Camryn

At first, it was an adjustment to get used to Derek being gone. I felt paranoid, looking over my shoulder and constantly making sure the door was locked and the alarm was set. I hated the thought that Robby was still out there, even if he was in an entirely different country.

Slowly, I relaxed, though. He didn't know we were here. He didn't even know if we were alive. For all I knew, he truly believed we'd been kidnapped and wouldn't even be looking for us. I was exceptionally careful leading up to this, and I had to keep reminding myself that we were safe. Someday, I wouldn't be so crazy. Someday, I'd be able to put all of this behind me. Someday, the idea of sitting in a fancy apartment with my daughter in a fun, new city wouldn't give me an anxiety attack.

Riley and I watched movies and played games, and we baked all kinds of goodies. Right now, she was fast asleep after a sugar crash from eating far too many brownies for breakfast. She ate eggs, too, but I figured I could indulge her a little. Her entire world was turned upside down, and she'd been subjected to some really awful experiences before that. It still shattered me to know that she saw some of what Robby had done to me. I couldn't go back now, though. This entire thing was about leaving the past behind us, and moving forward was what I needed to focus on.

I turned the TV on for a minute, flipping through channels until I could find something from back home. Our story was a national headline, and I wanted to see what they were saying. Finally, I landed on a channel that had a picture of Riley and me on.

"Robby Hastings was released yesterday after being arrested earlier in the day. His wife and daughter are still missing and this morning. We're learning more about the case. Sources say that the police are trying to cover up several crimes Hastings has committed. Their initial reports were leaked early this morning and show that they found substantial amounts of blood in the house and in the back of Hastings' car. Friends of Camryn report Robby abused her for years and that they believe he has done something to her. Robby was recently put on leave with his job as a detective due to misuse of force during several arrests."

I shut it off, not wanting to hear anymore. I wondered who these "friends" of mine were that they were talking about. Most of my friends were the wives of Robby's friends and were probably just coming forward now because they thought they could get attention for it. If they knew he was beating the shit out of me, why hadn't they said something sooner? The whole thing was irritating to me and the more I sat here and watched it, the more fired up I got.

My phone pinged with a text from Derek. I successfully avoided talking to him last night, but it wouldn't be so easy today. He was perceptive, and he knew that mind was swirling. He wanted me to tell him what I was thinking, but the only problem was that it was him. Derek was what was on my mind. Constantly.

Part of me worried he was having second thoughts, but another part of me missed him. I knew how crazy that was. I'd only known him a few weeks, and he'd only been with us for a few days. It took no time at all for me to get attached to him and, if he was distancing himself, I needed to prepare myself for that. I needed to take a step back and regroup. This was about getting out of a relationship, not jumping right into one.

Derek was the type of person I could imagine myself with. He was sweet and respectful, but also intimating and protective when he needed to be. The way he was with Riley made me want to jump right into bed with him and make ten more babies. He already loved her in a way Robby never could. He made me feel safe and confident, and the faith he had in me was overwhelming. But I had to keep site of reality here. We were a job to him. Getting Riley and me to safety was his goal, and he got carried away for a few minutes. It wouldn't be like this forever and whatever connection or chemistry we had would probably disappear when circumstances changed.

I opened his text, hesitant about whether I was going to respond.

Can I call?

I sighed heavily. It wasn't like I could avoid him forever.

I pressed the call button, and he picked up on the first ring.

"Good morning."

"Good morning." I smiled, opening the patio door. I didn't want to risk waking Riley up.

"How are you guys doing? Did you sleep okay?"

"I did. Like a rock, actually. It's so quiet here."

"Thats one of my favorite things about it." He said. "And Riley?"

"Riley is good. She's taking a nap now."

"A nap?" He chuckled. "She's usually so busy I didn't realize she took naps. Did you drug her?"

"With sugar." I smiled. "We did a lot of baking yesterday and had brownies for breakfast."

"Now I'm really sad I'm not there."

