Prologue

A my woke with a start. Something wasn't quite right. It was too quiet. Opening one eye, she realized the bed was empty next to her.

"Ryan?" She sat up and stretched her arms over her head.

He stepped inside the door to the hotel room from outside, no doubt having a late-night cigarette. When she looked at him, she knew why she'd allowed him to push her around for the past few months. God, he was gorgeous. The man had everything. Looks and a job that paid well enough that he constantly bought her things. Most importantly, he was her ticket to staying out of her small hometown of Hidden Creek.

Then she noticed the look on his face.

"What's wrong?" She sat up a little more.

"Seriously? You can ask me that?" Ryan shook his head. "Whatever, I'm out of here." He tossed some things quickly into his backpack.

"What?" She blinked a few times. "Why?"

Ryan glanced over his shoulder at her as if she was crazy. Then he laughed and sighed. "Don't be crazy. I've got to." He slipped on his jacket and glanced at the door.

"You're serious?" she asked, jumping up from the bed.

"And you weren't?" Ryan asked without looking back at her. "Crazy bitch," he mumbled as he slammed the door behind him.

If she'd been paying attention, she would have seen the look of hurt in his eyes as he bolted out the door, leaving her there, stranded. Instead, she watched him go and felt her chances of ever leaving the vortex that was her hometown slip out of her fingers.