Page 58 of Cain

But I wasn’t that far from the clubhouse. And I would definitely be safe there.

“Run.”

“Alright,” Jazz said, wiping her hands on her apron then walking to the back door. “It’s a super tight squeeze, but there’s this itty-bitty alley back that way,” she said, leading me into the small area behind the shop. “There is a gate there too, but I leave it unlocked during the day. So it will put you on the next street over then you just… run to somewhere safer. Do you have a place?”

“I, um, I think I’m going to go to the biker clubhouse.”

“Well, you can’t go anywhere safer. Go on. I’ll deal with your ex. Men like that hate women like me,” she said, giving me a smile that said she enjoyed that, then went back inside.

I didn’t wait.

I booked it on shaky legs through the alley and pushed open the wrought iron gate.

I thought I heard someone yell something but shook it off as I ran.

Until, of course, I heard him.

Perry.

Running after me.

And this was a guy who did long-distance running for pleasure. I would never be able to outrun him in a straight line.

But I had an advantage here. I knew the territory. He didn’t.

So I ducked through another alley, then in the side entrance of a small restaurant, ignoring the cries of protest from the kitchen staff as I made my way out through the dining room, then, finally, the front door.

Judging by the yells and metal bowls falling in the kitchen, Perry wasn’t far behind.

So I pushed my legs harder, taking me down one street and up through a small residential neighborhood, cutting through someone’s side yard that eventually brought me up alongside the clubhouse fence.

Almost there.

I was almost safe.

I burst through the gates but didn’t slow.

I threw open the front door, making two of the guys playing video games stiffen and look over at me.

“Cain!” the tall guy with the cheekbone hollows called.

“What are you yelling—” Cain called, coming out from the kitchen. But the guy who’d called him nodded toward me. Cain’s face fell. “Babe, what happened?”

“I… ran… Perry,” I gasped between breaths.

Unlike my ex, I was not someone who enjoyed running. My lungs weren’t accustomed to the mad dash I’d just done.

“Okay. It’s okay. You’re safe here.”

He nodded toward the tall guy, who got up and walked outside.

“Why don’t you come with me for a minute, okay?” he asked, his voice as gentle as the hand that touched my hip was.

I didn’t hesitate as he led me down the hall then into one of the bedrooms. His, I was assuming.

“Come here,” he said, leading me to the bed and pressing me down to sit. “You’re shaking. Just take a few deep breaths for me.”

“Running… not… strong… suit,” I gasped between breaths.