Page 16 of Holly's Valentine Vow

Me: Those are already packed.

Rebel: Good. Now, put your phone on the charger because you always forget and remember how much I love and adore you.

Me: Night, handsome.

Rebel: Night, beautiful.

“Where’s the road?” I mutter, my eyes constantly veering to the rearview mirror where a car is bearing down on me. If I can just get to Pine Street, it’ll take me right to the police station.

I feel the impact and scream as the car swerves to the side, skidding on the loose pebbles on the road before I can correct it, both Mina and Ruby yelling as well. Calling out my name. But I can’t do anything to comfort them since I’m concentrating on not crashing.

“It’s okay, girls, we’re going to be okay,” I tell them, sounding calmer than I am. “Siri, call 9-1-1.”

“Calling 9-1-1,” the robotic voice responds.

As the call connects with the precinct, I feel another jar, only this one has me fishtailing, even though the roads are clear and dry. “Help me!” I scream. “Someone is hitting me from behind!”

“Ma’am, can you tell me where you’re at right now?” the dispatcher asks.

I quickly relay what I’m driving as well as which road I’m on. I can’t really speed up too much since there are substantial curves ahead and if I’m not careful, we’ll nosedive off the side of the cliff. I won’t risk my daughters’ lives because some demented bitch is gunning for me.

The third impact sends me toward the guardrail, and I scream as I fight to regain control of my SUV. “My daughters are in the car too!” I tell the dispatcher, hoping the urgency in my voice will have the police arriving sooner.

“Are they safely secured?” the dispatcher asks. “Police are enroute, ma’am, and are about a minute out from your location.”

“They’re both in age-appropriate car seats, but we’ve already been hit three times and we almost just hit the guardrail.”

“Stay calm,” she encourages. What the hell? I’m as calm as one could be when someone is attempting to murder them. It’s not like I’m at the nail salon waiting on one of the technicians to come and give me a pedicure.

Tears continue to stream down my cheeks and fear radiates throughout my body as I inform her, “I’m trying, I promise, but we’re coming up on the curves.”

Her tone changes at my words and I feel my heart drop as it dawns on me, we might not make it out of this alive.

“Mina, Ruby?” I call out.

“Yes, Mama?” they reply in unison.

“I love you girls so very much,” I tell them, swallowing back my sobs.

“We love you too, Mama, and also Daddy,” Mina says.

“Ma’am, just before the curve, to the left, there’s a runaway truck lane, do you think you can aim for that?”

“I can try if it’ll keep me from going over the cliff and rolling down the embankment,” I grit out. My teeth are clenched so hard my jaw is aching at this point.

“I’ll stay on the line with you until the police arrive, ma’am,” the dispatcher states. “Now, as you go up the runaway ramp, make sure you take your foot off the gas. It’s meant to help stop your vehicle.”

I see it ahead and turn the wheel…

Gasping, I wake up, my breath shuddering in my chest as my heart races a mile a minute. I’m covered in sweat from the realistic nightmare I just had. Throwing the covers to the side, I get out of bed and start pacing. Is this what Myra meant when she whispered those last words to me? Do I have to fear for mine and my daughters’ lives? Maybe they need to just stay at the farm and not go anywhere with anyone until Myra’s caught and put behind bars. I realize I’ll never get back to sleep, so I strip the sweat-sodden sheets from my bed and head to the laundry room. Might as well take care of a few household chores until it’s time for the girls to get up.

So much for a restful night’s sleep.

Chapter Nine

Rebel

My night isn’t allthat restful since an aide came in around four in the morning and woke me up to ask me if I needed anything. Fucker. After I threatened to beat his ass, he never came back to see if I needed anything else, so I guess it’s a good thing I have one of those plastic urinals sitting on my bedside table. It takes me a little bit of time, but I’m finally able to sit up on the side of my bed to use it, although only having hand sanitizer to use afterward to cleanse the germs from my hands has me grumbling a bit. I manage to get myself resituated so I’m somewhat sitting up and flip through the television channels until I find an old movie. While it plays, I think of the information Data sent me last night after Holly went home.

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