She felt overly warm and a little slow. No more for her.
That was when he walked in. Dark hair with equally dark eyes to match. She would soon learn that there were golden flecks in those dark depths. He was tall, ridiculously so, filling the door and the room with his presence. His hair was tussled, four o’clock shadow on his jaw.
His eyes scanned the room before coming to rest on her. The door automatically shut behind him as he strode towards her. Directly to her, and not to the bar, as she had expected. She was standing perfectly still in the middle of the dance floor.
Some other love song played in the background. She licked her lips as he came to stand in front of her, having to crane her neck to maintain eye contact.