Page 54 of River

“I am sleepy and can’t sleep when someone else is driving.”

“Are you saying that because I’m a woman?”

“Hell no! I’m saying it because I’m always the one who drives.”

“That’s crazy. I assure you I can drive as well as you can. I’ve been driving since I was sixteen. I don’t mean to brag, but I’m probably a better driver than you are.”

I chuckled. “I doubt that. I had to investigate your father-in-law to find his address. And some things about Gavin came up. Who shot him?”

“His fucker of a father had him killed because Gavin lefthome at eighteen and refused to speak to him. Gavin never told me about his family. His father told me everything about the family. I’m sure he’s angry because Haley got away from that guy. She is so smart. I’ve taught Haley street smarts.”

“Yes, I noticed that about her.”

I started shaking, and then I began to cry. I cried until he started patting my back; I tried to talk to make him understand why I was crying. I was crying because my baby was safe. She was alive, and so was I. That bastard didn’t kill me and take my daughter away from me.

The dog in the back seat licked my cheek. I chuckled before I reached back and hugged him. “Thank you, Bear. I needed that kiss.” I sniffed, and then he handed me some tissues. I blew my nose. “I guess I am pretty tired. Maybe I do need some sleep. Could we stop at a Walmart? I need some clothes and a few other things.”

“You can’t use any cards and throw your phone out the window and into the water as we go over the bridge. They might be able to track your phone. I’ll lend you the money for whatever you need.”

“Thank you. I guess that’s how he always found us; he tracks my card, maybe even my phone. That’s why Gavin didn’t spend any of his money. He knew his dad would trace it. I don’t know why I never thought that before. He took my money, and then he gave me a card.”

32

Gideon

We stopped,and Riley bought some things she needed. We drove for two more hours before we stopped and got a room. They had one room left, and it was a king, so we took it. I figured I would sleep like a log.

“You don’t have to worry about me trying anything; I could fall asleep standing up. The bed is big. You’ll have your side, and I have my side,” I said, yawning.

“Fine, I trust you. I will sleep soundly myself.”

We had stopped at Subway and got some food earlier, so we ate our sandwiches.

Then we climbed into bed; it took me a little longer than usual to go to sleep for one thing: after Riley showered, she walked out of the bathroom looking like a different woman. She did have a black eye, from that bastard hitting her.

She had been wearing an ugly red wig, and now her short blonde curls bounced around her head. She removed the fake glasses; her eyes were emerald green. The woman was beautiful. She had on some comfy pajamas she got from Target.

I lay there for about an hour before I slept, and when Iwoke up, I was hard, and my leg was thrown over Riley’s body, and my hand was under her shirt, holding a perfect-sized breast. My eyes flew open, and I jumped out of bed.

“God, I’m sorry. I swear I had no idea what my body did in its sleep.”

She must have woken up at the same time as me. She looked confused, and then she looked down at her breast; both of us saw her nipples harden.

She grabbed some clothes and walked into the bathroom. I hurried and dressed before picking up my things and walking to the truck. I walked Bear so he could do his thing. I looked around and didn’t see anyone suspicious. When I returned to the room, Riley was picking up her things.

“Are we ready?” she asked.

“Yep,” we walked outside and got into the truck. We drove until ten, and I had to stop and get something to eat. I pulled into the pancake house. When I got out, I called River and handed the phone to Riley. “Do you want pancakes?”

“Yes, please.”

I watched her talking through the window as I waited for our table. She would laugh and, at the same time, wipe her eyes dry. I couldn’t imagine the horror she went through living with that man—a man who killed his own son. I knew he would kill Riley the next time he set eyes on her.

I was on my way to our table when Riley stepped inside. “Thank you. I loved talking to Haley; she sounded so happy. She hasn’t been happy since Jonah forced us to move in with him.”

“She told me that he beats you?” I said, watching her.

“Yeah, that won’t happen again. The next time I see Jonah Reeves, I’ll have a gun.”

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