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3. KADENCE

KADENCE

1 Month Later | Somewhere Outside of Pine River, CA

Smoke billows from under the hood of my ’63 Mercury Comet. I’m honestly surprised I’ve made it through 3,078 miles, countless tanks of gas, horrible fast-food stops, and plenty of traffic. My backseat is filled with what’s left of my belongings after selling the townhome and most of its contents along with it. My entire life reduced down to two suitcases and this car.

“Shit,” I mutter, carefully pulling to the side of the road and flipping on the hazard lights. I know that white smoke typically means the radiator needs water. This smoke isn’t white and definitely doesn’t smell good either.

I check the side mirror before climbing out of the vehicle and popping the hood. I walk around to the front of the vehicle, propping the hood up, only to be met with a dark cloud of smoke. I cough and wave my hand in front of my face stumbling back to catch a breath of fresh air.

“Goddamnit.” Turning I look up and down the two-lane highway. There is nothing but desert and a few lone trees on either side of the road. It doesn’t help that I don’t remember the last time I’d seen a sign marking any sort of life in the future.

Slipping my phone from my pocket, I sigh. No Service stares back at me. We have electric cars, billionaires going to space, but shitty cell service in one of the most populated states in the US. Go figure.

I lean against the driver’s door, hoping for someone to pass by. The heat is already creating small beads of sweat on my forehead. I pull open my door, leaning over the seat to grab a bottle of water. Climbing back out of the car, I twist the cap off, chugging half the bottle before tossing it back through the window, keeping my eye on the road for anyone willing to stop and help me.

Two hours go by without seeing more than a few cars. I try waving them down, but instead, I’m met with a glare and tail lights. Each dismissal only makes the pit in my stomach grow larger and it doesn’t get any better when the sun starts to set. I won’t be able to see shit in the pitch-black night.

There are bigger things for me to be scared of though. Darkness is only temporary, and if I had to sleep in my car on the side of the road in whatever hell hole I drove myself into, I would. Anything is better than staying in Miami.

I climb back into the Comet, stretching out across the seat. My stomach rumbles softly as I try to get even the tiniest bit comfortable. I reach onto the floorboard, rummaging through the sack of snacks I bought three hundred miles ago. Whatever I pull from this bag will have to do until I can figure out what to do, but as I lift my hand, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed.

“Donuts for dinner it is then,” I sigh, pulling open the wrapper and stuffing one in my mouth. Another car passes by. Hearing it at the last second, I sit up with a mouth full of donut, glancing out of the back window and groaning before plopping back down into the seat.

A gust of wind passes through the car and a slight breeze slips through the cracks of the doors and windows. I love this car, but it's old and a part of me is surprised that it even made it across country in the first place. The man I bought it from was old enough to be my grandfather and I got the impression he bought it brand new off the lot. It’s definitely well taken care of other than whatever is going on with the engine, but even I can appreciate the amount of care he’s put into it for sixty years.

I reach into the backseat, unzipping my bag to try and find something to keep me warm. As I move clothes around, my gaze lands on the ear of the stuffed giraffe. It’s the only thing I took from the house other than my clothes and photographs from my childhood. Everything else I left. I have no interest in keeping any strings attached to my past life. It had been easy saying goodbye to that house. In fact, leaving that town was the easiest decision I ever made. The moment my eyes landed on that giraffe on my last walk through of the house, I couldn’t leave it. Not to that house. I couldn’t let it become another skeleton left to rot there alongside the painted safari animals.

I swallow the small lump growing in my throat as I grab my ratty University of Miami sweatshirt, quickly zipping the bag closed again. I shrug the sweatshirt over my head and shoulders. The black tank top and jeans I’m wearing do little to keep me warm as the night takes over. Settling into the seat I make sure the doors are locked, windows up, and the small, folded pocket knife I stole from Jeremy is tucked close by before curling back into the seat.

The stillness of the night starts to seep into the car around me in a shroud of fleeting comfort. The quiet, combined with knowing that he is thousands of miles away, unable to touch me, unable to convince everyone else I was the villain, had my eyes closing and soon the bucket seat of the Comet felt more safe than anything else right now.

