Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

Carter

“W hat are we doing?” Ashley asked as he pulled into a hotel.

He’d driven most of the day, stopping only twice to use the bathroom and get more food. Ashley hadn’t slept like he’d hoped.

Last night, or this morning, whichever way you looked at it, had terrified her. When she hadn’t realized it was him getting her out of the closet, he’d worried she’d go into shock, but she had come out of it.

“Getting some rest since you won’t sleep in the car.” He meant the words to tease.

“I’m sorry. I’ve never been able to sleep in a car.”

He sighed and turned to her. “Stop apologizing to me,” he reminded her. “Now, we are married. Mr. and Mrs. Jones.”

“Got it.”

He watched her steel her spine and slip a mask into place before he got out. She waited for him to go to her door and help her out.

The check-in process was quick, and they had a second-floor room in no time. He would have preferred the first, but near the stairs on the second was the best he could do here.

After checking the room, he urged her to shower while he called Matt and Ryker.

“Where are you?” Ryker answered the phone.

“A hotel. Can you conference Matt in so we can do this one time?”

Ryer huffed but added Matt to the call.

“I’d like to know how that guy was able to avoid the cameras.” It didn’t make sense.

“We’re looking into that. He shouldn’t have been able to do any of that.”

“Where are you going?” Ryker asked.

“My place in Tennessee.” He couldn’t think of anywhere safer to take her.

“That’s a risk,” Matt said. “Having her in your own place. I can come up with another safe house.”

“Until we know how he found us and avoided cameras, I want people around that I can trust, and no one sleeps for long on a ranch.”

“Fine,” Ryker said.

“We don’t have any phones. I left everything behind because I don’t know how he got to us.”

“How’s Ashley taking this?” Ryker asked.

“She’s terrified. Hasn’t eaten unless I’ve made her, same with drinking anything. I’m hoping getting out of the car will help.”

“I’ve got your location and am going to send you another vehicle. I’ll have the keys left at the front desk.” Ryker was annoyed, but then he always sounded that way.

“Thanks. Stick a phone in there.”

“On it.” That was from Matt.

“I definitely got a shot off on him, arm or maybe shoulder. Check hospitals for him. I want this fucker found.”

“He say anything?” Ryker asked.

He kept his voice low even though the shower was still running. “That this was all my fault and I just needed to leave her alone. Ashley is feeling guilty about him wanting to hurt me.”

“That’s what you’re there for,” Ryker said.

“Well, the hope was not to have any actual danger,” Matt admitted.

“I’ll let you know if anything changes and will text when I have the phone. We are going to crash here for a bit and then get back on the road.”

“New IDs and cards will be in the car for both of you,” Matt added.

“Thanks.”

Hanging up the hotel phone, he leaned back in the chair and pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking of what had happened. Julian had snuck up on him and that should never have happened. Then, he’d wanted to go after him but wasn’t leaving Ashley alone.

Seeing her scared form curled up in the closet was something he wouldn’t forget anytime soon. She hadn’t recognized him at all, just all fear.

After a few more minutes, he went to the bathroom and knocked on the door, checking on her. She didn’t respond, and he called out for her.

Not wanting to intrude but needing to check on her because she’d been in there with the water running for nearly half an hour, he tried the doorknob. It opened easily, and he said her name again.

Stepping in, calling out for her, he heard a whimper. Carter pulled back the shower curtain, finding her sitting in the back of the tub, the water hitting her feet and her knees pulled up to her chest.

“Ashley?” He tried her name again.

She shook her head, showing she’d at least heard him.

“Come on, baby. Let’s get out.”

Another shake of her head.

He reached over and turned the water off. “Can you look at me?”

Her naked body was starting to shiver even as he spoke, but again, she shook her head.

“I’m going to help you out, okay?”

No response.

He looked around the bathroom and grabbed a towel off the rack, dropping it over her before lifting her out of the tub. “I’ve got you.”

Her arms came up around his neck and held on tight. Carter carried her to the bed and pulled the covers back with one hand.

When he laid her on the bed, she refused to let go of him, tears still falling from her closed eyes.

“I’m not leaving, baby. I promise. Let go for just a minute so I can lie down with you.”

She was wet and cold with a towel that barely covered her at this point. The second she let go of him, he pulled back and kicked his shoes off before sliding down next to her.

Ashley didn’t move, and he pulled her to his chest, her wet hair cold against his shirt. Carter pulled the blankets up over them and held her tightly as she seemed to want. He wanted it, too, wanted to keep her safe with him.

It took another hour for her body to relax and him to be content that she was finally asleep. She needed it. He did, too, for that matter.

He let himself doze in and out of sleep, never hitting that deep sleep his body craved for a few hours. Still no confirmation that Julian wasn’t following, he wasn’t willing to slip into that kind of sleep that would keep him from being aware of what was happening around him.

