To Get Away

To Get Away

by

Lorelei Leigh

Copyright

© 2015 Lorelei Leigh

All rights reserved. Except for the use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means is forbidden without express permission from the author.

This is a work of fiction. All names, Characters and settings are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, names, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Edited by Lorelei Leigh and Krista Campbell

Revised by Michael Moore

Cover Design by Jay Aheer

Ebook Formatting by Jesse Gordon

TABLE OF CONTENTS

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Epilogue

One

It is so dark that I can’t see my hand, held up in front of my face but I have to keep running. I can hear him closing in and I knew he was going to find me. I just kept praying that I could get us out sooner because he will kill me if he catches me. I can feel the darkness of his eyes, like he already has me. I have to keep going! I can’t let him get to her. Oh god, please I have to get out of here to save us. I have to save her! I keep running with everything I have and thanking the lord that I have been here before. I’m unsure which warehouse we are in, but that’s not a problem. I know them all so well. The only light is coming from under a door at the end of the hall. I just have to get there… I go for the handle once I reach the door, but it won’t budge. NO! I’m screaming in my head, that this cannot be the end. I slam into the door and the damn thing still won’t move. Oh my God, this can’t be happening. I hear his footsteps, realizing I’ve wasted too much time. As I turn he lunges for me and I duck to try and get under him but he’s too quick. He lifts his knee up, connecting with my jaw, and the pain is instantaneous. The impact slams me back onto the cold warehouse floor. I look up at him and I’m paralyzed with fear. I can’t move, my head is screaming at me to move, but my body won’t cooperate. He looks down at and grins as he slams his foot down with all of his power and it connects with my face.

NOOOOO! My body snaps up and I start to swing my arms. I’m looking left to right, searching for him. It takes me a moment to register, that I’m covered in a cold sweat and as my eyes begin to focus, I realize with a sigh of relief, it was only a dream. He’s not here, He’s not here, my personal mantra that I find myself repeating often but it doesn’t help calm me. Still I feel it’s necessary to say out loud, It’s just a dream. He doesn’t know where we are this time. For some reason, I find it comforting when the nightmare comes and unfortunately for me, that is every night.

I hate to admit this, but I haven’t actually slept through the night in almost four years. I’ve tried everything. I have even tried to practice the breathing technique. You know, slow deep breath in, hold it for three seconds and slowly release it. But it never works. The only thing that seems to calm me is making sure my little girl is still breathing. I can’t explain why, all I know is being a mom is the most gratifying and the absolute most terrifying thing that has ever happened to me. I know I can survive anything as long as she is okay.

I look over at my alarm clock and see that I don’t have to be awake for another two hours. I exhale slowly, knowing there is no point trying to go back to sleep. Most nights I just toss and turn, and on nights I manage to fall asleep, the dreams just become gruesome. So I swing my legs from under the covers, slide on my slippers and do the only thing that wakes me up enough to feel human…Coffee!

I say a prayer of thanks to the coffee god and then I do the only other thing that helps to clear the dark thoughts that have consumed me, I turn on the four a.m. news.

Even though the news is just as frightening these days, it is out of habit that I listen to every piece of information that’s going on locally. It reminds me that things could always be worse. Plus, my ex has a few habits that the news would report and that is my small window of warning before he comes for me. I even keep bags packed away in the trunk of my car.

It has been four years since the last time he found me, Paisley was only two. Thankfully, I was at work and my regular babysitter was sick, so I had to call a neighbor for help. My ex didn’t know where to find her. In the end that is what saved me. Well that and he knocked me out before he could get any answers out of me. Our altercation was loud enough to alarm my neighbors, who thought someone was breaking into my home, and called the police immediately.

After my neighbors found out what really happened, they thought it would have been better if I was upfront with them about our life. They said they could have helped, but I know better. We left shortly after that incident and we have kept to ourselves ever since.

I shudder and I know if he ever gets his hands on her, he will care for her until she looks like a woman. Then he will introduce her to the business. It makes me sick every time I think about it. Yes, his own daughter but I know he doesn’t have a heart. That’s how he has gotten where he is now.

I know I can only blame myself because I was blind to him. I was lonely at seventeen and thought he was everything. He had money and a family. It took me three months to figure out how stupid I was, which was way too long.

Idly, I stir my coffee as the weather man announces sky-high temperatures for the week. Sighing, I decide to go ahead and shower for work. My long, unnatural dark brown hair can take forever to dry, so I always need a head start. I really miss my blonde hair, but I kept it last time and I paid the price. I even wear brown contact lenses to cover my ocean blue eyes. My best friend Ryan hates it. He says my eyes can make the saddest person see the sun, but it’s necessary.