I wake to what feels like sunshine beaming into the rear window of the car. My eyes peel open slightly and for a moment, I try to remember where I am and why it feels like God himself is pissing sunlight into my eyes.

Tap, tap, tap.

The noise coming from behind me makes me fly up out of my lying position to curl into the other side of the car. My breath catches in my throat as I grip the pocket knife in my hand. My eyes land on the source of the noise. A figure standing outside my window with hands up in mock surrender and wide eyes. Medium-length, sandy-blond locks brush over his cheeks as he leans down to my view.

We stare at each other for a moment before his hands come down to lean against the car.

“Ma’am, do you need help?” He asks, his voice muffled by the thin glass.

I glance around quickly, my eyes scanning the area, only to realize I had been asleep long enough for night to consume the land around me. I can’t see anything past the glare of his headlights.

“Miss?” The man asks again, his voice laced with concern.

My eyes meet his, my fingers white-knuckling around the knife in my pocket. His thick brows are furrowed, mouth set in a firm line under the gray patched beard.

“My car broke down…” I say, watching as he nods, glancing toward my still-open hood. “It started smoking and won’t crank over now,” I say with a shrug to try to hide the anxiety clawing at my throat. Ocean-blue eyes peer back at me, glowing in the darkness.

“I got a call about a car abandoned on the highway… Guess no one actually checked to see if anyone was inside.” He chuckles. “I can tow you into town if you want?”

I look back, realizing the lights my eyes are currently trying to battle are spotlights of a tow truck, its crane illuminated by the tail lights below it. My heart still races from him scaring me awake and my grip is still firm around the folded blade.

“How far is town?” I ask.

“About 30 miles, that direction,” he says, pointing towards the direction I was headed in the first place. I follow the direction of his finger, glancing down the roadway again. “I won’t hurt you, if that’s what you're worried about.”

I won’t hurt you.

I’ve heard that before.

My gaze flicks back to his own. I can only imagine what I look like right now. Eyes wide, the vein in my neck pulsing with my heartbeat. I probably look like a caged wild animal. But even still, I don't miss the sincerity in his voice and the soft look he gives me makes me believe him.

I nod. My grip loosens on the knife but keeps it firmly in the pocket of my sweatshirt. I unlock the driver's side door opposite him, climbing out and stretching out my body for a moment as he watches me. As I turn, the blue tow truck comes into view. O’Neil’s Towing and Garage . How convenient.

“What’s your name?” The timbre of his voice almost scares me again as he slowly makes his way around the rear of the vehicle. I stiffen at the sound and turn towards him. He stops in his tracks, catching the slight movement.

“Uhm…Kadence,” I say softly. “You said you got a call about my car?”

He smiles as I say my name and nods. “Yeah, people will call in abandoned vehicles to the sheriff’s department and they call me.”

I purse my lips together.

“Cole, by the way…” He takes another step towards me.

My hand finds my pocket, matching his step but backward. My fingers wrap around the handle of the pocket knife as he takes another step. I watch as his eyes flick down to the pocket of my sweatshirt; my heart begins to hammer again as he sighs.

“I’m just gonna get you hooked up if you wanna wait in the cab of the truck. I know it's cold.” He offers and I realize he thought I was cold. I’ll continue letting him think that. “You need anything from the car?”

“Y—yeah,” I stammer as I open the door again. Grabbing my phone, wallet and keys. When I turn around, he’s snuck his way around to my side of the vehicle, standing beside me by the rear door. “Jesus!” I gasp, almost dropping the items in my hand.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to freak you out.” Cole takes a step back again, eyes narrowing in on me for a moment, assessing my skittishness.

I close my eyes and steady myself against the car with a deep breath.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” He asks and I flash him a pointed look. He chuckles before tossing his head to the side towards the tow truck. “Door’s unlocked and the heat's on. It’ll only take a few minutes to get you loaded.”

I nod. “Thank you…” I say softly as I step around him, heading towards the truck. When I see him follow me, I stop, turning my body around. “What—”

Cole stops again, furrowing his brow before realizing what him following me looks like. “Gotta flip the truck around to get you hooked up.”