Ashley stirred next to him, and he tensed. Her breathing against his chest changed, and he knew she was waking up. It was dark outside now, and the room had only the bathroom light on.

“You’re okay.” He spoke to let her know he was there.

She stiffened and pulled away. “Sorry. I don’t know how I ended up on top of you.”

Carter chuckled. “Hardly on top of.”

He knew the moment she realized she wasn’t dressed because she backed farther away and muttered.

“Calm down,” he urged. “You had a panic attack or something in the shower. You’re safe here.”

“I-I don’t remember the shower.”

“It’s okay. You can take another and then get dressed when you’re ready.” Unable to stop himself, he turned on his side to face her and reached out to tuck some of her hair behind her ear.

“I’m not dressed,” she said.

“You’re not,” he confirmed. “It’s okay, though. Are you feeling better?”

“I feel like I’m embarrassed and like there’s sandpaper in my eyelids.”

“You cried a lot,” he told her. “I’ve got you, though. Nothing is going to happen while I’m with you.”

“I know.” She nodded. “When are we leaving again?”

“As soon as you’re ready to go. No rush.”

“Okay. I guess I’ll go shower again.” She rolled to the other side of the bed, and Carter lay on his back again.

Staring at the ceiling, he called out to her, “Ashley, leave the door cracked?”

She didn’t answer, but while the light from the bathroom got dimmer, the door didn’t close. Satisfied that she’d be okay this time, Carter stood and went back to the phone.

He called the front desk and confirmed that new keys were dropped off for him. After asking about restaurants in the area that he had no intention of trying, he hung up. The receptionist wouldn’t know that they were checking out.

“Ashley?” he called.

“I’m good,” she called back.

A few minutes later, a fully dressed Ashley stepped from the bathroom trying to run a brush through her hair. He watched her struggle with it for a few seconds before going to her.

“Sit down,” he told her, taking the brush from her hand.

Never had he brushed someone else’s hair, but he was confident he’d be able to help her. He carefully brushed the tangles that had probably been caused by getting in the bed after her first attempt at a shower.

When the brush ran through her hair without snagging, he handed it back to her. “Feel better?”

“A lot.” She took the brush. “Thank you, for everything.”

“Always.” He meant it. “Let’s get ready to go. Give me a minute in the bathroom.”

Carter slipped away from her and quickly brushed his teeth and washed his face. Feeling more awake, he grabbed his bag and her hand.

“We’re going to dinner,” he whispered, realizing he’d forgotten to tell her the plan. “Getting new rental keys from the front desk.”

“I won’t say anything,” she told him.

It was for the best, but he hated that they were in this position.

Getting the keys was a quick exchange, and he led Ashley to the new car, clicking the lock button in the parking lot to find it. Once they were in and on the road, he called Ryker.

“In the car and have the phone.”

“How’s Ashley?”

“She’s right here.” He hoped Ryker understood that meant she could hear him.

“You doing okay?” Ryker asked her.

“As okay as I can be,” she answered.

“Well, make sure you stick with Carter and get something to eat. You need to keep your energy up.”

Carter sighed. Ryker made it sound like something was about to happen again. “He means not to get dehydrated or anything.”

“Okay.” Ashley sunk into the seat a little further.

“I’ll let you know when we get to our destination.”

“Stop again later and take the long way.” Ryker was clicking a pen on the other end of the line and the noise was filling the car. “He hasn’t checked into a hospital and is really in the wind.”

“Got it.” Carter ended the call. “Go through that glove box and see what we’ve got in there,” he told Ashley.

She opened it and pulled out a big envelope. “Looks like we’re Mr. and Mrs. Thompson now. There’s some cash and some credit cards.”

He shifted in his seat and pulled out his wallet. “Take all the things out of there and put the new stuff in.”

Ashley did as he asked. “What about your stuff?”

“Stick it in the envelope and back in the glove box.”

Once that was done, the car was silent for a little ways.

“Where are we going?” Ashley asked.

“My ranch.” He held his breath, wondering what she’d have to say about that.

“Like, you’re actual home?”

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“Safest place I can think of to take you. Is it a problem?”

“What? No. I just know this is more than you thought it would be and now I’ll really be invading your life.”

“I don’t think you’re invading my life. There are other places we could go, but I know the area and I know the people. No one will bother you, but no one will be able to sneak up on us.” That and he didn’t hate the idea of having her in his home.

“Will I get to meet your horse?” she asked with a smile.

“If you want to. We can even go for a ride.” Eventually anyway.

“I’ve never been on a horse,” she told him. “Actually, I’ve never been near a horse.”

They spent the next several miles talking about horses. He was comfortable with this conversation and answering her questions. In the end, she agreed to let him take her for a ride.