Page 33 of Savage Knight
“Don’t be afraid to use the credit card,” he continued.“It’s secure, so Scias can’t trace it.”
She bit her bottom lip.“I don’t need any money.”
He raised an eyebrow.“You have two sets of clothes.Eventually, you’ll need to wash them so it might help having backup to wear so you’re not naked.Not to mention all the, um, stuff women need at a particular time of the month.”
Heat engulfed her face.Even he looked slightly uncomfortable.
“Uh, thanks,” she mumbled, unable to look at him.
Saxon came over and yanked Jeremiah away.
“Stop it,” he drawled.“You’re embarrassing her.Go on, git.Shoo.”He motioned for Jeremiah to leave before he turned to her.“Now, my poor sister, I have an even better gift for you.”
“You didn’t have to get me any—”
“You are gonna love this.”He held up a small bag.“This is a cell phone with all the bells and whistles.I even put together a car ride playlist in the music app.It’s called ‘car ride playlist.’”
“Oh, my ...I’m...”
“I like texting, so now we can text for hours.”
Lowen was speechless.Jeremiah and Saxon had done so much for her that her heart felt like bursting.The generosity overwhelmed her and this time she couldn’t stop the tears.
“Whoa!What’s with the waterworks?”
“S-sorry,” she mumbled, wiping her face with the back of her hands.“It’s a lovely gift.I’ve never had a cell phone, but I’ve always dreamed of one.I could read books on it.Play games.I mean, I can Google anything!Thank you, Saxon.It’s way too much to spend on me, but I love this.”
Overwhelmed with gratitude, she threw her arms around him.
“Okay, you two, break it up,” Evren ordered, his voice reflecting annoyance.The tone made her immediately release Saxon, letting her hair hide her face.Guilt, shame, and fear from touching another man slammed into her.She might not be under Scias’s thumb, but the re-do couldn’t erase years of grooming.
“I’m so sorry,” she said quickly.“I didn’t mean ...I’m sorry.Please, forgive me.”
“Whoa,” Evren said as she tripped stepping away from Saxon.He slid his arm behind her, preventing her from falling to the unforgiving concrete.“You okay?”
She nodded, unable to say anything.When he raised his hand near her face, she flinched and folded into herself.It was the only defense she had to protect herself.Awful memories rolled over her, poisonous whips slicing her skin, and she couldn’t hold back a whimper.
“Lowen?You’re trembling.”Evren gently pulled her into his arms.“Sh, you’re safe.No one can hurt you when I’m here.”
Darkness lingered heavily in her psyche, and it took a herculean effort to chase it away.To punch holes in the shadows until the light came back, granting her a reprieve.Scias was still the monster under the bed, but she vowed to her past self that she’d work on being strong enough to erase his presence from her soul.Three steps forward and one step back.Progress thick like molasses, reminding her there was no room for him anymore.
He helped her into the passenger side of the car and then Jeremiah addressed them.
“No one but us knows you’ll be at Blackmeadow,” he said seriously looking between her and Evren.“I don’t trust anyone until the mole is caught.So, be careful and vigilant.”
“Always, brother,” Evren said.
They shook hands, then Evren got behind the wheel and they were off on their journey.
****
They rolled out ofLas Vegas, heading north.Jeremiah offered to book them a private plane, but Evren pointed out Scias might have spies everywhere.He suggested driving, as it would be harder to track them, especially with their new fake IDs.Regardless of the reasons, flimsy or not, Lowen was secretly happy because it gave her the chance to see parts of the country she never dared hope to see.
At first, it was nothing but desert and more desert.She never gave a thought to the stark beauty of where she lived, mainly because her life had been so regimented, but she admired the rolling hills dotted with Joshua trees and barrel cactus.Deep grooved canyons splayed out in maze-like patterns.Ocean waves of ridgelines formed stretch marks along the choppy mountains.Bold reds, pastel greens, and citrine yellows blazoned across the rugged terrain.Pictures and television didn’t give any justice to the often misunderstood complexity of the arid environment.
“You okay?”
Lowen turned to her head to look at him.“I’m fine.Why?”
