Chapter Twenty

Grace

I lifted Ella into my arms and carried her out to the cab, waiting at the end of the dark driveway. As I did, I told myself not to cry.

Maybe I’d see Cullen again. Maybe, in another few months, things would calm down, and I could come back. Part of me was also hoping that he’d decide I mattered more than his club, follow after me, and maybe decide to stay with me.

I knew that wouldn’t happen. I wasn’t stupid. His club was his family, and the Fury had shit all over his family. I wanted him to make them pay. They deserved it.

I just knew I couldn’t be around for it.

When I got to the cab at the end of the driveway, I started to open the door. Just then, a car pulled in right behind us, two headlights slashing through the dark, momentarily blinding me. I squinted as the driver’s side door opened.

Cullen jumped out, leaving the door open as he came around toward me. “Where do you think you’re going?”

I sucked in a breath. “I’m sorry, Cullen, I have to leave.”

He moved closer and barred me from the door. “Like hell.”

“Cullen . . .”

I stopped as the driver’s side door of the cab opened and the driver got out. He waved his cell phone. “Miss. Is this man bothering you?” He eyed Cullen like he was a thug or something.

I shook my head. “No, it’s fine.”

He eyed me suspiciously as Cullen got in a fighting stance. “Get back in the car, old man,” he warned, his eyes flashing to mine.

I rolled my eyes. “Do you really have to be a douche to everyone outside your little circle of friends?” The driver didn’t budge, gauging the situation, his finger at the ready to press the emergency button on his phone. “Cullen, please move aside.”

I tried to shove him a little, but that was like moving a mountain. It was no contest. He leaned against the door and crossed his arms.

“No. You’re staying here. I’m not letting you go again.”

I shook my head. “Please Cullen. Let me go. I know you have to stay. I don’t blame you. But I can’t be here. Ella can’t be here. Just . . . be safe, okay? Don’t get killed or something.”

He lifted off the car and threw his arms up. “Why? Didn’t we already go over this? You said you wouldn’t leave again. And here you are, leaving.”

“You know why. It’s too dangerous for Ella.”

He started to move aside, his jaw working, a pissed-off expression on his face, when a voice called in the distance. “Grace! Grace! Is that you? Everything okay?”

Cullen whipped his head in the direction of the sound, and I craned my neck over the bulk of his build to see Barry standing at her mailbox, straining to see us in the light. Now Cullen had fire in his eyes and focused on her. “Jesus. Why the fuck is everyone in our business?”

”Maybe if you didn’t stop fixing everyone you didn’t know with a death-stare, they’d be more friendly?” I asked. Then I called over in a light voice, to show her just how fine everything was. “Everything’s fine, Mrs. Sumter.”

“Oh, Grace. It’s so late. I was worried about you. That poor little baby of yours sure is having a long night. Let us know if you ever need anything!”

“Thank you!” I called over, waving at her. “I’ve got it under control!” Fuck, I figured child protective services would be paying a visit soon.

“Jesus. They all think I’m trying to kidnap you,” he muttered. “In front of my own goddamn house. Come on. Come inside.”

I shook my head and stood firm. If I went back in the house with him, my plans of escape would be all over. “No. I’m sorry, Cullen.”

His eyes flashed to Ella, sound asleep on my shoulder. “I don’t get it. Where do you think you’re going anyway?”

“What can’t you get, Cullen? I need to get away. You know I’m not safe here. This driver is taking me to L.A.”

His eyes narrowed. “L.A.? Where in L.A?”

“I don’t know. I thought I’d just find a hotel.”

He let out a breath that was partly an ironic laugh. “Since when is that safe? And how will I know when you get there?”

“I’ll call you,” I told him. “I promise.”

He stood there, hands on hips, jaw clenching and unclenching. Then his eyes flashed to the driver and he lifted his hands in surrender. “Back in the car, old man. I’m not touching her. See?”

The old man’s eyes volleyed between us, and I nodded. “Tell me when you’re ready,” he said to me as he slowly slipped back into the cab.

“This isn’t right,” Cullen muttered, and I saw what was in his mind, as clear as day. The last time I’d skipped out of his life, he hadn’t been able to find me. What if I disappeared again?

“I don’t have a choice,” I said, looking down at Ella. “Especially where she is concerned. You know L.A. will be safer.”

“No. I don’t know that,” he snapped. “Yeah, someplace out of town is probably a good idea. But I’ll take you. You understand? I’m not letting you go that easily.”

Some where he can keep tabs on me and make sure we don’t disappear. I nodded. “Okay.”

I turned, opened the door, and looked inside at the driver. “Thank you for waiting. I won’t be needing a ride after all.”

The man shook his head slowly, his eyes narrowing in the rearview mirror at Cullen. “Aw, sweetheart. You take care of yourself and that little cutie.”

I smiled. That was the aim, anyway.

Cullen said, “Let me just change my shirt and we can go.”

Cullen took my suitcase out of the cab and put it in the back of the car, an old muscle car from the sixties, a Charger, maybe? It smelled strongly of motor oil, which made me think he must’ve borrowed it from the garage where he used to work. Cullen went inside, changed out of his bloody shirt, got one of the car seats he’d bought, and fit it into the back of the car.

We fit Ella into the seat and buckled her up, but she barely stirred.

I slid into the front, beside him, as he put his hand on the stick shift and threw the car in reverse. As he did, I saw Barry’s form silhouetted in the front door of her house, watching us. She was probably thinking that we were some damn crazy neighbors.

She really only knew the half of it.