He paused, waiting for me to respond.

"How are you doing? You seemed a little off when I left yesterday."

There it was. I knew he'd want me to tell him what I was thinking, but I didn't really want to. I felt embarrassed and frustrated and certainly didn't want to have this conversation while the wounds were still fresh.

"I'm fine, Derek. Really." I assured him. "I was a little nervous about being alone, but we're doing good. Better than I expected."

"Are you sure? Because it seemed like more."

"I'm sure. I'm fine. How are things there? Did you get any work done?"

Derek hesitated, still debating whether to continue to press me or to move on. Luckily, he chose the latter.

"A little. I have a meeting here in a few minutes."

"Good. I won't keep you then. I hope it goes well."

"Thanks Cam. If everything goes according to plan, I'll be back late tomorrow night."

"Take your time."

"Okay." HIs voice was flat. "I'll call you later."

"Bye Derek."

"Bye."

The line clicked off. Derek was frustrated with my lack of interaction, but I was just trying to give him the space he wanted. I was trying to save us both the awkward conversation of him having to tell me I thought there was more between us than there was. This had to be professional.

I needed a little change of scenery today. My irritation with the investigation and the awkwardness between Derek and me was too much. Getting out of the house for some fresh air would do me a world of good, and with Mrs. Leonard coming over for Riley's first day of home school, it might be the perfect opportunity.

I got Mrs. Leonard and Riley settled and then told Tyler, Derek's security guy, my plan. He was more than happy to get out of the house, and I felt much safer with him. We left the apartment and walked along a market down by the water. It was a beautiful day, and it felt so good to be out. The fresh sea air was already doing wonders for my mental state, and I realized I needed to make it a point to do this more often.

I did things on my own when I was with Robby, but most of the time, it revolved around him. Running his errands, cleaning his house, trying to make the world around him perfect in hopes it would make him happy. It was rare I actually got a moment to myself to just breathe, and today, walking along the shore and visiting little farmer's market stands was everything I envisioned and more.

Tyler trailed close behind me but gave me my space, which I was thankful for. I bought all kinds of fresh produce and picked up a box of cherries. Riley loved them and it would be the perfect snack to celebrate her first day of home school.

My phone rang in my pocket, and I pulled it out, expecting it to be Derek. Instead, a text from a number I didn't recognize came through. I frowned, opening it up and looking at the picture.

It took me a minute to realize what I was seeing. It was me, walking through the market, taken just a few seconds ago while I was buying the cherries. Oh, my god.

I dropped my phone to the ground, shattering the screen as I desperately looked around in all directions. My chest got tight as I tried to focus on breathing. There was no doubt in my mind who'd sent the picture.

"Camryn? Is everything okay?" Tyler asked.

"No." I whispered as I bent down and picked my phone back up. I handed it to Tyler, who tried to see the picture through the cracked screen.

"It's him. It has to be Robby. He's here."

Tyler reached for the gun on his waste band and stood in front of me. He grabbed my hand and pulled me behind a building.

"Stay close." He ordered, leading us through a maze of alleys. I kept looking back over my shoulder, expecting to see Robby standing there.

I should have known this would never work. Derek was wrong. The Hastings had reach wider than either of us could ever imagine and he found me. He couldn't protect us and I was stupid to think that he could.

Tyler got us back to the apartment building, and we hurried inside. He locked the doors tight, and I immediately went to check on Riley. Mrs. Leonard assured us that nothing out of the ordinary had happened and that they had had a fun afternoon. That was a slight relief, but how long would that last? How much longer until he found us here, just like he did in the marketplace?

"Everything is secure." Tyler whispered. "I'm going to call Derek, okay?"

I nodded, sitting down on the couch next to Riley. I wouldn't let her out of my sight.

So much for my peaceful afternoon. Every sense of peace and freedom I had just come crashing down all around me.

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***If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence of any kind, please reach out to someone in your community. In the US, that number is 1-800-799-7233**