Page 43 of Nemesis
“We don’t have more time,” he said, grabbing the bag from my hand and heading down the stairs before I had a chance to argue. I stalked after him and slammed into his back when he stopped abruptly at the bottom, wheremy husbandwas waiting.
This was off to a good start. First the door, and now this.
“Mrs. Morales, I’ll wait for you in the car,” he said without a glance back, leaving me alone with Victor as he headed outside toward a new SUV.
Over Victor’s shoulder, I watched him chuck the bags into the back, muttering to himself. He then rounded to the driver’s side, settled in, and started the car.
“I know you don’t like this, but it’s for your safety,” he started. “I love you,” he finished, bending down to press a kiss to my lips, and I suppressed a shudder as he pulled away.
“How long will this be for?”
His eyes narrowed. “For as long as it takes.”
“Fine.” I brushed past him, leaving him standing in place.
As soon as I got into the passenger’s side, Theo quickly put the car in reverse and drove away, speeding down the road, wheels screeching from the speed.
“Where are we going?” I glanced at him, but his eyes remained on the road, one hand gripping the steering wheel, the other resting on his thigh.
“Somewhere safe,” he replied.
I waited for him to offer more information, only to be met with silence.
I rested my forehead against the window, staring outside as time trickled by. The highway stretched as the trees got taller, cutting off more of the afternoon light. Every once in a while, he brought his attention to the rearview mirror, making sure no one was tailing us.
Slowly, the adrenaline from earlier washed over me and before I knew it, my eyelids drifted closed, the outside fading.
CHAPTER18
SOFIA
Ashift from the paved highway to a dirt road jolted me awake, the sound of gravel crunching beneath the tires.
I opened my eyes as Theo turned left and climbed up a steep gravel driveway. I stared through the windshield at the structure coming into view, tucked in the middle of a small clearing, the dark exterior blending with the surroundings.
The forest was dense, and I couldn’t see much, but I assumed we'd arrived at our destination.
“We’re here,” he announced as he rolled to a stop in front of some sort of cabin. Or should I say a shed from the size of it. He reached forward and turned the car off, taking the keys out of the ignition.
Without another word, he reached for our bags in the back seat, then stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut behind him while I sat still, gazing at the place.
We were literally in the middle of nowhere. I doubted I would get any signal on my burner phone. I’d check later, but my hopes weren’t high.
Which meant I was fucked.Literally.
Not only was I stuck here,alone, with him, but I wouldn’t even have remote access to anything back in Bemes.
I only waited another minute before opening my door. Cold air whipped at me and I wrapped my jacket tighter around my body, the chill biting at my bare legs.
Who could possibly,voluntarily, live in this temperature?
It was like stepping into a freezer. I shivered, my teeth chattering. I slid out of my seat and shut the door behind me, then stepped to the front of the car.
I wasn’t able to tell exactly what time it was since I’d slept the majority of the car ride after Theo kept going in circles. I didn’t know if it was meant to disorient me or lose anybody who would have trailed us.
The sun was casting down, the frigid cold searing into my skin. I shaded my eyes from the remnants of the sunlight casting through the thick woods and scanned the area.
The forest seemed to go on forever, nothing besides the secluded cabin we’d be staying in. I inhaled, the smell of earth drifting through my nose, the scent of water hanging in the air.
