Page 23 of Savage Pakhan

We make it to the road just as the sun sets. The stars are covered by thick storm clouds. Thunder rolls up above and the first drops of rain fall onto my arms.

The road is quiet. There hasn’t been a car since I found the road and followed it to the state line.

Looking down at Mia, I manage to brush the hair out of her face. She’s fallen asleep, her cheek resting against my chest. I’m able to see the faint yellow hue of an old bruise my wretched son left on her and I grind my teeth together.

The anger vanishes when a small grin twists her lips while she’s dreaming and she buries her face deeper into my chest, as if she’s wanting to get under my skin.

I’d allow her. The closer she is the better.

When we get to the state line, and the blue “Welcome” appears, I look to the left but there’s no way a car could drive into the woods on this side. There are too many trees.

Crossing the road, there’s a path that is wide enough to fit a car. I follow it, hoping no one else has found it. If the vehicle isn’t here, we’ll have to spend the night outside in the dark. I don’t want that for Mia.

“Be here. Be here,” I beg, stepping sideways to make my way between two branches.

She said it was just a few yards away from the road. I stop, the humidity in the air sticking to my skin. My shoulder is on fire, the muscles throbbing more with every second that passes holding Mia.

I won’t let go. No matter how bad the pain becomes.

I scan the woods, knowing I can’t be missing it. It’s impossible to not see a fucking car in the woods. I do a double take between to trees to my right.

There.

Parked right between two slender tree trunks is a camouflage tarp she described to me.

“Mia,” I whisper, hating to wake her up. “Mia, I found it.” I shake her slightly, hoping it’s enough.

She squeezes her eyes shut and yawns, opening those big brown eyes I’ve fallen in love with. She’s so damn beautiful and the light dash of freckles over her nose? I’m enamored.

My son is a fucking idiot. He’ll never have a woman like Mia ever again. He had no idea how good he had it.

“We’re here?” Her voice is tossed with exhaustion.

“We made it. I have to set you down so I can make sure it’s drivable.”

She nods on another yawn, and I ease her to her feet. The pressure on my shoulder eases and I groan in relief.

“How are you feeling?” I grab the tarp and yank it off the car to reveal a rusted Volkswagen Beetle.

It’s seen much better days, but all it needs to do is get us from point A to point B. If it can do that, we’ll be okay. At the safehouse, I have everything we need. Food, clothes, and a car safely tucked away in a garage.

We’re close to getting out of here and getting her to safety. Once she’s at the safehouse, we can plan on where she wants to go from there. She’ll have to change her identity, her name, her passport, which can be taken care of with my connections.

And then, I’ll probably never see her again.

The thought has me hanging my head and pressing my hands against the roof of the car. Never seeing her again can’t be the only option. I don’t think I can accept that. Losing her forever can’t be where this ends.

“Better. I’m breathing easier but I’m still really sore.” She rubs her chest, wincing.

“I’m sorry I had to do that, but I didn’t have a choice.”

“I’m not sorry. I’m glad you did. Drowning wasn’t part of my escape plan.”

“Dying typically isn’t.” I check the tires to make sure they aren’t flat. I’m not sure how long this car has been sitting here or what shape it is in. If there’s a flat and no spare, we’re fucked.

I don’t see a spare.

Mia probably wasn’t thinking about that when she bought the car. She only wanted a way out. She took what she could, and I don’t blame her for that.