I drop my head back on the pillow with a sigh. I shut my eyes and pray that someone up there can offer me a miracle. I’m not sure how long I am alone with my thoughts of this, but the door swings open, and in pops the nurse with a wheelchair. “Come on, sweetheart. We have a very convenient slot for you now. I can take you up.”
Smiling, I get off the bed and settle myself inside the wheelchair. No doubt, the doctors and nurses here know who I am because I seem to be getting the star treatment.
The nurse opens the door and wheels me out. I make a show of holding onto my stomach so the guards can see. Joe is smiling and Kane looks concerned. He places a hand on my shoulder as we walk. “Drake knows, and he’s on his way. He should be here in ten minutes or so.” I smile up to him, but once I turn my head, I bite my lip and close my eyes. I’m never going to be able to escape now.
Taking the lift up one floor, the nurse wheels me into a darkened room and tells me to hop onto the bed. An ultrasound machine is next to it, humming away. “Get yourself comfortable. The doctor should be with you in a few minutes.”
“Okay, thank you.”
She nods with a smile and makes her way outside. That’s when I look and see another door to my right-hand side. I don’t know what’s through there or if anyone is in the room, but I have to try.
With no time to waste, I get up and move quickly to the other door. I turn as silently as possible and push it slightly open. It’s an office and it’s empty. I make my way in, shut the door behind me, and notice a set of scrubs and a chiffon scarf. I quickly put these on and wrap the scarf around my head. Once dressed, I open the door to the office, and without looking to my left, I walk out and start making my way down the corridor. At the end is a turning, and I have to utilise every ounce of willpower I possess to keep myself from running—lest I get caught in my efforts to avoid detection. I get to the corner and run to the nearest fire exit. I rush down two steps at a time and nearly trip once I hit the bottom. I open the door to run out, and that’s when I see Drake and a couple of other guards coming through the entrance. I quickly pull the door back and wait a few seconds before opening again. He’s gone, but I did notice how upset and anxious he looked.
I push the door a little more and make a hasty escape. I can’t help but peek a little behind me, and that’s when I see Kane looking at me. My eyes widen, but he doesn’t do anything. In fact, he just seems to pretend not to notice and carries on walking away.
Shit, that was close. Not knowing whether he’s running to tell Drake, I run outside, and I don’t stop running until my legs start to protest. I find a quiet street and pull the scrubs and scarf off me. It’s way too hot for this.
It’s then I realise I’m free. But just as the euphoria comes from knowing this, so too does the fact that I have no money and nowhere to go. Fuck, I’m such an idiot. I didn’t want to come this far only to have it stripped from me.
So, I do the only thing I can think of. I’m sweaty, and I’m obviously distressed, so I make an extra effort by slightly tearing my shirt. I look onto the road and try to find someone I can stop. Someone who looks trustworthy. After only a couple of minutes, I see an elderly lady driving down the road.
I don’t hesitate. I run out into the road and flag her down. I start crying and willing for her to stop. She must see the mess I’m in because she quickly comes to a halt. I run over to the passenger side and lean over to speak with her. “Please, you must help me. I need to get away. He’s after me.”
Her eyes widen, but she takes in the state I’m in and nods her head. “Quickly, get in. Get in.”
I gasp with a half smile. “Oh, thank you! Thank you! You don’t know what this means to me.” I hastily get in, and thankfully, she drives away as soon as I do. I know Drake will realise I’m gone by now and is no doubt already on my tail.
“Shall I take you to the nearest police station?”
No, I don’t want that at all. I just need to get far away from here. “Please, no.” I try to think of an excuse as to why not, and in my haste, I come up with something perfect. “You see, the guy who did this to me is my ex and a police officer. Going to the police is the least safe option.”
She looks ahead, and I notice her concerned frown. “Oh, dear. That’s not good, is it? Has he done this to you before?”
I nod my head. “Yes. That’s why he’s my ex. But he won’t take no for an answer. He’ll be after me now, so I need to get as far away as possible in order to figure out what to do next.” I look ahead at the road for a moment. “Do you mind me asking where you’re headed?”