Page 9 of The Runaway Bride

Showered, dressed casually injeans, T-shirt and hoodie, I slide my feet into sneakers and I’m ready to go.My hair is tucked into the back of the hoodie and remind myself to speak to Tiaagain about having it cut.

Following the small street map onmy phone, I walk to the gym and stand outside for a moment, checking out theposters on the window. The place is called Fitness Freaks, which has mesmirking, I have to admit. It sounds right up my street.

Opening the door, I quickly walkover to the reception area and give the woman a smile. “Morning. I’ve come tofind out more about the gym. I’m interested in general aerobics. I’m good withstep aerobics, spin, dance, and even some yoga.”

“Wow, that’s great. We don’toften get people coming in that have experience, but we can offer quite a fewclasses from gentle through to hard circuits. We also offer hand-to-hand andmore fighting styles. But those are only offered if the trainer feels you wouldbe up to the challenge.”

I give the tall blonde a nod andwarm smile and can see she’s not really seeing how fit I am, but that could bethe hoodie hiding it, too. “That is okay with me. I know a few fighting styles,but not to any kind of competition standard. I only want to stay fit and remainat my peak. Do you have a schedule that I can have as I work evenings, so itwould have to be a morning or an early afternoon class to fit into my workhours?”

Reaching under the receptiondesk, the woman takes out a sheet with a list of classes that are held at thegym. I take it and give her a quick, ‘Thank you’.

“You would have to book yourplace in the class you are interested in, as we only take fifteen clients perclass. The trainers like to give one-on-one if they see anybody struggling. Youmay find a trainer at the front of the class and one walking around helpingwhere necessary.”

“Okay, that’s good for me. I willmore than likely drag my friend along with me, but she’s not going to be askeen as myself,” I giggle at the thought of little Tia in spin class.

“Oh, I’ll have to keep my eye outfor you and your friend. My name is Fran, by the way.”

“Well, hello Fran, my name isElli, and my friend is Tia. I’ll look for you when I drag her along. Maybe youcan join in, too?”

“I’d do that if your friend isgoing to brighten my day. It gets a little boring around here at times, and Icould do with helping more than I do, so yeah, look me up and I’ll cheer heron,” Fran giggles.

Walking home, I keep lookingaround, as I have that itch that says someone is watching me. I can’t seeanyone, but it feels off. I quickly get back to my place and lock the doorbehind me.

After eating a small lunch, Icheck my phone when it pings, alerting me to a message.

Tia: Hi sister from anothermister, and momma, I’ve spoken to my friend, and she’s going to do your hairtomorrow morning at your place.

Elli: Oh, that’s good, nomister and momma sister.

Tia: I’ve spoken to Spinner,and he’s going to get what we need. I put in a request for something small thatcould hide in a pocket or purse as well as a normal-size gun.

Elli: Oh well, that was goodthinking. I have some savings left so we can pay him. My brother gave me a cardI can use too if we get strapped for anything we desperately need.

Tia: We’ll manage withoutthat. I have a little saved too, so between us we’ll manage. Now, I’ve gottago. The boss is shouting.

It’ll be good to have weapons andI’ll teach Tia how to respect them and use them correctly. I never thought I’dwant a sister because of my loving Alex so much, but Tia is the best sister Icould have wished for, and she’s right, we are not related, but we can still besisters nonetheless.

Work was grueling, I washed somany pans my fingers are wrinkled. I’d listened to Pesto Pete shouting ordersfor so long my head is splitting with a headache. But, I kept chopping andpeeling when told, and all the time I’m thinking, ‘This is necessary, you needthe job, you need the money.’

Walking home I’m double-timing,as I have that horrid feeling of being watched again. It’s a good thing I’mused to power walking and I’m covering as much ground as I can, as fast as Ican. But when three men step out of a side street in front of me, I know I’mgoing to have trouble.

“Hey, what are you doing out solate on your own?” One asks, but I ignore him and try to walk wide of them, butone of the other two steps in front of me stopping me in my stride.

“Come on, you can be friendly tous,” the second creep tries to coo.

“Fuck off, I’m not interested,”yeah, I snarl and I’m well ready to take this asshole down if he doesn’t move.“Get out of the way,” I say as firmly as I can.

“Aw, come on, don’t be likethat,” the third creep says as he reaches out to grab my arm.

Now, nobody touches me withoutpermission, so I react exactly as Alex taught me, and with a grab, twist, andflick, the creep is on his back on the ground. “Anyone else?” I snap, as Istand with my foot on the creep's neck, cutting off his airflow.

The shock on their faces wouldhave me laughing under normal circumstances, but this is not the time. The twothat are not on the ground quickly step back, hands up, “Okay, let him go andwe’ll leave. We were only messing with you.”

“Well, maybe next time you’ll getmore than I gave you. Because boys, if I’d had my knife you’d have had a cutthroat at this point.” I take my foot off the idiot and hurry away, but I keepan ear on what is happening behind me.

My eyes are flicking for anythingelse that could be amiss, and that’s when I see a figure dressed in blackleaning on a wall across the street. Watching, but not moving. I flick him themiddle finger for doing just that instead of stepping out and helping a womanin distress. Mind you, was I in distress? No, I don’t think I was…

I make the call to Alex, knowingI’m over two hours late, but when you are working, you can’t just downeverything and make a phone call.

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