2

"Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, hurry!"

Bella resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she rushed out of her bedroom with her wool hat in one hands and a pair of gloves in the other. Charlie was standing next to the front door with her coat, hat, and gloves already on.

"Why can't you move that fast when getting ready for school?" Bella asked, laughing at the way her daughter glared at her as she slipped her gloves onto her hands.

"Because school's boring," Charlie quipped, folding her arms in front of her.

"Yeah, I mean who wants to learn how to read and write," Bella scoffed with a pointed look at the girl. "Be careful on the way to the car. It's slippery out."

"I know, Mommy," Charlie grumbled, rolling her eyes. Bella wanted to call the little one out on her rudeness, but opted not to fight that battle. There were bigger things to worry about, after all.

Bella yanked the door open and followed Charlie onto the front porch, thankful the snow hadn't blown onto the porch. However, her attention was pulled to the snow between the front porch and the driveway, where her car had been parked. She and Charlie hadn't left the house once in two days, choosing to stay inside the warmth. So why were there footprints leading from the driveway, around her car, to the front porch.

Terror filled Bella as she placed her hand on Charlie's chest, pulling the girl back against her body as she looked around, noting the way the footprints circled around the house, too. Bile crept up her throat and she found herself suppressing a scream. Someone had been outside her house in the last two days, and she had a feeling she knew exactly who.

"Get back in the house, Charlie," she barely managed to choke out.

"Mommy!" Charlie started whining.

"Get in the house, Charlotte Renee Swan!" Bella screamed, pushing the little girl inside the house and yanking the door close.

"Mommy! Mommy, what's wrong?" Charlie cried from inside.

Tears fell down Bella's face as she tore her gloves off, letting them fall onto the porch. She dug her cell phone from her purse, slamming her finger on the contact button, and scrolling until she found the contact labeled E.M. Her fingers shook and her tears fell as she made called the one person who knew just how much shit was about to go down.

After three rings, Bella was about to end the call when a dull click came through followed by a rushed, "Talk to me."

"He's back."

Silence.

"Did you hear me? He's back! He's been here at the house."

"How'd he find you?"

"Fuck if I know," Bella murmured, scanning her surrounding for any sign that he was still there. "I didn't hear him, but there are footprints in the snow. We haven't left the house in two fucking days."

"Where's Charlie?"

"Inside."

"Can y'all meet me? Usual place?"

"Yeah." She paused. "I . . . I'm scared."

"I know. An hour, okay? Everything will be okay."

"An hour," Bella whispered before ending the call.

—MfM—

Just under an hour later, Bella and Charlie were seated in the car, outside of an abandoned gas station fifty miles from their house. It had taken some convincing, but Bella manage to talk Charlie out of the house and into the car, but not until Bella made sure the car was okay. The break lines hadn't been cut and there weren't any bombs inside. Two fears Bella never thought she'd have to worry about, yet she did. Every second of the day.

"Mommy, I'm hungry," Charlie whined.

Bella spared her a look through the rearview mirror. "You've got fruit snacks in your bag."

"I don't want those," she grumbled ruefully. "You said we could get cookies today."

"I know, but . . ." Bella's words died in her throat as the black sedan pulled up behind her. "Wait here."

Bella didn't give Charlie the chance to argue before she slipped out of the car and turned toward the man sitting in the driver's seat of the other car. The door opened and he slipped out. Tall and thin, he closed his car door and ran a hand through his auburn hair before tugging the black sunglasses off his face, his green eyes filled with sadness.

"Hey," she said, shoving her gloved hands onto the pocket of her coat.

"Hey," he replied, walking over to her car. He bent down and peered into the backseat, smiling at Charlie. "She's gotten big."

"Five years will do that."

He nodded and leaned against the side of the car, folding his arms across his chest. "Any idea how he found you?"

Bella shook her head. "Mails still be sent to that box in Oklahoma and then forwarded to boxes in Colorado, California, and finally here."

"Still getting cards from him?"

"Every month."

"Crazy motherfucker," he muttered with a shake of his head. "And you think he was outside your house?"

"If not him, then I don't know who. Nobody knows where we are. I left everyone behind, just like you told me to do."

"I know." Turning, he placed his hands on top of the car and looked around. "I just don't know how he could have found you, B."

"Me either," she whimpered, leaning down and checking on Charlie, like the little girl could have suddenly disappeared. "We have to leave, don't we?"

He nodded and turned, leaning against the car.

"Fuck," Bella swore and took a few steps before she faced him again. "How long are we supposed to live like this? It's not fair to her!"

"I know it's not, but what other choice do you have? You know what he'll do to you, B!"

Lifting her hand to her chest, she traced the scars hidden beneath her jacket. "Yeah, yeah, I do."

Pushing away from the car, he closed the gap between them, his hands cupping her face. "It's going to be okay."

"How? How is anything ever going to be okay again, E?" she cried, grabbing the front of his coat.

"Because I'll keep you safe," he whispered, nestling her against his chest. "Both of you."

"I hope so," she whispered, knowing she was putting both her life and Charlie's in the hands of Edward Mason.

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