Chapter Two
Nia closed and locked the hotel door after the last police officer left. They had all been so nice to her. She didn’t know why five of them had to take her to the hotel, but she wasn’t going to complain.
She was even thrilled they helped pack her bags in her car, and one of them drove it to the hotel so she would have it while she rode with one of the officers.
Officer Jones called Kaleb when they got to her room and told him she was there, and then Kaleb told her to get some sleep. They’d figure out a way to get her to them in the morning.
Nia spent two hours pacing in her hotel room. She had an overwhelming sense of doom that made her want to run. The longer she stayed in the city, the more frightened she became.
At one o’clock in the morning, she decided to start heading toward Arkansas. She knew she wouldn’t sleep, and she’d just keep getting more worked up the longer she stayed in the hotel room.
She packed the few things she’d taken out of her bag when she got there and walked out.
As she strolled out of the elevator, she started to second-guess herself. The shadows and absolute silence of the hotel lobby made goosebumps appear on her arms. Looking around, she couldn’t see any type of threat, so she hurriedly walked out and got in her car.
She pulled out of the parking lot and headed south. In the hours that followed, she stopped a few times for coffee and gas but kept on driving.
It was nine o’clock in the morning when she called Aleena.
“Hey, how did you sleep?”
Nia smiled. “I haven’t.”
“You haven’t slept?” Aleena asked in concern.
“No. I’m too worked up. You know how I get.”
“Yes. I should have thought you’d have insomnia. Kaleb is making plans to have someone come get you.”
“Oh, no. Tell him I’m doing okay. I’m actually in Colorado right now. At least I think I am.”
“Oh, no.”
Nia heard the worry in her friend’s tone. “What?”
“My daddy wants you safe, and when he finds out you took off on your own, he’s going to be angry and worried.”
Nia smiled when Aleena called Kaleb her daddy. It had taken a while to get used to it, but once she’d read up on the type of lifestyle, she knew it was perfect for her friend. “He won’t get mad at you, right?”
“Oh, no. You’ll be the one in trouble.”
Nia giggled. “What can he do to me?”
“Punish you.”
Nia’s stomach tightened. “What? He can’t do that … can he?”
“Oh, yes. He’s taking responsibility for you.”
“I didn’t ask him to.”
“Since you’re my best friend and you’re on your own, he took it upon himself, but I’m glad he did. You need someone to take care of you for once. You’ve always taken care of everyone else.”
“I can’t depend on your daddy. I have to learn to live on my own.”
“No, you don’t. You’ll be staying here until you and daddy figure out your future.”
As much as she wanted to spend time with Aleena, she wouldn’t impose on them.