Lost in Silence (The Lost Series Book 1)(15)

Shit, my mind swirls. Erik was probably going to be released from police custody today once they realize who he is. I need to get on the road soon.

Sitting up and I carefully stretch out the kinks in my back, grimacing from the small twinges of discomfort. I push open the closet door and peer out. Hudson is nowhere to be seen. I frown, wondering when he left the room. I didn’t hear him come or go. I see a breakfast burrito and a small carton of orange juice sitting on the table waiting for me. My stomach grumbles, reminding me to grab it on my way out. Next to it rests a small pile of clothing, much too small for Hudson. As I approach them I notice they still have the price tags attached. When did he have time to do this?

Damn it, I slept too hard again.

The door to the bathroom is open, I move towards it, picking up the clothing as I do. Might as well, I could use them after all. I stand under the hot shower, relishing the moment. I hadn’t felt this good in a long time.

Fuck, why couldn’t I have just listened?

*****

Hudson

I open the door to the room quietly hoping to find her out of the closet, her breakfast eaten and the shower going. Two out of three wasn’t bad but I wish she had chosen to eat first.

I walk across the room, reach under the bed and pull out my briefcase and a duffel bag. Detective Edwards called me this morning, while I was out getting breakfast. He wanted to let me know where things stood with her asshole husband, which all things considered could’ve been worse. But unless Sneak or Edwards’ team finds something more concrete on this asshole, he’d be released by the end of the day. We’d have a good head start out of town but not nearly the one I had hoped for.

The shower shuts off and instead of frightening the poor girl, I announce my presence before she walks out in her towel, or worse, naked. “Alice, letting you know I’m here.”

I shake my head, trying to push the thought of her naked out of my mind. What kind of fucked up monster am I thinking of her like that? Fuck, she didn’t need me salivating at her heels, especially now, the girl can hardly hold herself upright she’s so thin.

I empty my clothing out of the dresser and pack them neatly in the duffel bag. I’m in the process of zipping it up when the bathroom door opens and she peeks out. Praying she’s dressed I freeze, forgetting to breathe as she steps out, fully clothed, thank fuck.

She’s absolutely breathtaking. Despite being severely underweight, the bad bottle hair coloring and dab of fear in her eyes, I can’t stop staring. The clothes I purchased were still too big for her tiny frame and they were the smallest sizes available. If I had my way though, she’d be filling them out soon enough.

I resist the urge to wrap my arms around her, more for my own good than hers. I can’t explain it but being near her makes me question every reason I cut myself off from the world. It scares the shit out of me. I look away quickly and check the drawers again. I know I’ve already cleared them but I need a moment to catch my breath and reign myself in.

She steps softly towards the table, her hair a knotted wet mess hanging down her back. She skirts past me, keeping a wide berth between us and stops at the table. Her eyes are cast down, her hands clasped together nervously, she is waiting for permission to eat.

Son of a bitch!

“You don’t need permission,” I say trying to mask my anger with a nonchalant attitude. She tenses. It didn’t work. “I’m sorry, really I am, but it pisses me off. You don’t need to ask anyone for permission to eat, especially me.”

Her eyes grow wide and turn glassy.

Shit.

“I’m not angry with you,” I flounder trying desperately to redeem myself. “I’m not going to pretend like I know what you’ve been through but from what I can tell, he has you pretty fucked up. Whatever he did to you, whatever he expected of you, that’s not me.”

She finally nods. The shock and awe of my words cover her face, leaving me to feel uncomfortable and raw under her gaze.

I hate whatever it is she’s been through because the woman standing before me is nothing like the girl in the photo. Whatever it was has changed her and she will never be the same again. Her life is different forever because some asshole couldn’t take care of her properly.

I cringe thinking about the woman she may have become if only her life had gone differently. One way or another, I vow to help her find the right path. Even if that meant killing Erik myself.

“You can eat on the road,” I say lifting my duffel and placing it on the floor beside the bed. “Get your things together.”

She walks over to the bathroom and pulls out a small bag filled with her clothes. My heart breaks, everything she owns is in that bag. She crosses the room, grabs the burrito, tucks it away and heads toward the door.