An hour later, I’m finally ready for the day. I’ve straightened the collar on my black Archer’s Sports polo, buttoned my coordinating black jeans and I take one last look in the mirror. Archer’s Sports pays me just above minimum wage, but between that and my weekend job at a twenty-four hour daycare, I make ends meet. During the week I drop Paisley off at her private school and then I am home in time to pick her up from school.

As for the weekends, one of the perks of working Friday and Saturday nights at a daycare, I am able to bring Paisley with me. No more paying for babysitters, which has saved me a ton of money every week. With the left over money, I started renting a nicer house with a front and backyard. I just couldn’t stand apartments anymore and Paisley deserved a yard to play in. Granted, the one we have isn’t very big, but it’s ours.

I glance down at my watch and realize it’s time to wake up Paisley. I walk down the hallway and open the door to her room. I love walking into her room. Ever since she was a baby, I have tried to make it everything she has ever wanted. She may only be seven, but she has dreams too. It’s a very girly theme with doll houses, a tea party table and of a variety of stuffed animals. The walls are bright white, yellow and pink. Between the decorations and coordinating paint, she has room even Barbie would be jealous of.

I pad over, sit on the edge of her bed and rub her back. She stirs, but doesn't wake and I smooth back her gorgeous blonde hair. It reminds me of my natural color and I miss it so much. Good morning baby girl. It’s time to get ready for your day. She rolls over slowly getting her bearings and then begins to dance out of bed. That’s her way; she is always happy and energetic. No matter what happens she has a smile on her face. I hope she will remain this carefree for a long time because the secret of her father will one day take that away. I know in the future she will understand the situation we are in and how bad off we really are, but for now, she is happy and I will shield her for as long as possible.

Thirty minutes later she comes bouncing out of her room in her favorite pink shoes with coordinating shirt and blue jean shorts. I place her packed lunch in her bag, hand it to her and grab my own bag as we both head out the door. After I double check the lock on the front door, we get in to my little crappy car. It may look like a beater, but it's my car and I won’t ever complain about my 94' Geo Prism. I just take it easy on her because she gets me where I need to be. I know if we were to ever get hit, we will need a strong prayer to get the lord on our side because my car will be destroyed. My best friend, Ryan, keeps threatening to by me a new car, but it took me two years to save the money to buy my own car, so I keep refusing. It was the first thing that has ever belonged to me that nobody could threaten to take away.

As Paisley buckles herself in I start the car and turn up the radio. As I back out the driveway and begin driving towards her school, we both begin singing and dancing in our seats. I figure, life is too short to be so serious, plus who am I trying to impress with my dance moves? We do this the whole ten minute drive to her school from our house. I pull up to her school, and we are both laughing our butts off at each other. She leaps up from her seat and throws her arms around my neck. I squeeze her and remind her how much I love her as she releases me, and bounces out of the car, saying I love you too. I just sit and watch a moment as my baby girl rushes up to a group of her friends and they walk into school. I sigh, put my car back into drive and continue on my short commute to work.

I pull into Archer’s Sports’ parking lot and glance at the clock on my dash and realize I'm early again. Since I’m always a little early, I have learned to just go ahead and put my things away in the provided locker, clock in and help the store manager, Adrian open up the store. Because of my early morning arrivals, I spend more time with Adrian then anyone outside of my family. I would like to consider her my friend, but I can’t take the risk of her getting that close to me. As I lift a box we received in our morning shipment, I just about jump out of my skin when she pops up on front of me. I’m not that hard to scare so I’m sure she's used to it by now, and ignores my reaction. Surprise, surprise, you’re once again early Morgan. Don’t you have something better to do? Although she is smiling, there is something off about the look in her eyes and I know the questions will begin soon. She is always asking questions and I always evade answering, I have learned that little details lead to big details and then she will know way too much. Sometimes I think I’m being overly paranoid and of course Ryan would agree, but then I remember what happened four years ago and it keeps my head in the game.

No, no I don’t. She looks at me a moment longer and then her whole mood alters instantly.

Good, because you are never going to believe who is coming in today! she is practically jumping up and down. She reminds me of Paisley, when on rare occasion; I take her to her favorite pizza place… well really any pizza joint. She gets excited over everything and right now, Adrian has the same demeanor, so I just go along with her playfulness and ask if she’s got a hot date. Adrian is always being asked out, always. I don't really blame the guys that ask her out, because honestly, she is gorgeous. She stands a good five inches taller than my 5’4 frame and has midnight black hair that flows to her shoulders blades. I have yet to figure out if it is natural or not but it fits well with her pale skin tone.

On top of her flawless beauty, she can rock any color of contacts lenses. She usually chooses a color, depending on her mood. So I’m pretty sure it has to do with a man because she is sporting her Aqua lenses today and she only does that when it has to do with man. She once told me she wears them because she says her brown eyes remind her of poop and that’s just not any fun. Anytime she would say that, she’d always add, of course, no offense to me and my brown eyes. I always smile and shrug when she tells me this, but honestly I really don’t care. If she thinks mine are real then I’m doing something right.