“Right.”

“If you wanna wait by the car till I’m done… you’re welcome to.” He offers again, a gentle smile spread across his face.

For a moment, I feel bad. This man is trying to help me and I’m treating him like he’s a serial killer. But that’s what life as a woman has come to, right? Fearing the idea of leaving the house at night, walking down the street alone. Normal things that men don’t even spare a second thought. But I can’t afford not to. I’ve spent four years not fighting back against someone who laced his bitterness and evil with an all-addicting love. I’m not about to let my guard down now.

“Yeah, I’ll do that…” I say, clutching my items closer to my chest as I lean against the car.

Cole smiles again. “No problem, Kadence.”

He disappears into the cab of the truck, and I watch as he pulls it in front of the Comet. Once he’s got it positioned the way he needs it, Cole hops out. His large frame climbs over the edge of the truck, lowering down the hook and chains to pick up the car.

“Door’s unlocked if you wanna climb in,” he yells over the rumble of his truck’s engine.

I nod, heading towards the cab. My eyes inadvertently watch him as I pass. He flashes me a pearly-white smile and gives me a reassuring nod before getting back to work. The man is attractive, I can’t deny that. I don't miss the ripple the muscles in his arm make as he pulls on the chains.

People thought Ted Bundy was attractive too.

My inner self scolds as I open the cab. A waft of what I can only describe as the scent of man, hits me. Spice, citrus, and motor oil fill my nose as I climb inside. Holding my belongings close to me, I pull out my phone, still no service and the battery slowly draining. I’ll have to see if I can charge it when we get to town.

After a few minutes, Cole climbs back into the cab with a huff and flashes me another smile before putting the truck into drive.

“Shouldn’t take us too long to get to town. I’ve got a garage there; I can take a look at the car in the morning,” he says, checking over his shoulder as he pulls onto the desolate highway.

I subtly scoot my body closer to the door as he begins to drive. “Sounds great,” I mutter. My tone is sharper than I intended, and my eyes slide shut. “Sorry, I’m sorry,” I say, glancing over to him. “It’s just been a long day.”

Cole just nods and doesn’t press me. “How long were you out there?”

I laugh. It's hollow and void of anything other than annoyance. “Since late afternoon?” I say and he sighs. “These roads aren’t very popular, I take it?”

He laughs softly. “Well, that and it’s small-town folk out here who are tired of tourists.”

My mouth sets in a firm line and I nod. “Yeah, I can tell,” I say, glancing back out the passenger window. A silence washes over us, filling the cab with unasked questions.

I glance over at him as he focuses on the road. It’s the first time I’ve really looked at him. His hair is tucked back behind his ears, and it shows off the beard that’s clearly hiding a chiseled jawline. Tattoos litter his body and arms, peeking out over the neck of his shirt. I notice a rather large tattoo of a wolf on his forearm; the lettering around it has faded slightly, and I can’t quite make out what it says in the dimly lit cab.

“What brings you to California?” He asks, breaking me from my trance.

Other than running from my abusive ex-boyfriend who murdered my child?

“Road trip,” I answer.

“You from around here?”

“Nope.”

He chuckles again, getting the hint at my short answers. “Not much of a talker, are ya?” Cole glances over to me before looking back at the road. My body is pressed against the passenger door, my eyes glued to the window.

“Like I said, long day,” I say softly.

He nods, not saying anything else.

It takes about twenty minutes for us to reach any sort of life. I see the brightly lit sign that reads Welcome to Pine River, Population 5394.

I never understood the point of population signs. They were littered all over Florida. The town I grew up in was about half the size of Pine River. The only thing population signs were good for was to show the life and death of a town.

“My shop isn’t too far from here,” Cole says, his voice cutting through the tension-filled silence in the cab.

I don't say anything, but as we pull up to the gate of the shop, Cole stops and hops out. I lean forward in the cab, watching him jog over and open the lot so he can pull in. O’Neil’s Towing and Garage is painted on the side of one of the three buildings that are gated in the lot. The other one looks to have Hell Hounds painted on the side of it with a mural of the same wolf tattooed on his arm. My stomach flips for a moment until I see a line of motorcycles parked up against the building.

