“Drey.” Hunter grabbed my arm. “He’s going to do what he can. You can trust him.”
I knew I could. Hunter did, and Marshal had come through for him big-time when Hunter’s dad tried to kill him and kidnap his mother.
“She more than likely got out of town the same way she did before. Hitching. Cash-based. We’ll find her.” Marshal jutted his chin out at Hunter. “I’m going to make some calls and see if we can get one of our guys on Angelina and Lizzie, in case Nicco connects you to Sarah. Drey, we got someone with Damon, too.”
“Drey.” Hunter smacked my shoulder. “We’ll work it out.”
“How could she run? She left.”
“Hold on. Just hold on.” Hunter waved Marshal out of the room. “Drey. I saw her. She was scared. I thought it was about Damon at first, but now that I know what’s going on, it was different. You have to trust she wouldn’t leave for any other reason than to keep you safe. Right?”
“I can’t protect her if she’s apart from me.”
“I’m glad they didn’t get her.” Hunter shook my shoulder. “Yeah, she should have run to us, but look at what she’s been through, man. Seriously.”
I was glad Nicco didn’t get her. But why wouldn’t she come to me? To Hunter? She had to know we’d help her.
“She knows this Nicco. Sounds like he’s dangerous. She thought of you first by leaving. Trust that. Yeah, it might have been the wrong thing to do, but think about it. All she’s been through with that asshat. Her first worry was you, Drey. You and Damon.”
“Shit, man.”
“Marshal will stay on this for us. You know that, right?”
“I better…get back to Damon.”
Chapter Forty-One
Sarah
“Awesomefrog,”alittlegirl said to me from over the seat in front of me. “What’s his name?”
I swiped the tears from my eyes and hopefully smiled at the girl. I wasn’t sure it came out that way, but I gave it an effort. “Drey.”
“Funny name for a frog.” She giggled.
I wanted to giggle, but I didn’t foresee any laughing in my future any time soon. I’d been on this darn bus for more than four hours, and I had a few to go to get to Rena.
I’d taken enough of a chance running to the apartment to get my bag of cash, but it paid off. I got to bring with me one of the best memories of my time with Drey. The night he won this for me. So, I had the clothes I was wearing, my backpack of cash, and my frog.
Nothing else.
Well, not quitenothingelse. I had Drey’s ring. I probably should have left it in the apartment for him next to my phone. But I wanted to keep it. I was his forever. So I’d wear this forever. Plus, if Nicco got into my apartment and found a ring, he’d know I got close to someone and he might freak.
Wait, shit, maybe he saw it at the hospital? Walker probably knew about Drey.Shit!No. No. No. I had to believe Nicco would come after me. It was me he wanted.
An unease twisted my stomach at the thought of Drey being hurt as a result of Nicco finding out about our engagement.
Damn it, I was stupid. Stupid for opening up. Stupid for ever thinking I could truly be free of Nicco.
I closed my eyes and pictured Drey. His lips. His face. His…everything. If I fell asleep thinking of him, I wouldn’t have any nightmares. Not that I’d sleep soundly on a bus, especially with a punk kid staring at me.
A nudge woke me, and I realized I’d fallen to the side, leaning on the frog, and the bus was slowing down. The girl popped over the back of her seat again. “We’re here! Can I touch your frog again?”
“Honey, shush. Leave the girl alone.” The mom peeked around the side of her chair. “Sorry, dear.”
“It’s fine.” I sat up. Dawn was starting to lighten the sky. I couldn’t wait to see the lake I’d read about online. It was the only thing separating the small, po-dunk town from Canada. But from the pictures I’d seen, it was amazing.
Though it’d be much better with Drey by my side. That much I knew for certain.