Page 1 of Falling for Her Protector

1

TheEscape

Vanessa

It’s cold...so cold, but I can’t stop. I don’t care if I end up freezing out here, anything is better than another second in that basement. My feet hurt, aching with each step as I weave between the trees, crunching over rocks and roots. The air bites at my exposed skin and I feel the burn of the cold air deep in my lungs with each breath.

A small branch slashes into my arm as I run by and I feel the sting, followed by a spreading warmth. I’m sure it’s broken the skin and started to bleed, but I have to keep moving. I know Grady will be after me and if I stop, I risk the chance of getting caught and dragged back. And then I’m sure it would be even worse.

I know I could have run down the road and avoided the injury, but it would’ve been too easy for them to spot me. I can deal with the cuts and bruises. The woods are safer. But it’s getting darker with each step and I’m not even sure I’m heading in the right direction.

As I rise up over a small incline, I pause for just a second when my eyes finally see hope. A small cabin about a hundred yards away. The lights shine out into the darkness and I can see the faint wisp of smoke rising from the chimney. I start moving again, each step closer feeling like the edge of freedom. I have no idea who or what is going to be inside, but it has to be better than where I’ve been.

My heart beats rapidly and my breathing is heavy as I slow my feet to a stop in front of the door. Loud voices and laughter come through the wood causing me to hesitate. But I’ve come this far, I can’t be afraid. I’m tired of living in fear. I lift my hand and let my fist hit the door, knocking loudly.

“Who the fuck is that,” I hear the muffled voices through the door.

“Hang on, I’ll check,” a voice replies as loud footsteps approach.

The door swings open and a bright light hits my face. The smell of whiskey and leather fills my nose and my stomach drops as my fear takes over.

“Well, well, well...hello there, sweetheart,” the voice at the door coos, but I can’t bring myself to look up.

“Hey, who ordered the entertainment?” he calls back, pushing the door open wide. I finally lift my gaze to find a room full of them. Large, dark figures and all of them are wearing matching leather cuts. The emblem is different from the one I recognize, but that doesn’t mean it’s better. I need to get out of here. I start to turn, but a heavy hand falls on my shoulder.

“Where are you going?” he questions and I quickly shrink out of his grasp. But my voice is gone and I can’t give him any type of response.

“Whoever ordered this chick, just get her the fuck outta here. We have club business, this isn’t a fuckin’ party,” a deeper and louder voice commands.

“Hang on a second, X.,” the lighter voice in front of me answers. “I... uh...I don’t think she’s a pro. This kid looks scared to death. She’s all scraped up and shit...and she’s fuckin’ barefoot,” he adds obviously taking in my ragged appearance.

He moves back and a new figure takes his place. He’s huge. Large enough to fill the entire door frame. His dark eyes move over me, inspecting me, and I feel myself start to fold under his intimidating stare.

“What’s your name?” he questions roughly but I still can’t find my voice. “Where’d you come from?” his irritated voice grows louder. “Did you walk here?” his eyes drop to my bare and damaged feet. I manage to nod in response.

“Get inside,” he orders and I shake my head.

“I said, get inside the fucking cabin, now!” he growls and I feel a single hot tear roll down my cheek. This is going to be the end of me. I ran away from one hell just to end up on the doorstep of another.

I feel my body start to shake as I step through the open door. My only other option is to turn and try to run, but there are too many of them and I have no doubt that they would catch me easily. The first face returns beside me.

“Fuck, X. You’re scaring the kid,” he scolds the larger man before lowering his head beside me. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. No one here is gonna hurt you. Just come inside and get warm,” his voice softens against my ear. I hear the door close behind me and the heat begins to tingle my skin as the warm air wraps around me.

“I’m Mikey. You can have a seat by the fire to warm up. You’ve gotta be fucking freezing. Where’d you run from?” he questions trying to reach for my arm, but I pull back in response.

“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t take his arm either,” a different voice chuckles beside me and I’m suddenly reminded that I have the eyes of a dozen men watching me.

I take a seat beside an open brick fire place and it feels like heaven. Thankfully the room begins to buzz around me, as I’m no longer the point of attention. Mikey moves away from me and back towards the larger man.

“X., we gotta get her to a doctor or hospital or something. She looks pretty banged up and who knows how long she’s been out in the cold,” Mikey lowers his voice, but I can still hear everything he’s saying.

“God dammit,” the deep voice responds roughly. “Fine. Call the doc.”

“On it,” Mikey replies as he pulls a cell phone from his pocket.

“Hey, Doc. I know it’s Saturday night, but your services are required. Yup...yup, I understand. We’re up at the cabin. Okay...yeah, see you when you get here,” his one-sided conversation is easy enough to follow.

“Mikey, get the girl some water or something and take her into the spare room. She can wait there for the doc while we finish up our meeting,” the one called X. instructs.

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