I snap out of my thoughts when she grabs the box out of my hand and says, Nick Archer is coming here! She sets the box on the shelf and a start checking every inch of the store to make sure everything is in place. I follow her around the aisles straightening up out of place items. I’m trying to figure out why this guy is so important, the name is ringing a bell, but I can't figure out where I have heard that name before. I know I still have a blank look on my face as she turns to look at me for my own reaction to this news. She looks at me expectantly and when I shrug, she just sighs and rolls her eyes. Come on Morgan, he owns this chain. Hello, we work for Archer’s! He used to be one of the best MMA fighters around. That’s why he went into sports apparel. Most of the equipment, apparel and supplements on the shelf are his own brand.

Huh, I have never really given any thought to the owner. Why is he coming here? I wonder out loud.

Who cares why! she says impatiently, but last I saw him; he was so hunky I would undeniably make an exception to play twister in the break room with him. She winks shimmies her shoulders that make her lady bits sway.

Oh Lord, I can’t help that laugh that erupts. First of all twister is Adrian’s code for seriously hot sex! Secondly, once Adrian gets like this, the man doesn’t stand a chance. The girl is a walking sex advertisement. Her body is lean and curvy and with a nice sized chest, so to me she is every man’s image of a walking wet dream.

After seeing Adrian’s behavior I decide to go ahead and get everything in order before she blows a gasket. Even though I don’t care about impressing the owner, Adrian clearly does, so why not help her make a good impression and get laid.

Two hours later there has been no sign of our company’s CEO and I’m still restocking shelves. Of course each shelf must be absolutely perfect because Adrian will have nothing else. She had me redo the first shelf I did because one freaking box was out of place. She is very serious about getting this guy’s attention. As I am placing the last box away, I hear the ding go off over the door and in strolls a tall man with a stack of folders in his hands. I am assuming our infamous CEO has finally arrived, but I can’t remember his name. I know it starts with an N…

I see Adrian jump up and run to the front of the store to greet the man as I still stand in the same spot transfixed upon him, trying to remember his name. Oh man, he is dreamy; he stands in black slacks, with a button down shirt that has the sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms. The way he moves just helps complete the picture, each step he takes is strong and full of grace. His hard jaw line is almost perfectly squared off; if he were to strip down I am betting the rest of him is just a perfectly sculpted. To top him off, he has shaggy golden brown hair that almost makes his appear approachable, but I won’t. Instead I watch as Adrian steps up to him and I realize he must be well over six feet tall. The picture they paint together is really beautiful. They are like the perfect couple, ugh! I’m not sure why that makes me cringe, maybe because I’m jealous of what I can’t have. Frankly, it’s for the best and I refuse to be bitter about it.

I briefly consider walking up and introducing myself but come on, what's the point? I am just the low man on the totem pole, literally. I stock shelves, clean the store and bathrooms (yuck by the way), and I check out customers. Whatever needs to be done, I’m the official go-to girl. Whether that’s a good thing or not, I’m not sure. I just like to get lost in my work until it’s time to leave and pick up Paisley. She is what gets me through most days here as I try to fly under the radar. I know it may be lonely for me, but I love my daughter and she makes everything I do worth it. Plus, I know that there isn’t as single person who runs in her father’s circle who would ever come into this store. They have no reason too, and that will keep us both safe.

A few more hours go by before Adrian comes to find me and send me to lunch. As I walk back to our break room, I feel eyes watching me. I begin to discretely looking around me like I was taught, and realize that it’s Mr. CEO. I feel a tremor rack my body and I slowly try to shake it off. I avert my gaze from his and then pick up the pace, practically running to the break room.

I grab my lunch and start heating it up in the microwave. I concentrate on the spinning wheel turning my food in circles because I know if I let my mind wander, there is going to be some seriously dirty thoughts and I can’t afford to get caught up with a man again. So I begin counting how many times the plate can rotate in a three hundred and sixty degree circle. One. Two. Three. Fo-

I’m sorry I haven’t had the chance to introduce myself. My name is Nick Archer. A smooth and husky voice says and I swear I jump at least a foot off the ground.

I never even heard the door open as I turn around looking at him trying to figure out why he is speaking to me. I know that sounds ridiculous since it’s only Adrian and I working in the store today, so I should expect him to be polite, but he is making my pulse rate go up and I’m not sure why. I meet his eyes and smile while trying to slow my heart rate and breathing back down.

