Chapter 47

HARPER

C hristian and Lyla were called away by some visitors from out of town. I wanted another drink, and no waiters were walking around with champagne anymore, maybe because the party seemed to be coming to a close.

I wondered if the bar was still open.

I rose and made my way to the front entrance, rounding the corner toward the bar, when suddenly, a sight so unexpected it took my breath away.

Time stilled as my mind moved faster than my body could. I was frozen unable to move, to run, or speak.

I felt warm drips falling from my eyes as my body began to shake uncontrollably.

Don't cry. Don't cry. Now is not the time Harper. Move. Get out of here! I screamed in my head trying to will myself to do something, to do anything.

Suddenly, all the things that I had found today came rushing to my head. The emails, the extensive background check, stalking me at my jobs.

I did this. I let my guard down and let myself become vulnerable. If I wasn't so distracted I could have seen the signs. Maybe this wouldn't be happening.

"Think Harper. Think. What do I do?" I whispered to myself. I attempted to muster the courage to act.

RUN.

I turned on my heels searching for the nearest exit and darted towards it. I ran faster than I thought I could in heels, nearly stumbling over myself as I approached the guards at the revolving door. I slowed my speed praying that they didn't try to stop me. If this was the plan all along. I needed to be one step ahead of them all.

I stood up, inhaled deeply, smoothed my dress, ran my fingers through my tousled hair, wiped away the tears from my cheeks, and pushed the door open to leave.

There were two huge guards just outside the door to greet me, and in my clumsy Harper fashion, just as I felt the summer breeze hit my face I tripped over the fabric of my dress and fell right into the arms of one of them. His touch made me stiffen, and panic surged within me even more than before. He steadied me and then released my arms.

"You alright miss?" he said with deep concern in his eyes.

"Yes. clumsy me. I'll be fine." I walked away slowly, trying not to look any more out of place than I already felt I did.

Just around the building, there was an alleyway. Considering I was on an open, busy street, an alleyway would be the quickest and safest route to be unseen, and with any luck, I could escape safely.

I entered the dim alley where only a single streetlamp offered light, its glow flickering sporadically in the darkness. It was wet and smelled of mildew and I could hear something wrestling plastic inside the dumpster nearby.

Pausing just outside the street's view, a wave of fear overwhelmed me, as heavy as a ton of bricks. I hadn't been down any alleyways since I was a teenager the night those bastards took me. I swallowed hard and pushed forward.

This is not my end. I will not let them hurt me again.

With my eyes closed, I took a deep breath, and walked slowly, startling at every sound and shadow. I hugged myself tightly, trying to stay calm. I did my best to block out all the noises and the creaking that seemed to come from behind the big doors attached to the side of the building. At last, I made it to the end.

I was surprised that the path ended at a bustling shopping mall right in downtown Miami. Since it was Saturday night, the place was packed with people and last-minute shoppers. I took a deep breath of relief and ducked off into a coffee shop nearby to use the restroom and clean the streaked makeup from my face before I made my next move.

I was comforted to find it was a single-person facility. After locking the door, I turned and pressed my back against it, sliding down until I was crouched on the floor, my face buried in my knees, as I sobbed uncontrollably.

How did I not see this coming? How could I be so blind? Was everything a lie?

I stayed there on the floor for I don't know how long when my tears had run dry. I needed to get up and get away from there and fast. There was no time to feel sorry for myself.

Where should I go? Aster's plane won't arrive until tomorrow afternoon. I needed to find a safe place to stay, but Jasper knew everything, where I lived, worked, and shopped. There wasn't one place I could go and be safe from being found by any of them.

In another panic, I remembered the studio apartment upstairs in the bookstore. No one knew it was there. Back in the day, the room was used as a safe house for battered women.

Since his wife passed old man Frank said he didn't use it much because battered women had a hard time trusting male figures due to their trauma. I recall reflecting on the accuracy of his thoughts.

I reached down into my clutch saying a silent prayer that I threw my key chain into it before leaving, when my hand slipped over cold metal. I threw my head back and let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding.

Okay, I'll send for an Uber, get to the bookstore, and hide out until tomorrow morning before anyone shows up to the shop to open. Then I head straight to the airport and wait for Aster.

This has to work.

Even Jasper's secret investigator couldn't be aware of the studio apartment.

This will work.

The Uber app notification alerted me that my driver was outside. I threw some water on my face and went for the door. Unlocking it slowly then easing the door open. Looking around for anyone that looked suspicious, I darted for the door. Enrique, my driver, waited in the navy blue sedan, parked by the front door.

Thank God .

"Are you Harper?" he said in broken English as I slid into the back seat, closing the door quickly and locking it behind me.

"Yes sir." I rushed to answer hoping he would sense my urgency and hit the gas.

He gradually merged into traffic, making his way toward the bookstore. I watched him obey the speed limit and stop at every yellow light. Under normal circumstances, I would value the precautions taken for my safety, but not tonight. In the night darkness of Miami's nightlife, amongst a sea of vehicles, anxiety about being found picked at me. The likelihood of being located was slim, and this realization brought some relief until a cringing thought crossed my mind.

What if his investigator person hacked my phone and could track my whereabouts or my app usage?

Shit.

I didn't even think about that.

"Sir, could you stop here? I'd like to get out." I told the driver.

he looked at me like I was insane.

"Here?" he asked with his voice laced with Hesitation.

I wasn't sure why until I looked around and realized we were still on the interstate.

"Um, take the first exit you can, and I will get out there." I smiled trying not to look like a psycho.

"Yes ma'am," he said as he mumbled something in another language. I couldn't help but agree with whatever he said.

A short time later we rolled to a stop on an exit ramp.

"Here miss?" he questioned with raised eyebrows.

"Thanks. I'll leave you five stars. Have a good night." I shouted as I leaped out of the car, accidentally slamming the door harder than I meant to.

I was out in the open on a desolate service road but somehow, I felt safer than I was in that car with the potential of being tracked. When I got out of the car, I turned my phone off. Then thought better of it and threw it across the road into a wooded area.

I glanced down at my body which was still clothed in the deep purple fabric that glistened in the moonlight and there was no way my feet were letting me forget the six-inch heels I had been walking in.

My attention was drawn to what seemed to be a Salvation Army donation box, situated at the edge of an empty parking lot beside a grocery store. Normally, these things are locked up, but there was an open cardboard box sitting close by.

Approaching the box, I could tell it was filled with household goods and several pieces of clothing. Grasping a piece of fabric that seemed thick, I lifted it towards the faint light trickling from a nearby streetlamp. The sweatshirt was way too big for me, but given the circumstances, I had to make do with what I could find.

I threw the sweater on over my head. The shirt came past my knees and the neck was stretched so far that it barely stayed on my shoulders.

It didn't take me long to walk the two-and-a-half miles to the bookstore once I finally ditched the heels. I reached into my purse, grabbed the keys, and clenched them tightly as I walked the last two blocks of my awful journey to safety. The street was deserted, which wasn't unexpected considering the neighborhood and the late hour.

I let out a breathy sigh and raised my leg to cross the street, just a few feet from my sanctuary. A strange whistle sounded from behind me, and as I turned to look, my world plunged into darkness.