“Ready?” He asks, climbing back into the cab and pulling the truck in.

“You guys do vehicles too?” I ask, and it sounds stupid coming out of my mouth.

Cole nods. “Cars, trucks, motorcycles… if it’s got an engine, we’ll fix it.” He pulls into one of the bays. “I’m gonna unload real quick and if you want to grab your things from the car, I’ll take ya over to the motel.”

“Thanks, Cole,” I say. He smiles again and it feels comforting and not at all terrifying.

Without another word he jumps from the cab and starts to unload the car for me. I open my phone, feeling it begin to vibrate with messages and notifications.

[maria] : haven’t heard from you. Just wanna know you’re safe.

[maria] : call me, Kade. Please.

I sigh softly. Maria has been keeping track of where I’ve been throughout my trip. Just mainly wanting me to check in every state or so. Maria Santos has been the one person who hasn’t condemned me for what Jeremy did. Never blamed me for the backlash he received, or lack thereof, but helped me stay safe. She’s been the only friend I’ve had in years that didn’t have to be approved by Jeremy.

just made it to California. I’m okay. I’ll call you in the morning.

I scroll through my other messages; there are a few from my mother. New photos of her and Dr. Watkins on their vacation to the Bahamas that simultaneously make my stomach sink and that familiar surge of anger brew. Two weeks. It took two weeks for Janice to sink her claws into him. I should be surprised. But I’m not. I’m sure I’ll get a call in two months, and it’ll be my mother sobbing on the other end about how it didn’t work out. Looking for sympathy that I stopped giving years ago.

I tuck my phone into my pocket and sigh before climbing out, grabbing the suitcase from my car after Cole gives me the okay that it's safe to get near the Comet. I carry it over to the truck, climbing back in, Cole following suit.

The ride to the motel is quiet and I know he’s curious about me. I can feel his questions and curiosity brewing. Instead, he drives straight to the motel like he said he would. My fingers occasionally wrap around the knife whenever he makes a quick movement or glances over at me.

The parking lot is barely vacant, with a few cars sporadically parked throughout. Cole stops the truck in front of the office and turns towards me. “You want me to wait till you get a room?” He asks, and my head snaps to him, my eyes wide, and I open my mouth, but before I can say anything, he shakes his head.

“No! I mean to make sure you make it in safely. Not for… that…” He waves his hand haphazardly.

“Oh!” I say, shaking my head with a small laugh. It’s the first time I’ve laughed for real since meeting him and he notices. “Uhm… sure. Gimme just a sec.”

I jump out of the truck, heading towards the office. The night receptionist is nice and sets me up with a room fairly quickly. Though more expensive than I would have liked, I don't plan on staying here long. Just long enough for the car to get fixed. He hands me the keys and smiles, pointing to my room along the row of doors. I thank him and head back outside.

Cole is still waiting, drumming along to some song he has turned up a little on the radio. I smile softly, opening the door. “I’m set up over there,” I say grabbing my things. “Thanks again for the ride.”

He smiles again at me. “No problem. Give me a little bit of time tomorrow to check out the car and I’ll swing by and pick you up, say around noon?”

I nod. “Sounds good.”

Cole taps the steering wheel and sighs. “Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

I watch the wolf flex over the ropes of muscles in his arms and nod.

“See you tomorrow.”

I shut the truck door and step back, heading towards the room. I glance back, the truck still idling in the parking lot. As I get to the door though and step inside, I see the tail lights light up the building as he pulls out.

The door shuts behind me and I lock the deadbolt, followed by the top lock; I can’t be too careful. I do a round throughout the room, checking the window is actually locked and close the curtains. After checking the closet and bathroom, I sit down on the edge of the bed.

The image of the wolf still dances around my mind. I’m not sure why I feel so drawn to it, but it feels familiar and safe. My mind races with my interaction with Cole.

I won’t hurt you.

What he said replays in my mind and it’s the first time in years that I trusted those words coming out of a man’s mouth.

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