Well it’s nice to meet you Mr. Archer. My name is Morgan Ashford. Is there something I can do for you? Oh, my goodness he has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen! Green, I mean bright green, and they look natural. Crap, I think I’m openly gaping at him. He has a slow smirking smile that’s beginning to fill his face and all I can think of is how gorgeous he is. He reaches out to shake my hand and I see a tattoo snaking down his right arm under his rolled up sleeves. It almost looks like tribal. It makes my breath catch again and I know I’m beginning to blush because it's really starting to get hot in here. His megawatt smile becomes more pronounced and it's a smile that can make any girl squirm. By the gleam in his eye, he obviously knows it and uses it to his advantage. So instead of openly gaping at the man, I do the polite thing and reach my hand out to shake his hand. He grips my hand like a life line and it makes me feel instantly at ease. His whole hand engulfs my much smaller one and I begin to wonder what those giant hands could do to a girl. UGH! Hello, my boss… UGH! I’m officially pathetic.

Call me Nick. It’s a pleasure to meet you Morgan. I didn't mean to startle you, I just wanted to introduce myself. he smiles warmly at me and I take it all in and smile back despite myself.

I mean, I thought I was holding it together fairly well, until he said my name and the word pleasure so close together. As soon as the words left his mouth, my whole body ignited. As my pulse quickens, I realize I can't be here; I need to get out of this room and quick. I turn from Nick, pull microwave open and snatch my frozen dinner out before it’s even halfway done so I can make a run for the door. I decided to make a split second decision to eat in my car. I normally wouldn’t risk it because the stores located in an awful part of town, plus it is pretty hot outside, but I need to get away from him. Unfortunately, I can’t be rude to him; my mother's deeply ingrained rules of southern hospitality force me to acknowledge him one last time for a proper goodbye.

As I turned to face him again, with my food in hand, I realize he hasn’t stepped away from me. If anything, it seems like he has moved closer and is openly smirking at me. I take a deep breath and tell him, Well it was really nice to finally be able to put a face to the name. I shift my weight to the left, to try and walk around him, but he stops me with a question.

How long have you worked here Morgan? I don’t remember you and I’m normally good at remembering all my employees. Is he studying me? Ack! Quit being crazy!

Oh um, about a year now. I shift the food container to my right hand and keep the smile plastered to my face.

We’ll I’m sorry it took me so long to meet you. You must have been hired right after my last visit to this store… So what do you do for fun? Ok crap, he’s asking me about fun, why? I need to change this up.

I hear you were an MMA fighter; any good at it? I’m trying to tease him; it's not a secret that he was the best of his time. I did my research before I was hired on here. He gives me this smile that seriously makes me melt.

Yea, I guess a little he steps closer to me and I swear the air around us has so much electricity I can’t believe I haven’t been struck down by lightning yet. Man, I need to get out of here.

It was nice to meet you. I say as I finally to make my grand escape.

He grabs me by my elbow to stop me and spins me back around. My arm starts to tingle from his touch; not because he is hurting me, but because it makes me want him, to keep touching me. Everywhere! Crap, we have serious chemistry. My face is tilted up to look him in the eyes and we are a breath apart. He is looking at me like I’m a crazed animal and I realize the chemistry is only on my part. He thinks I’m skittish. Well, that’s better than thinking I’m interested or him being interested in me… I think.

Morgan, where are you going? I know there isn’t another place to eat here. His husky voice brushes over me and I know that this man is seriously dangerous to me.

I umm…. I’m just going to go eat outside. I say with as much confidence that I can muster.

Outside, in this part of town, in this heat? His voice rises and I'm not sure out of anger or annoyance. I take the opportunity to take a breath and focus my thoughts.

Yes, I’m going to eat MY lunch in my car and listen to the radio; is that a problem? I know I am getting a bit more defensive than I should, but nobody, outside of my family has ever told me what to do for years. But as soon as the words leave my mouth, I wish I could take them back. Although he seems too concerned, I am his employee and he was asking fair questions. Honestly, he's probably trying to avoid a lawsuit if something happened to me in his parking lot. So now I’m over reacting. Go me!

He presses his lips into a hard line as his green eyes seem to be studying me again. How about we go for a real lunch; a lunch that wasn't pumped full of preservatives and that way I don’t have to worry about you being kidnapped in the parking lot.

I study his face for a moment. Is he serious right now? I mean why would he even care? He has made me want him and hate him in under a minute and I’m trying really hard to get a grip here. I clench my teeth together and give him a pointed smile.

I’m sorry but I am perfectly fine eating this. Thank you.

His grip tightens on my arm and that’s my cue to pull away from him. His eyes begin to turn a dark green and it makes me back up another step. What is wrong with this guy? I’m beginning to think he's used to getting his way and why wouldn’t he? He is extremely good looking, successful and I’m sure he’s never heard the word, No before.

His arm drops to his side and his eyes meet mine. I won’t hurt you, he whispers and I feel like a skittish stray he's trying to coax toward him to safety.

That pulls me out of myself and I realize he is beyond capable of hurting me in more way than I ever want to imagine. You would never get that close to me.