Page 43 of Crow's Haven
The thing is, I can’t go to prison. I know what happens to child killers. I didn’t do it, but if someone is trying to cover their tracks and set me up, then there’s no way I can prove my innocence. Panic surges through my body making a small voice in my head scream for me to run, just do anything to get away. All I can think about is staying out of that jail cell.
Suddenly, I’m moving on instinct alone. My mind is beyond logic, beyond reason, and consumed by my need to get the hell out of here. My eyes land on the narrow window beside the toilet. It’s cracked open slightly, and cool air is coming in through the gap. Adrenaline pushes through my veins. Without thinking, I turn the wastepaper basket over and step on it to climb up then shove the window open wider, worried about the scraping sound it makes. Glancing at the door, I make sure he didn’t hear.
My heart pounds madly in my chest as I wedge myself through the tight space, scraping my skin against the window frame. I land hard onto the grass below. It takes me a minute to catch my breath, then I stumble to my feet and take off running without looking back.
I have no phone, no purse, no keys, nothing except the desire to run as fast and far as I can. Fear grips me, pushing my body forward even when my lungs burn and my muscles protest.
My feet pound against the pavement. The streetlights blur, one into another as I race past. It feels vaguely like I’m trying to outrun my past. I don’t know where I’m headed, but what I’m running from is crystal clear. I’m running away from Crow’s rage and from his broken trust. Away from the small, happy family I foolishly allowed myself to love.
I promised those kids I’d stay, and it breaks my heart that I’ve betrayed them.
I’ve betrayed everyone.
I run until my chest aches, until my breath hauls harshly in and out of my throat. I finally emerge onto the side of the interstate. The roar of passing cars startle me. Before I can stop, someone honks their horn because I’ve almost staggered into the road. I quickly step back and collapse against a signpost, gasping.
Cars rush by, oblivious to what’s going on in my world. I force myself to take several shaky breaths to steady myself. This isn’t about what I want anymore. It’s about survival. In order to survive, I have to keep moving. Crow will never forgive this betrayal, and I can’t get locked up for a crime I didn’t commit.
I wipe tears away roughly with the back of my hands and stumble forward, raising a trembling arm towards oncoming headlights. Although I stick one thumb up, Cars roar past with so much as a glance. Desperate to put as much distance between Crow and myself as possible, my heart sinks with each vehicle that speeds by without stopping.
Finally, a large semi slows down. The hazard lights pop on as it pulls onto the shoulder of the road in front of me. I rush forward on shaky legs, hoping for a ride. The passenger door swings open and a rough but not unkind face peers down at me.
“You okay, miss?” the driver asks gruffly. His worried eyes roam over my face.
I nod quickly, still out of breath. “I just need a ride. Anywhere but here. Please.” I pull my front jean pockets inside out and add, “To be fair, I’m broke, so I can’t pay you anything.”
He studies me carefully, suspicion flickering briefly, but the desperation in my voice seems to convince him. “Kindness is free in my world. I’m heading to Shreveport. If that’s okay with you, hop in, missy.”
Relief floods my chest as I climb clumsily into the cab, slamming the heavy door shut behind me. “Thank you, so much, mister.”
“Samuel’s my name. Folks just call me Sam. You got a name?”
I snatch up all my courage and answer with a shaky smile, “They call me Ladybug.”
Sam gives me a crooked grin and says, “Nice to meet you, Ladybug.”
I nod, “You too, Sam.”
As he pulls back onto the road, I’m hyper aware of everything to do with the truck. The way he effortlessly shifts the gears, the sound that the engine makes, and how big his windshield wipers are when he pushes the button to squirt cleaning fluid on the windshield.
When the gruff-looking driver doesn’t immediately talk to me, I relax back into the seat. Miles of pavement stretch out in front of me, taking me back into a life on the run from the law. Back to a place where a crime I didn’t commit seems destined tohaunt me for the rest of my life. Behind me, I’m leaving a wake of lies, shattered trust, broken dreams, as well as the wonderful family I desperately wanted but never deserved.
I lean my forehead against the side window, as tears slowly dry on my cheeks. My heart aches because I just lost everything that matters to me in one fell swoop. And I have no one to blame but myself.
My pulse slows gradually and the adrenaline ebbs. It’s replaced by a hollow ache deep in my chest. I have nothing but the clothes on my back and the frantic need to disappear before my past catches up again.
Chapter 13
Crow
Minutes tick by and after almost an hour I start to wonder how long it’s going to take Ladybug to come out and face the music. We’ve still got shit to hash out. And now that the red haze is going, I’ve got a lot of questions about this warrant for her arrest.
I pace back and forth in the living room. The water’s still running. How long does it take one woman to splash some damn water on her face and pull her shit together?
I glance at the closed door, anxiety clawing at my gut. I’ve given her space and tried to be patient. Every second that passes pushes me further towards anger again.
“Sharon,” I bark, my voice sharp and clipped. No answer. “Enough hiding out in the goddamn bathroom. Get out here. Now!”
I still hear nothing other than the running water. A cold chill crawls down my spine. My fists tighten, a sudden sense of dread spreads through my chest. What if I came down too hard on her and she’s done something drastic? I don’t think she’s the kind of person to harm herself, but who knows what a person is capable of when their back is against the wall with no way out?
